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'James' what he calls himself. He was sitting alone at a table with his head down, far away from his classmates. He could hear the other kids talking and walking and playing and talking- or whatever middle schoolers do.
He was avoiding talking or even looking at the other kids, trying not to draw any attention, trying not to be the punch bag for the bullies... again. He's already had enough trouble for today, after the bullies learned a new slur to call him.
"Is anyone sitting here?" Someone had asked James.
James quickly looked up, surprised at the fact someone wanted to sit next to him.
"I-" Hesitant to answer. The person who asked him was a young girl with dark blonde hair- thought it looks like it's dyed because you can see brown roots on the top of her head. She was wearing a purple knitted sweater, but it was more of dark purple rather than a pastel one.
James looked around, thinking she was talking to someone else but of course no one else was near and she was making eye contact with just James.
"Me?" James finally replied. Still confused and he was half expecting the girl was just pranking him and like anybody else, thinks he's a freak.
"No your mom- yes you!" She said, this time she looked impatient. "Can I sit here or not? Look I can just lea-" James had to act quickly, this might be his only chance of actually making a friend besides his brother.
"No- I mean yeah! Yes you can stay!" James answered, unaware that he was being loud. The girl looked surprised but didn't question it, and so she did, she sat with James.
It was quiet for a moment, till James realised he needed to start a conversation before the girl might take flight.
"So uhm, what's your name?" James asked, with a wide smile on his face, trying to seem friendly. Although the girl just seemed confused.
"I'm Len-" The girl was hesitant to answer.
"Lemon."
Lemon... He thought that was an odd name, who would name their kid after a fruit? He shrugged it off, even ignoring the fact that she was originally gonna say a different name, but that thought would still linger in his mind.
"Nice to meet you, I'm James." She smiled back at him, despite feeling disturbed with the wide grin James had.
As for James, he felt like was about to start jumping of joy. He made his first friend today, he couldn't wait to tell his fam-
"That's a boy name right? You don't look like a boy?" Lemon said, she asked while being blissfully unaware of what James was feeling right now. All she knows she just innocently asked a question.
James doesn't know how to respond, he could just tell her the truth, but of course if he did then she might doesn't wanna be friends with him, because the truth always leads to him being lonely. The truth was the reason he doesn't have any friends.
Or he could just walk away, yeah let's go with that. He stood up and quickly walked away, but he knows this could also lead to Lemon not wanting to be friends with him anymore.
Lemon was confused. She didn't understand, she was didn't know if she did something wrong or not because why would James just get up and walk away? Of course she would want to know the reason. She stood up and followed the boy who was walking really quickly.
"Hey wait! I'm sorry was that personal to you? Look I'm sorry!" She chased after James- jeez he walks really fast.
James didn't want to reply to that, but the girl's "sorry" seemed genuine. He reminded himself once again that this was his only shot to make a friend.
He stopped walking and turned around to face Lemon. Lemon was surprised that he unexpectedly stopped walking, and so she did the same.
James wanted to say something, but every time he does say something he always just regrets it, just like today and how he regrets saying his name.
"I- look. Yes your right that was a... Very, very personal question." He said. "And I'm sorry for running away!" He delivered an unexpected bow.
Lemon was surprised and didn't really know what to say, but she thought maybe offering him some reassurance would work.
"Hey you didn't really have to do that... Don't worry it's fine! I'm sorry for asking that personal question!" Lemon quickly reassured him.
He looked up at Lemon with a smile on his face, this moment makes him feel like he'll have a lot of hope of making a friend.
"Do you wanna be friends?!" He loudly spoke, again he was unaware that he was being too loud, and his objective of trying not to draw any attention will be failing miserably.
"... Sure?" Lemon replied, unsure of her decision, but in reality she actually needed a friend because she has no friends, because everyone thinks she's crazy. James looked really happy now, like a really energetic dog that's about to get a treat.
Repeating what I had said, "his objective of trying not to draw any attention will be failing miserably."
"Look the fairy is talking to a girl."
"I never expected 'him' to actually like girls."
Two girls were whispering and laughing about James, and he can actually hear what their their talking about. His happiness quickly dies down and is replaced with embarrassment, he looks down at the ground.
"Hey fuck off!" Lemon grabbed a rock and threw it at the girls, though it didn't hit any of them it did scare them enough for the girls to run away.
"Quick run! The freak is gonna kill us!" The girls shouted.
She looked back at James who was trying to stop himself from crying. Lemon doesn't really know how to comfort him, I mean she can offer him some reassurance? But really bad assurance.
"Stand up for yourself more so you won't get bullied." Okay that was more of an advice. But Lemon promises she's actually trying to be kind. "But uh- heh your welcome, I just defended your ass."
James looked up, with a glint in his eyes. Yes he could interpret Lemon as an asshole but this was the first time in his life someone defended from some bullies, other than his brother.
"Oh right thanks." He shyly said, but his smile shows how grateful he truly is right now.
He really can't wait to tell his family about his new friend.