After study hall Joel was running through the hall to his last class of the day when he ran into Pixley, literally. Joel was on his butt as was Pixley.
Pixley's neck twitched. She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."
Joel stood and extended his hand to Pixley. "It was my fault. I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'." He helped Pixley to her feet. "Actually I'm glad I ran into you. I wanted to know if you'd come to our gig tonight at DX7. So will you?"
Pixley smiled at Joel. "I guess. I know where the place is, but I don't have a ride and it's too far to walk and my dad took away my skateboard."
"Benj and I can come get you. I just need your address." Joel said, smiling.
Pixley laughed a little. "Actually I have to get to my math class."
"Oh, me too." They started to walk to their next class.
"Do you have a pen?" Joel grabbed a pen from his pocket. He handed it to Pixley and smiled. "Thanks. Hand?" She took his right hand. "OK, here is my address. I'll be waiting in the driveway."
"OK, be ready at 5:30. Benj and I have to be early. So we can prepare for our set." Joel grinned and let Pixley go in ahead of him.
Pixley sat in the back row and leaned on her desk. Joel sat a seat one over from her. "Uh, Tommy, could I switch seats with you?"
Tommy nodded and stood from his seat letting Joel switch with him.
"Joel, what are you doing?"
"I wanna talk with you."
Pixley scoffed and rested her head on her arms, still looking at Joel. "About what?"
Joel layed his head on the desk, facing Pixley. "Why do you have all that stuff written on your hands?"
She looked at her hands and put them in her lap. "No reason."
Joel looked at his own hand. "I know you didn't most of it."
Pixley squinted to read the black board. "Math test on Monday?"
"Quit changing the subject. Who wrote all over your hands?"
She sighed. "OK, I fall asleep in class 'n' stuff, so people come up, take my pen and write all over my hands. So I wrote 'Bite me' and someone actually did."
She pulled down her shirt to show her shoulder.
Joel grimaced and put his hand on her shoulder for a closer look at the bite mark. "Ouch! Who did it?"
She looked down in thought, finding her hands very interresting. "That goth kid."
The teacher came in. "Silence class. Alright, today is just reviewing since finals are next week."
Pixley layed her head on the desk and fell asleep. Her shoulder still uncovered. Joel leaned on his hand and watched Pixley sleep for a moment.
The teacher walked to the back of the class and banged his hand down on Pixley's desk. She almost fell out of her chair. "Miss McKenzie, I will not tollerate naps in my class."
"Sorry Mr Smith."
Mr Smith turned to Joel. "Mr Madden, why have you and Mr Sulivan exchanged seats?"
"Because we wanted to." Tommy said, from behind Joel.
Mr Smith glared at Tommy. "I was not talking to you Mr Sulivan."
After a torturous math class Pixley tiredly walked out the door behind Joel.
Benji greeted Joel outside the school. "Is she coming?"
Joel just grinned. "We pick her up at 5:30 at this address." He showed Benji his hand.
Pixley came out the front door and walked past Joel. "G'bye Joel, Benji. See ya later." She waved lazily and started walking down the street.
"Hey, Pix, would you like a ride home?" Benji called after her.
She turned around. "Oh no. I'm OK."
"You sure? It's no problem." Joel asked.
Pixley thought for a minute then shook her head. "No thanks." She continued to walk. She walked for about five minutes when Benji and Joel drove up next to her.
"Hey, Pix." Joel waved. "You sure you don't wanna ride?"
She stopped. "Actually I could use a ride. You still offering?" Joel nodded. Pixley smiled and got in the back seat of the car.
The twins dropped off Pixley at a beautiful, two story white house.
"Remember, be ready at 5:30 tonight. We'll be here." Joel smiled.
"OK, see ya then." She waved, watching them leave. When they were out of sight, Pixley began to walk down the street a little farther. She stopped in front of a shabby discoloured single story house. She sighed and walked up the cracked walked way. Going inside she heard her mom and dad argueing. "I'm home." She said, passing by the kitchen.
Pixley's dad came out of the kitchen, beer in hand. "Where have you been?!" He yelled more than asked.
"At school." Pixley went into the small living room and sat on the couch. Her mom came out of the kitchen.
"You made it home before 3:30. Did you geta ride?" Pixley's mom asked, sitting with her. Pixley nodded. "From who?"
"The twins." She said plainly.
"Who are the twins?" Her dad asked in a discusted way, swaying a little.
"My firends."
"You don't have any friends. No one likes you because you're a freak." Her father said, taking a swig of his beer.
Pixley took a deep breath getting off the couch. She quietly walked to her room. Her fathers words stung. She didn't know why, he told her she was a freak everyday. Her mom was always sweet, but her dad treated her like garbage and hit her. School was Pixley's only escape from her father.
Pixley was glad to be getting out of the house. She was even exstatic about it because she'd be with Joel. Some one who actually acted like he cared.