This story will switch between different first points of views of the main characters. This chapter is Ed Invidia.

The preps were heading my way; not a good sign for them to be heading towards an outcast like me. Perhaps they won’t notice me; they were engaged in deep conversation. Alas, hope was futile. We made eye contact. This is end of my content morning, my seemingly acceptable morning… now ruined.

However, they never stopped; they merely walked past me, but exclaimed loud enough for me to hear, “There’s that freak again.”

“I wish he would just kill himself already.”

“Yes, that would purify our school even just a little.”

“I mean look at his eyes.”

“I don’t think he’s human.”

I have yellow eyes, so what? No, they’re not a yellow tint, but they’re yellow! What’s worse is that I have matching hair. It’s not blonde, but it’s yellow! Yes, I’m a freak. I was told once to embrace who I am, so I wear dark clothing to exaggerate the supposedly ‘freakish’ bright colors… and to spite them. I at least enjoy knowing someone notices my existence in some way or fashion.

“Dude! I think they’re playing hard to get,” a deep, base voice boomed behind me, startling me. I turned around to face a covered, well-toned stomach. I inwardly groaned at my shortness as I scanned up a muscle-overloaded body to find a face. Please don’t let it be that bully.

It was Sal.

I let out an inaudible sigh. Sal and I were friends; both of us are “freaks”. He has the most intense red hair and the softest blue eyes. Many people can’t look at him without his/her eye twitching. I am one of the few people who aren’t bothered by him.

I met him in Art 1 class, along with his friend Seth. I, being a freshman, didn’t expect to befriend a senior, Sal, or a sophomore, Seth. Seth is the laziest creature you’ll ever meet. Technically, he’s a senior, but he was too lazy to graduate for three years, and last year he barely made it. To emphasize my point, Seth is failing Family Dynamics! How does one fail such a simple class? Not that I’m the one to talk; my mother screamed the last time she saw my report card, but at least I’m passing that crap course!

They have a club called the Outcasts, where all the “freaks” society disclaims as being “normal” hang out. I haven’t gotten an invitation yet, but I’m afraid of what I’ll find, considering the few people I know.

All I know of the club is that every year they all sign up for the same class; this year was Art 1. Few of them even got it on their schedule; Art 1 is a hard class to get into. The rest have it second semester. I don't know who all is in this club, but who I do know are Seth and Sal.

“Any particular reason you want to see me.” I asked politely.

He gave me a funky look before running his fingers through my greasy hair.

I knew I forgot something this morning

He continued to play with my hair and occasionally playfully shoving a handful of the greased up stuff in my face.

“When do you get off of work?” He asked. His fingers slid to my cover-up sleeves.

I cut the sleeves off a gray sweater and wear them to cover evidence of my failed attempts of suicide. (Imagine what Sasuke from Naruto wears) I’m a failure at everything I do, and I am too much of a coward to fix it. This is how I remind myself of my worthlessness.

“Six,” I said uneasily. I jerked as he touched a new wound.

He looked at me before pulling the sleeve down to my wrist. Oh, this would be a good time to mention that Sal likes the taste of blood. This would explain his next actions. Mm, and one other thing… he likes to have bodies writhing beneath him; he doesn’t care if it’s a male or female. Those two interests are not a pleasant mixture, which is why he’s an outcast.

He leaned down to suck and nip at fresh and old wounds. “Do you know how horny you’re making me Ed?” He moaned softly. “I’ll have to get Tony to skip English for me.”

I don’t know who Tony is, but I know Sal has English first block. I twitched a little under the conditions.

“Don’t you think they would get suspicious if two from the same class skipped?” I asked dully.

He stopped his attentions to my arm and covered it back up. He gave me the goofiest of smiles, “True, but it’s worth the risk; Tony came to school high.”

I glanced at the clock. “I better get going if I’m going to get to Algebra 1 on time.” Before I could leave, though, he picked me up, emphasizing our height difference, him, being taller than most his age, and me, being shorter than most my age. My feet were about two feet off the ground. He pulled me close to his nice and warm body. He whispered in my ear, “You do know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

I nodded.

He placed me gently back on the ground. He grabbed my upper arm before I scampered off. “Oh, yeah, the Outcasts are having a meeting to unite the freshmen into the group. This year was uneventful; it’s just going to be you and a girl named Pam. It’s at seven tonight.” He let go, and I hurried off.

Sal Luxeria:

Poor kid, no one seems to try to understand him…just like me. Although, no one even bothers to insult me like that. My guess is because he’s fresh meat and I’m top dog; but I still worry over his emotional damage, because he really is emotionally unstable. He’ll be happy one moment then sobbing the next. Jeez, he’s too much like a chick. Sort of like Rachael, she is a definite nut case. (Don’t tell her I said that; she won’t shut up for weeks.)

You would think the best quarterback in the state would receive something of recognition, but the only thing I receive is cold stares. Joining the football team just made “the freak” more noticeable. That’s why I started my club; so that “freaks” that nobody wants can find refuge. Tonight, we have a meeting to introduce the freshmen into the group, even though it’s December.

“Dude, I think they’re playing hard to get,” I announced behind him to get his attention. Ed spun around and flinched when he realized how closely behind him I was. His eyes slowly moved up to find my face.

I swear he is the shortest ninth grader in history; I know seventh graders a head taller than him.

When he realized it was me, I saw him sigh in relief; is he being bullied? I know that he was bullied in middle school. That’s why I immediately took him under my wing. The bullying was so bad that he tried to commit suicide. Then his father died, and he attempted again, but the thought of his sister being left with his mother alone made him stop. He has a part-time job just to take care of her.

“Any particular reason you wanted to see me?” he asked politely. Why is he wearing short sleeves when it’s snowing? Ha, he didn’t wash his hair either. Subconsciously, I started playing with that mess on top of his head he called hair.

“When do you get off of work?” I asked, my fingers slipping to his sleeves.

“Six,” he said uneasily. He jerked as I touched a new wound. I silently asked for permission; when he didn’t object, I pulled his sleeves down to his wrists and started my attack. I enjoy the taste of blood; it turns me on in a weird sort of way.

“Do you know how horny you’re making me, Ed?” I moaned softly. Shoot, that sounded bad. Quickly I added, “I’ll have to get Tony to skip English for me.” I didn’t want to frighten the little guy.

His skin twitched slightly under my tongue.

“Don’t you think they would get suspicious if two from the same class skipped?” he asked dully. Figuring I tortured him enough, I stopped and concealed the newly spit covered arm up again.

“True, but it’s worth the risk; Tony came to school high today.” I can get Tony to do anything I want her to do when she’s high.

He glanced at the clock.

Oops, he’s going to be a little late trying to get from the English hall to the Math hall.

“I better get going if I’m going to get to Algebra 1 on time,” he said.

Before he could escape me, though I don’t know what came over me, I held him in my arms. I waited for him to thrash, but he didn’t; on the contrary, I think I imagined him cuddling closer. Encouraged by this, I whispered in his ear, “You do know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

He nodded, and I placed him back down, making sure to grab him before he could run off. “Oh, yeah, the Outcasts are having a meeting to unite the freshmen into the group. This year was uneventful; it’s just going to be you and a girl named Pam. It’s at seven tonight.” I watched as he scampered off, and when he was out of sight completely, I ran to find Tony.

Tell me how I’m doing okay!