manda . r a i

[[EXTRAORDINARY]] PAGE FIVE

Sandra's eyes darted around nervously. Please God, please don't let Rachel come again. Please... She quickly dashed through the double doors of the school, almost tripping over her own feet. She ran down the steps, watching her step, and crashed into someone. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." she uttered timidly as she went on, quickening her pace.

"Hey," a kind deep voice said.

Sandra's head snapped up as she realized who it was. "Kevin... umm... hi..." she couldn't meet his eyes, she was too embarrassed. She studied her jacket buttons intensely.

"Hey, what's so interesting about your jacket?" Kevin laughed. "Come on Sandra, it's ok, here I'll walk you home." Kevin gently prodded Sandra's backpack as they walked down the pathway together.

"Umm... thank you," Sandra pulled her jacket tighter around herself and crossed her arms protectively around her body.
"So are you ok now? That was quite a beating you took today at lunch."

"Yeah, I'm ok. Thanks for... helping me." Sandra felt a surge of disbelief. Why is he helping me so much? This is a big joke. This is a joke, that's what it is. His friends dared him... it was a dare. He has no interest in me. Tomorrow he'll be gone. He will. He'll be gone. She stole a quick glance at his face. His warm brown eyes focused on the road ahead. His fashionably spiky chestnut hair was slicked back from his forehead. His nose was proud, with a slight crook in the middle. He had high cheekbones, giving him a chiseled look. His mouth was pressed into a hard line, and he had a small cleft in his chin. He's handsome, Sandra thought. Why would he be helping me? Plain old Sandra? There must be something wrong. Something is not right. No Sandra, everything is right. Kevin is helping you. Appreciate it Sandra. Appreciate it. But it's all wrong, can't you see? It's all wrong! Handsome Kevin helping plain, ugly Sandra? I don't think this is right! It is right Sandra, it is. It is.

"So, where do you live?" Kevin's voice broke Sandra's thoughts. He looked down at her.

Sandra had to almost tilt her head back to fully see his face. "Umm... I live down there..." she gestured vaguely with her hand.

"I'm afraid you'll have to give me more information than that if I'm going to walk you home," Kevin smiled.

Sandra almost swooned; when Kevin smiled, it lit up his whole face, and crinkled the corners of his eyes, making him look even more handsome than before. She cleared her throat, "On... umm... White Butterfly Lane."

"Oh, wow, that's a pretty street name," Kevin joked. Sandra laughed appreciatively. "You know, you've got a great laugh."
Sandra felt her face flush and she hastily averted her eyes to the ground. "Umm... yeah... thanks...." she managed to get out. She felt herself liking Kevin, as the first friend she ever had in years. Especially since he was a guy, she never had any guy friends. She never really had any girl friends either. I was always alone, alone. By myself. Alone in the world, at school, alone everywhere. Why is Kevin helping me? Why? There's something weird.... Oh well.... For once Sandra pushed aside her thoughts and tried to enjoy walking home with Kevin.

"So, White Butterfly Lane huh?"

Sandra looked up, they were on her street. "Yeah, this is it. Thank you for walking me."

"Hey, I'm not done yet, I said I'll walk you home, didn't I?" He smiled at her again. Sandra felt her heart beat faster. "You know that white butterflies are symbols of good luck?"

"Umm.. no, I didn't. That's very interesting." She started walking down the street, toward her house. "Where'd you learn that from?" She avoided his eyes, keeping hers focused on the sidewalk.

"My grandmother, she's like into that kind of stuff, you know like omens and superstitions and magic and things," Kevin sighed. "Sometimes she can be really wacked."

"Wow, really? That's cool." Sandra stopped at her house. "Well, this is my house, I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school then huh?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Sandra, nice talking to you!" Kevin flashed her his great smile and walked away.

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