Part 3
Kaylen sighed as she arrived at the cafeteria. Surveying the crowded tables she steeled herself against the constant staring and headed to an empty corner for lunch. The empty corner she found was at the table of the couple she had noticed in homeroom earlier today.
The two were again wrapped up in each other, this time literally. The girl was resting her head back into her boyfriend�s chest, absentmindedly crumbling the edges of her sandwich. The boy was tall and handsome, his eyes as blue as the sky after the morning clouds part. He was spending more time nibbling his girlfriend�s ear than he was eating his lunch. Kaylen sighed again. She opened the Tupperware containing a small salad and a banana and pulled out her water bottle.
She turned slightly in her seat when she felt eyes resting on her. Frowning slightly she saw the source of her discomfort. That greasy haired blonde boy who�d been staring during homeroom. Fine, she thought. Let him stare, everyone else was. But for some reason the boy with eyes as dead and plotting as her own bothered her. More than she would like to admit. And she let go of the carefully placed smile for a second to stare back. Sending her most withering glance his way, he looked back frightened and then cast his eyes to his feet. She touched her tongue to her front teeth and allowed a satisfied grin to form.
Kaylen looked up to see a curly haired blonde girl and a dark haired boy in a turtleneck headed toward the almost empty table. The girl was short, like Kaylen, and appeared good natured. She glanced toward Kaylen, smiled and gave her a curious once over. The boy smiled too, and as the two slid into seats beside the couple they greeted the pair happily. �Earth to Pacey and Joey. Come back to Capeside you two,� the blonde intoned laughing. The boy proceeded to make faces at the couple until he received their attention. He pouted a little when all he received for his pains was a cocked eyebrow from Pacey and a roll of the eyes from Joey. �Hi over there. I�m Jen Lindley. Come join the rest of the group,� the blonde called out to Kaylen. Kaylen straightened a little, a light blush coloring her pale features. She wasn�t used to being talked to, she was good at staying above the crowd, not a part of it.
Staring at the foursome, now with all eight eyes trained on her, she froze. Her glance flitted from one friendly face to the next, until she landed on Pacey�s blue eyes. He smiled at her, arching an eyebrow her way, and indicating that she move closer. Which she did, eyes still indicating nothing, smile as genuine as a Barbie doll�s. Sitting down next to Jen she twirled a long curl around her index finger. �Kaylie Roberts, nice to meet you.�
Introductions were exchanged and Kaylie settled back into silence, shredding a piece of lettuce meticulously. The four friends talked over classes and things to do in Capeside. They tried to include the new girl, who remained unresponsive. Until Pacey cleared his throat a little and asked, �So what brings you to our little corner of the world Kaylie?�
Looking up from her uneaten salad she smiled weakly, and her reply came in soft and sad. �I was looking for a good place to drown.� She looked into Pacey�s eyes, alight with concern and surprise, and her own brown eyes seemed to darken and dance. Pacey and Kaylen remained locked in each other�s gaze as Joey bit her lip and entwined her hand with Pacey�s. And the four friends stared at Kaylie, a broken porcelain doll, and wondered how seriously to take her.