Chapter 3: Lexy
I waited by my locker for Annabeth. She had to finish her math test before we could walk home. She was late, which wasn’t unusual, but I had to get home to watch my sisters.
“Lexy!” She exclaimed after what seemed like forever.
I didn’t see her till she was right in front of me though, there were too many people in the halls still for me to take out my headphones.
I nodded at her and moved toward her locker which was only three away from mine.
She then slipped something in my hand, and I nonchalantly opened it up. It wasn’t unusual for us to pass notes. But usually, they were of some importance of things we couldn’t say out loud, in fear that if someone knew our secrets’ we would never live normal lives again.
I opened the letter, my back against the locker as was our protocol.
We might have trouble coming. Keep your mouth shut till we get home. Earphones out. Listen to what’s around us.
I folded the letter and put it in my pocket. I wondered what she was talking about, but I knew better than to talk about it here. My studies had shown me that people who are different were always in danger. And as much as I hated it, fitting in was our best chance of survival.
“Hurry up,” I said, trying to sound normal as I took my headphones off. “I have to be home before my sisters. I told my parents I would watch them.”
Annie looked up at me and nodded, but her face looked worried.
I knew better than to ask about it at school. Her note literally told me to be quiet. But if my headphones were off, with this many people still around, I needed to focus on something.
It was weird though. I had survived many years with no headphones and school. When I was younger, I’d get these awful headaches that I didn’t know how to handle because to me, the world was very loud. I knew from an early age that I was different. I had survived many years being the only person I knew who was different. I often didn’t wear headphones because I liked the voices sometimes if I was in the mood for it. But today, I was surrounded by the same people as always, but the sound was different. And there was a low humming noise droning on in the background that I had never heard before.
The second I noticed it, I didn’t want to hear it anymore, but I fought the urge to just shove my headphones back in and drown it out.
“How was your last class?” Annie asked as we started to walk out of the building.
I furrowed my eyebrows. I could hear her unasked question in my head as if she asked it out loud.
“It was fine. Completely normal.” I answered, choosing my words carefully.
As we were walking, I noticed 2 guys walking behind us. One of them being the one who had spilled spaghetti all over Annabeth earlier today – Jake Green.
Annie looked back too, but when she realized who was behind us, she sped up.
“They won’t hurt us,” I whispered. “They aren’t a threat.”
“Keep your voice down.” She answered in a hushed tone. “Hurry up.”
“Do you wanna run?” I asked. I didn’t really want to, but it wasn’t unusual for us to run home. When we were younger, we used to race, and occasionally, we still did.
“No.” She stated shortly. “Tell me something funny.”
I let out a chuckle. “Well let’s see, today was a fairly normal day at school, until my best friend got spaghetti dumped on her, and turned into a total lunatic.” I teased.
“Not funny, Lex.” She said through gritted teeth.
“I think it’s hilarious. Because that boy is following us home, and we’ve not once seen him before on this route.”
“What if he’s some creepy stalker?” She whispered.
I laughed; I couldn’t help it. “I’m the one with the crazy theories, remember? Besides, it would be weirder if he was like a new kid whom you were being pulled to. He’s been at this school with us all year, I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of.”
This time she smiled.
“Come on, crazy lady. Those clouds don’t look promising.”
Her smile then fully stretched across her face just before she took off running.
“No fair!” I yelled after her, as I started to run too. “You got a head start!”









































































