The Invisible Kid 02

They dropped into Valley Creek out of nowhere. Not that it made a super big splash. At least, not as far as I was concerned. It's not like it's uncommon for two new students to show up at the beginning of second semester. Then again, I always have been out of the loop, which is probably why it took me several weeks to notice them. In fact, Rachel had to point them out to me before I realized anything.

"Have you been watching those two new kids?" she asked in the noisy lunchroom as we devoured our pizza. 

"Which ones?"

"The Varner kids. They're sitting right over there," she nodded in the direction of a secluded corner where a boy about a year older than me and a girl near my own age sat alone at a table. I had thought the place where I always sat was away from everybody, but these new kids had clearly beaten me at finding the very most out-of-the-way spot. 

"I think I've seen them around," I shrugged. "What about them?"

"They always sit alone," Rachel pointed out.

"Can't say I noticed," I said. Nothing new, for me.

"I think they look lonely and nervous," Rachel continued. 

"What's so unusual about that? They're new, right?"

Rachel shook her head thoughtfully. 

"According to my observations, it's been long enough that they should be over the new student nerves by now. I think there's something more to it."

"Like what?" 

"I think they're being rejected."

My eyebrows shot up at her bold statement. 

"How do you know that?" I asked curiously. 

"By listening to people talk," she said knowingly. "Sometimes it's handy to be a social outcast. You get to sit on the sidelines and hear everyone's take on everything."

"So what is everyone's take on the Varners?"

"Like I said, I think the other kids are rejecting them. People have spread it around that their dad is an infamous drug dealer who's been running from the cops for quite a while. The unfortunate thing is, it's true. See, they're my new neighbors, so I've picked up on some inside details."

"The Varners are your new neighbors?" I was surprised. "Nothing like telling me right away."

Rachel shrugged and nodded. 

"Yeah. But you know how I am. I'm not the best socially, so I don't talk to people a lot. My mom is the opposite of me, though. She talked with Mrs. Varner shortly after they moved here. Mrs. Varner said they're always having to pick up and move because it gets around that her kids are also involved in the mess. At worst they get bullied. Sometimes they just get pushed away."

"Kind of sad," I commented, staring into my water bottle. 

"Yeah. That's why I said what I did about them. I think the rumors have started here, too. The other students are steering clear of them."

"That's too bad," I said. 

"I agree. They at least deserve a chance to prove themselves innocent."

"Maybe they're not, though," I suggested. "Maybe the rumors are true and they really are troublesome." 

"Nah," Rachel shook her head with surprising confidence. "I don't think so. Look at their body language. They look entirely frightened, and, well, rejected. I think they deserve a chance. Besides, how else will anyone ever know the truth?"

I sat in silence for a moment, considering. Finally, though, I nodded slowly and said, "You're right. Everybody deserves a chance. Why would it hurt us to be the ones to offer it? Let's start tomorrow. We can sit with them at lunch."

"Good idea," Rachel approved.

I really don't know what came over me that made me want to reach out like that. Unsociable hermit types like me aren't usually too enthusiastic about engaging someone socially. And for someone like me, who had been homeschooled all my life until my first day at Valley Creek High, plus just being a backward, loner type, well, let's just say I don't consider myself too skilled socially. I guess Rachel's reaching out to me must have really done more for me than I thought. 

We followed through with our plan the next day. Once I went through the lunch line, I caught Rachel's eye, and she gave a short nod. That was my confirmation. I pushed through the crowd toward her. 

"Ready for this?" I asked. 

"Yup," she responded. At least she seemed confident. Though I wouldn't admit it out loud, I was inwardly quaking with apprehension. I had no clue how to kick this thing off. 

You can do this, Chris, I thought. I wasn't sure if I believed my self, but I at least had to pretend I did.

We approached the nearly empty table where the Varners sat. I noticed that they kept their heads kind of tucked down and avoided eye contact. Great. Not the most inviting reception. 

I took a deep breath, swallowed, and squared my shoulders. 

"Hey, mind if we sit here?" I asked. Phew. At least that first step was done.

The guy raised his eyes and looked me in the face for a moment, then shrugged. 

"It's a free country," he gestured toward the open spaces at the table. I noticed he had a deep voice, and now that I was viewing him up close, I could see he was pretty muscular. I also noted a pale scar running up the side of his temple and fading into his dirt-colored hair. Now I had a slight idea why kids would be intimidated by him, even if they didn't know his supposed story. 

Rachel and I accepted the cold permission and sat down at the table. The silence was so awkward. 

Think! Say something! I urged myself. Rachel got to it first. 

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rachel Reynolds," I heard her saying. 

Oh, right, introduce myself, I thought. My throat felt constricted with nervousness as I forced myself to speak. 

"I'm Chris," I told them.

"Jefferson Varner," the guy returned.

I turned my eyes expectantly to the girl who sat next to him. She was petite, with copper hair that hung down to her waist, a clear complexion, and a pretty nose. However, she didn't speak right away. She just stared at Rachel and me with a cold, cynical gaze for a long moment. Then she said bluntly, "Skye."

"Cool. It's great to finally know your names," I tried to smile. It probably looked fake and awkward, but at least I tried. 

After several more minutes of conversation-less agony, Rachel finally said, "So I'm guessing you guys are brother and sister?"

"Yup," Jefferson answered. 

More silence.

"So do you ever go by Jeff?" I asked. 

"Only to friends." 

Skye rolled her eyes. "Whatever those are," she muttered under her breath. 

"Oh. That's cool," I said. Somehow I suspected I didn't fall into the friends category. 

The rest of the meal seemed to last forever. Nobody said anything else after that until it was time to leave. Jefferson was the first to stand, Skye immediately following. 

"Have a good one," Rachel said to them as they made to leave. 

Jefferson just said, "Thanks." Skye didn't speak. They headed out of the lunchroom. Only then did I notice that Jefferson walked with a limp.