Peer Pressure

    Peer Pressure

Standing in the school cafeteria with my lunch tray in hand I kept moving along the food line, trying to keep a low profile. Here I am sixteen years old, new in school with absolutely no hope of making new friends to my way of thinking. After all school had already been in session for 6 weeks before my folks even moved into the area which as far as I was concerned left me out in the cold. By the time I registered for school, others had already formed their groups they were going to be hanging out with. Just where does that leave me I thought, as I stumbled into a girl just ahead of me who had stopped to reach for a pudding. So much for trying to keep a low profile!

"Sorry" I mumbled under my breath. Staring at me with a face devoid of expression, she moved ahead not acknowledging that she even heard me. Finally the end of the line came and I gripped my tray tightly looking around for an empty seat at the tables. Students were talking back and forth to each other, all the while gulping down their food while they waited for the bell to ring, signaling the end of each lunch period. Looking around, I spotted a few empty chairs at a table by the window.

Threading my way past students already eating I plunked my tray down on the table, pulling a chair out to sit down finally. Glancing around I casually picked up my sandwich taking a small bite. After taking a sip of my milk, I felt eyes on me but when I looked up no one was paying attention it seemed so maybe it's me being paranoid I thought.