An Ordinary Life and Death Day (1)

Jess was an ordinary person. Completely ordinary. But everyone was right when they said that one second or a few minutes could change your lives. For her, it was just one of those regular days.

It passed two months in middle school already, but she didn't make any friends. By now, everyone had a friend or a group of friends. She usually just never talked at all during school time because she had no one to talk to. But today, she decided she needed to start making friends.

Just sitting around waiting for someone to talk to you isn't going to work. You have to take the initiative, Jess thought, trying to boost her confidence.

It was right now lunchtime, a time that she never liked. Even though the food was great, sitting alone didn't feel good. Especially when you always think that people are staring and whispering about you even if they're not. It was because of this reaction that she always sat in a place where there weren't many people. Today, though, she wanted to force herself to sit somewhere where there were many people. It was her first step to success.

Walking to the lunch line, she accidentally tripped but was held up by someone just in time.

Whew, I would have gotten a big bruise if I wasn't saved in time. I need to make sure to thank that person, Jess thought, feeling lucky.

She looked up and saw that it was a girl. She had light brown hair wrapped up in a ponytail and a face that could brighten anyone's day. She was wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and she had a red jacket tied to her waist.

"Thanks," Jess mumbled, a little embarrassed for staring at her face.

It was just one of her natural reactions to stare at good-looking people, be it men or women.

"No problem. Anyone would have helped you if they were in my position. My name is Mary, what's yours?" Mary asked Jess with a smile.

"My name is Jess," Jess replied.

It was her chance to make a friend. Stop being shy and try to find a way to keep this conversation going, Jess thought while furiously thinking about what to say next.

It was a good thing that the other person helped her.

"So what food are you planning to get for lunch? I plan to get chicken noodle soup, ice cream, and some fruits and vegetables," Mary asked while listing out her choice.

"Well, it's the same as you except for switching chicken noodle soup to pizza," Jess responded, happy that she didn't need to keep thinking about how to keep this conversation going.

They continued on talking until it was their turn to choose what to get. When Jess left the lunch line, Mary already started walking to her friends at a lunch table.

Jess just started walking around the cafeteria tables. While walking, she felt that everyone was looking and laughing at her even when she knew that no one was. Then when she got to the table Mary was at, she felt that she should ask if she could join.

But it would be too embarrassing to ask. And what if I get rejected. Nah, I don't think Mary is the type of person to reject things like this. But what if Mary's friends reject me. Maybe I should do it, maybe I shouldn't do it. No one except me knows how awkward and embarrassing it is to ask someone if I can join them. I never did this before. In the end, should I do it or not, Jess thought as she felt super duper nervous.

It didn't help that she felt that everyone was looking at her while she was walking around the table Mary was at again and again.

I could have sworn that Mary and her friends made eye contact with me, Jess thought.

Then suddenly, everything changed. An ordinary day became a life and death day...