Chapter 13: Social Cues.

My annoyance at being cold-shouldered by Vasilis progressed with me steadily throughout the day, increasing with every word that came out of Brittany's mouth.

She never shut up. I hadn't even known it was possible for someone to talk so much.

But thankfully, she didn't ask any invasive questions or try to pry into personal stuff. She asked one question about my family though, and I'd almost snapped at her, but instead I told her I didn't want to talk about it.

She didn't ask any personal questions after that.

But she did tell me all about herself, however. She explained that she was the first child of four kids, and had a set of triplet brothers after her.

Her family was obviously well-off, which was why she had been granted admission into the school in the first place. But she claimed that on the school's social hierarchy, her family was lower-class. Which was why she had to make up for the lack of "high status" with her grades and extracurricular activities.

A ridiculous notion in my opinion. What a classist load of bullshit. Having to make up for not being rich enough? Never have I heard something more farcical.

She claimed she used to be captain of the cheerleading team, but she dropped out because she wanted to take senior year seriously, and also because she didn't enjoy cheer as much as she used to anymore.

She was also on the swim and music teams, and was a volunteer on the school's tutoring program—where students volunteer to tutor other students who were falling behind on their schoolwork for free.

Well, not exactly free. They'd be getting extra grade points depending on how well their tutoring sessions go, and what their ratings were at the end of the term.

I almost asked in bafflement, how one person could do so many things at once, but then I remembered all I've done and kept quiet.

Judo, basketball, tennis, swimming, javelin, piano, violin, harp, guitar, oboe, vocal lessons, opera lessons, makeup, design, tailoring, painting, pottery, weaving, jewelry making, advanced architecture classes. Everything.

I'd done almost everything.

I'd taken language courses of the native languages of every country we'd ever lived in, even if I never got to vacation or tour those countries properly.

I had finished several high-school courses and some undergraduate university degrees online. At first, I had applied to an undergraduate degree in bio-chemistry for fun. I had been bored out of my mind that summer, and Yale applications were open.

I'd submitted my credentials without expecting anything but surprisingly, I got in. I'd thought they wouldn't offer me an admission because of my age—I was sixteen then—but it didn't matter apparently.

After that, I applied to several other courses in other online schools. Film, cinematography, psychology, physics...as many as I could, so I wouldn't have free time to lose my mind alone in the house.

It's surprising how time flies by when you have as much time as I had. So, I studied for degree after degree, took courses after courses without my parents even knowing, because they hadn't cared to know.

They barely knew anything about me.

Me being here in Bloodstone Academy was probably the biggest joke life had thrown at me yet. And as always, I sat back and simply watched the universe laugh at my misery.

Endless, worthless, mundane time. That was all I had. And everything I'd indulged in and mastered had always been about me seeking escape.

I searched for escapism in the pages of books, in fictional worlds, in the world of cinema, in academic validation.

I mastered all the different ways in which humans lived, in the hopes that if I ever got to escape my cruel life one day, I would know how to act. How to be inconspicuous. How to fit in.

It was almost as if I was trying to convince myself and everyone else that I was human...just like them. That being locked up in the house by my parents hadn't chipped away at my psyche, or made me into a shadow monster.

That I was still human. Still breathing. Just like everyone else.

And yet I could not stand human contact. A simple hug, and I had frozen in place and almost gone into shock.

I realized, with a staggering wave of depression, that I did not know how to be human.

Despite all I'd read, despite all I'd achieved. I had suddenly been thrown into the midst of humans, like a test. And for the first time, I was failing terribly.

I'd never failed at anything before. How ironic for me to fail at being human.

Brittany's "excessive" talking was probably not even that excessive. I'd just never had someone talk to me for that long, about so many things that wasn't out of obligation, or because my parents were paying them to do their job.

I had no real idea what normal humans were like, despite all I'd read about them. What real families were like. How people function. What's considered normal.

I had been so accustomed to silence, that the absence of it felt like I had been plunged butt-naked into the ocean, freezing and helpless and flailing against the wicked current.

I was drowning.

I didn't see Vasilis or the rest of 'The Eight' in any of my classes, until lunch came around.

Brittany and I walked side by side into the cafeteria, and for the first time in my life, anxiety wrapped its fingers around my throat.

I'd never really been one to suffer anxiety around large crowds, or at all. Mostly because the only time I would see crowds would be at the airport, and it was always brief. We were never waiting around for a flight or anything, and we were always surrounded by security.

I hadn't realized that being alone in a place that was yet to become familiar, surrounded by basically the entire school, would set me so terribly on edge.

Brittany gave me a comforting smile as if she could hear my thoughts, and I offered her a small smile in return.

For the first time since that morning, I was grateful to have her as my guide.

I could feel practically all eyes on me as I followed behind Brittany and did as she did.

She picked up a tray, along with some plates and cutlery. I did the same.

Then she walked over to the endless rows of food arranged behind glass frames.

There were no lunch ladies waiting to serve us, like I'd seen in movies. It was more like a buffet style serving, and I watched Brittany pile a mountain of fries and chicken on her plate before I walked over, musing over the options.

There was Italian, Mexican, Chinese, African, English...you name it.

I must admit, I was thoroughly impressed by the variety. In most shows, I'd always seen the students complain about cafeteria food being the worst.

I guess good food is one of the perks of attending a school for rich people.

I'd never eaten food made outside of my house before. Even while traveling, our chefs usually had food made specifically for the flight beforehand, and everything I ate had to be approved by my dietician.

I don't think mom had thought about that before enrolling me here.

I walked toward the row of African food, feeling a little rebellious as I scooped three serving spoonfuls of jollof rice on my plate.

I added a heap of plantain—it's my favorite—some stewed chicken, and a small mound of leafy green salad to balance it all out.

That was a lot of food.

I grinned, wondering what my dietician would say if she knew I was eating food made by obscure sources, but the Jollof rice looked so good and I hadn't had it in ages, so I was excited to dig in.

"I think they're waiting for you. I can see a spot reserved for you right by Roman's side!" Brittany was suddenly whisper-shrieking in my ear as I mused over my plate of food, and I looked over at the table she was looking at.

Indeed, they were all staring at me. 'The Eight' or whatever they're called.

Aiko waved my way and I looked away from them, uninterested.

"I want to sit with you," I said to Brittany. "Do you have a spot you always sit at, or do we just choose random seats?"

Brittany stared at me with disbelief shining in her bright, emerald eyes, her mouth hanging open.

"Are you crazy?!" She finally spoke after a while. "The freaking Eight invited you to their lunch table and you'd rather eat with me?!"

I shrugged. "Yeah. I don't care for them. They're not my guide. I'd like to sit with my guide who's kept me well informed, and has helped me throughout the entire day. Besides, you're quite fun to hang with. Although, you talk so much, it's almost exhaustive."

Brittany's expression was shell-shocked. Her eyes widened as colour rushed to her pale cheeks.

Why was she getting flustered? Did I say something I wasn't supposed to say? I would have scratched my head, but my hands were occupied with my tray of food.

Honestly, I was tired of all the social cues I seemed to not know already. I never knew what was appropriate to say and what wasn't. I just said whatever was on my mind, and people always seemed to get flustered at the honesty. Maybe I should just stop speaking.

"Well, I um..." Brittany cleared her throat, a shy smile on her lips. "I appreciate the sentiment, and sorry I exhaust you with my...talking, but still, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You shouldn't miss it!"

I sighed. "Fine. But only if you join me."

"W-What?! No! They didn't invite me! They only invited you specifically! I can't just—"

But I was already walking towards the so called 'most popular lunch table in Bloodstone Academy,' and Brittany was forced to follow behind me, while she continued whispering furiously in my ear that she wasn't supposed to be there.

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