Ember Rising Light (Book One) Read online

  Chapter Ten

  Lunch period came all too soon and suddenly, I was cast into a sea of options. I packed my lunch instead of waiting in line. Last night I thought it would help me out – like maybe, a lunch from home would feel like a security blanket. I realize now, as I look around at the room full of virtual strangers that nothing will make me feel more comfortable or confident about doing this. At least, nobody was paying any attention to me. I suppose I’ve been going to this school just long enough to be old news.

  Tray didn’t come up to me like I hoped he would. I didn’t see him, either. He might be sitting at the tables closest to the front – the ones where the dark clique gathers. I’m terrified of having another volatile episode, so I tend to avoid looking in their collective direction.

  I counted empty chairs as I walked on the opposite side of the cafeteria. My back was basically against the wall like I was preparing to be attacked. So, I built up my courage and intentionally selected the last table in the back, right corner of the cafeteria – as far away from the DC territory as I could possibly get.

  I tried to appear casual as I approached the girl sitting at that table. She appeared to be eating alone and that was appealing to me. I also noticed three empty chairs directly across from her. Now, all I have to do is think of something cool to say…

  She must have sensed my presence because she looked up from her salad and smiled at me.

  “May I please sit…here...in that chair?” I blurted out, awkwardly.

  I can’t believe I just said “may I please…” – now, she’s gonna think I’m a lost kindergartner!

  “Sure, no one else is,” she offered and watched me with interest as I sat down.

  I pulled my lunch out of my backpack. Frankly, eating was the last thing my nervous stomach wanted me to do. But, it would look strange if I just sat down and did nothing. I slowly opened my container filled with carrots. My mind was racing as I tried to think of something (non-moronic) to say, in order to recover. I couldn’t think of anything – cool, semi-intelligent or otherwise. The initial silence was quickly turning into a self-conscious infinity as the smiling girl waited on me to speak. Just when I decided to cut my losses and make a mad dash for the doorway, Tray came to my rescue.

  “Hey Ember, who’s your friend?” his voice cascaded over my head.

  I could have cried from relief until I suddenly realized I didn’t know anyone’s name at the whole table. ‘Lovely Einstein, don’t introduce yourself to anyone, or ask them what their names are, either…’ I thought to myself.

  “Well, um – I, um,” I tried to figure out some way to salvage this awkward social situation that I had inadvertently, created.

  “Hi, I’m Krista and this is Tisha, Jeff, Logan, Logan’s girlfriend Ally, Jessica and her boyfriend, Dusty. Sitting across from them we have, Tyler and his ‘girl-groupies’. Tyler sorta makes the rounds, so I’m reluctant to say who his girlfriend is because it changes on a weekly basis,” Krista declared as she dodged Tyler’s wadded up napkin strike.

  Tyler introduced his ‘three girl fan club’ without revealing his current girlfriend. Then, Krista continued making the other introductions. “At the opposite end of the world’s most social lunchroom table, we have Azi, Alex, Ayden and Jenna. Yes, they are quadruplets and no, they don’t like to be reminded about it. Oh yeah, Jenna’s first name does start with an ‘A’ like the rest of her ‘fam’, but she refuses to integrate…” Krista announced with a giggle.

  “Our parent’s names are Aubrey and Ansley. They’re loosely-reformed hippies – you know the kind I’m talking about. They smoked too much happy weed back in the day and watched way too many episodes of The Brady Bunch while they did it. Do you blame me for wanting to be called Jenna?” she directed her question to Tray and he almost fell over laughing.

  Azi informed us that they have two other siblings – a younger brother, Aarin Austen and an older sister, Abbey Aleeh. It turns out Jenna is the only member of the Adrelli family that doesn’t have the initial A.A.A. Then, my brother really did fall over from hysterics.

  Although I did laugh, I was freaking out internally. As usual, I had hideously underestimated the situation. I thought because Krista wasn’t sitting right beside anyone, that she was eating alone. Shivering nervously, I will have to somehow remember all of their names and faces since they are a group of friends.

  I had never been part of any type of ‘group’ and my last school experience didn’t really count. The only reason I ended up with two friends was because I had introduced them to each other.

  The first friend I made was a nice, shy boy named Garrett. A little socially self-conscious, he didn’t have any friends until I came along. Then, I went searching for another ‘friend’ to join us. I had to enlist Tray’s help to do that.

  That extra friend was a necessity because I didn’t want people to assume that Garrett was my boyfriend. He definitely wasn’t…not in that sense, at least. I also didn’t want him to feel abandoned when I inevitably disappeared from his life.

  Tray helped me locate and befriend a sweet (and equally shy) girl named Emily. I introduced them to each other. We all sat together in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. When my brother arrived at our lunch table, things just smoothed out. I wonder if Tray is going to have to socially rescue me for the rest of my natural life. There’s no way to privately practice obtaining necessary social skills…

  “Well everyone, this extremely talkative girl is my sister, Ember and I’m Tray Pateman. I sure hope there’s not a quiz at the end of this handshake though cuz’ you guys are at a slight advantage in this introduction situation. After all, two names versus fifty, isn’t very even, odds…” Tray shot a smile in Krista’s direction.

  She blushed and hesitated. Then, she paid him a curious smile as she shook his hand in return. Everyone else at the table watched her every movement in silent fascination.

  “No quizzes…promise. You can call us just about anything and we’ll answer to it – well, with a few notable exceptions. You already know the ‘Jenna’ story, so I won’t repeat it. Ally hates to be called Alyssa because she thinks it makes her sound snobby. Jessica hates being called Jessie because she thinks it makes her sound like an airhead. You’re safe on the rest of us, though – we’re not quite as picky…” Krista explained comically.

  “Wow, talk about keeping your promise…this is slightly insane. Have you got this, my Little Girl? Or, should I hang out for a while longer??” he whispered to me.

  Tray is trying to determine if he can safely leave me to fend for myself in this ‘over-the-top’ lunch table situation. He is much better at the socializing thing, but I had gotten myself into this craziness. Oh, how I want Tray to just sit here and do this for me. I was fighting the insane urge to yank him down into my lap. He’s plenty big enough to hide me from my new, well-populated reality.

  “Sure, I’ve got this…no problem,” I whispered back to him, trying to convince myself that I can survive this sucker.

  “Well guys, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around…take it easy…gotta jet. Ladies, nice to meet you…” he stated and winked at them.

  All the girls giggled a ‘goodbye’ in unison. The guys muttered ‘yeah, dude…’ while looking at the table. My brother squeezed my shoulders and then, disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.

  I feel just like a guppy swimming with the sharks.

  “Oh my gosh, so he’s your brother?? We need all the details…spill em’…” the gorgeous red-headed girl squealed.

  She was almost panting in anticipation to hear ‘the details’ about Tray. I had no idea which ones she wanted though. Sadly, I had just been introduced to gorgeous red-headed girl not more than three minutes ago, but I can’t remember her name. It really seems like there are fifty kids sitting at this table.

  I swiftly realized why I had misjudged this scenario. They are a large group of friends, but th
ey are spaced apart. Well, not anymore because the girls are huddled together, waiting in riveted fascination for me to tell all.

  “Yeah, that’s my older brother…my only brother, Tray,” I restated the obvious and fell silent.

  Strangely, it turns out every girl at the table – except Krista – believed that Tray was my boyfriend! How they arrived at that ridiculous conclusion is anyone’s guess. Tray and I share identical facial features. Plus, we had started school on the same day. That suggests we’re related, in my estimation.

  Do they actually think that I’m old enough to have a live-in boyfriend??

  I wanted to ponder over that crazy idea for a minute because it was completely loony. However, I discovered the conversation had already turned back in my direction. The gorgeous red-head stared at me in expectation, waiting for my response to another question – not good. I sat like a mindless moron because I had no idea what she asked me.

  “Hey everyone, let’s give Ember a break. Tisha doesn’t mean to openly lust after your older, only brother. It’s just the nature of her inner feminine beast,” Krista countered and cut her eyes in Tisha’s direction.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t quite…really hear the question…the one you asked me…” I stated, attempting (unsuccessfully) to ‘socially recover’ again.

  “No need to apologize. I guess I need to remind my gals around this table of something. If everyone speaks simultaneously then, Ember won’t hear any of you…that’s assuming you’re human. That even goes for you, Tisha…no matter how loud you ask your question.

  “Sorry about their information-gathering-frenzy, Ember. It’s been buildin’ since you two arrived on campus. They’re working on a limited timeframe and bent to get their answers about your brother. Obviously, their mouths tend to rush forward without giving their brains’ a fighting chance…” Krista said and we all laughed.

  I relaxed more with each passing minute. Krista easily carried the conversation during my inevitable lapses. She also managed to avoid all the mundane questions that most people ask the new kid. The other girls repeatedly forced the topic back to Tray anytime they were given an opportunity. So I sat for the remainder of our lunch period and answered a few thousand questions about my brother.

  When the bell rang, I was a little disappointed that it was already over. The time had passed so quickly. It’s bizarre, but as long as I talk about Tray, the conversation was effortless.

  Wow, I desperately need a life of some kind…

  It was inexplicable, but I already felt like a part of their crowd. I marveled at that outlandish fact as I tossed my uneaten sandwich into the garbage can. Krista and I said ‘goodbye’ to the others and she walked along beside me.

  “Trust me – the girls aren’t always that ridiculous. Well, most times they’re not that ridiculous. Also, as an added bonus, from time to time, they have an intelligent thought or two,” Krista offered with a smile.

  “I’m sure it’s more than two, most days. I like them…and they seem to like Tray. I’ve never talked so much about him in my whole life,” I revealed.

  “I find that surprising! You must be the only sister on the planet that sits patiently at a lunch table and divulges all she knows about her brother…” she stated, rolling her eyes for effect.

  I had to admit that was a weird thought. Most siblings get along about as well as snakes and mice. Our relationship is vastly different from the average brother and sister. I had talked, virtually non-stop, for twenty minutes about Tray and could have easily continued for a few hours – a fact that would have eventually freaked everyone out – thank you, lunch bell!

  Turns out, Krista is in my history class. She even sits in the row beside me. I tried to hide my obvious shock over this fact. We have shared this class for over two weeks, now. It would be horrible if she discovered that I’ve never noticed her before.