A Mind-Reader's Guide To Socialization

[Kale Allerion]

Miki's brow furrowed in displeasure upon pulling into the parking lot of the high school.

Why am I here? she asked herself for the thousandth time that day. Do my parents want to torture me?

Miki stepped onto the concrete. Slammed the door. She took a few steps toward the red brick building, then realized she'd left her backpack in her truck.

"Ugh," she groaned, taking the heavy monstrosity off the seat and slipping it over her shoulders. "And I have to carry this freaking thing around all day. I hate my life."

Miki realized that she was exaggerating. Yes, she'd heard of lockers. Of course, she knew she wouldn't have to carry her backpack around all day. Complaining about every little thing was her way of coping. Whether not it was an effective method, it worked.

"This homeschooling is just too hard for me, Miki," her mom had said. "Besides, you need more socialization. I hate seeing you all alone."

There is a reason I prefer to be all alone, Miki thought, but hadn't said. And if you believed in my so-called powers you would understand that!

Miki didn't want friends. She didn't want "socialization".

I don't want to hurt anyone anymore. Her heart stung with thoughts of the past.

I want to be alone.

[Black Wings]

Dawn-Renee was her name, someone a few people tended to look up to, but not as often as people thought. She cared less about her social life and worked more on school to get into a good college. She knew that the few friends that she had wouldn't make it, but Dawn wanted to. As she studied her friends would party. Every now and then, Dawn would join the gathering at someone's house, but left, finding no use of being there. It only killed her brain cells smelling the fuems of alochol in the room, the music was way too loud and she didn't like most of the people there to begin with.
After going to the party the night before, Dawn went home and studied for hours until the sun broke through the hazey coulds around it. She got to school that morning early to catch up on a book that she read a hundred times before and was looking forward toi helping the new student find her way around the school easily. But hearing Miki slam a door gave nothing to what Dawn would call "easy".

[Kale Allerion]

Great, Miki thought, trying hard not to roll her eyes. The welcome wagon is here.

This girl, Dawn-Renee, was supposed to show her around the school. She seemed friendly enough, which made it all harder for Miki to be around her.

Trust me, girl, she wanted to say. You do not want to be my friend. For your own sake, go away and quit trying to be nice.

Miki obviously didn't live up to the "nice little homeschooler" stereotype, and that's the way she wanted it.

"Hi," she said, tucking a strand of brown hair behind a pierced, but unornamented, ear. "Apparently you're supposed to show me the ropes or something.

[Black Wings]

Dawn didn't laugh. "Hi," She repeated then added more rudness into hr voice. "Look, If you don't want to know whats around here, then don't come with me, I could care less. Anyways, You're Miki? Well, Welcome. The school is small but nice in some parts." Dawn shook her head. She obviously hates me already... great. "Follow," Dawn said quietly. The wind blew slightly and ruffled Dawn's short hair around a bit. She tried flattening it, curling the small strands around her face.

[Kale Allerion]

I guess she's getting my hint, Miki thought, following Dawn-Renee down a noisy hallway. I'll humor this once, but I'll steer clear of her thereafter. Besides, if I'm lucky she won't wanna talk to me anymore.

It was then that Miki, albeit briefly, felt sorry about her rudeness. She didn't really want to be intentionally mean to this girl. Heck, she was just doing her job. But, hey...she might as well get the word out that she didn't want friends as soon as possible. Making a bad impression on day one would make things easier for day two.

[Black Wings]

Dawn kept showing the rooms off to Miki, every few had a teacher, helping Dawn ease Miki into the school. Dawn felt odd around Miki, she looked too much like Dawn, even seeming to have the same attitude in site. Both had the same features. It was creepy to Dawn at first, but she let it slide and tried not to think of it any longer.

"I'm sorry," Dawn said to Miki, back to. "About being mean earlier, I should have been kinder. Anyways, will you forgixe me?"

[Kale Allerion]

Miki shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever," she said. "I was mean, too. It's all good."

The bell rang for her first class. Geometry, she thought. Yay.

"I've gotta go, Dawn," Miki said, turning to go. "Thanks for showing me around."

As she walked down the hall, she realized something.

I thanked her. Oops. She'd slipped up.

[Black Wings]

"No problem, See 'ya around, Miki." Dawn waved her hand and turned to fight against the crowd of kids that were holding her back from getting to class.

Class, it was boring, Dawn had already pre-studied everything so this was all just a review to her.

[Kale Allerion]

Miki's mind wandered during nearly all her classes. Even without physically touching anyone, she could pick up on little snippets of their thoughts.

"New girl...she's such a jerk!...freaky homeschooler...why did she have to glare at me like that?...she kinda looks like Dawn-Renee...I think I remember her from second-grade - she was that one with the 'touching' issue..."

It was the final two thoughts that stuck out in Miki's mind the most. Did she really look like Dawn-Renee? It wasn't like she was analyzing the girl closely during their little tour.

Yes, she wanted to blurt. I am that freaky girl with the "touching" issue from elementary school! Now that that's established, consider yourself warned to steer clear!

Sheesh, one would think that people would have forgotten the weird events that happened all those years ago. But in a small town like Miki's, things like that never really disappeared from the thin local chronicles in people's minds.

Well, Miki thought, doodling in her biology lab book. Maybe the fact that a lot of people remember me will make surviving around them easier. And if not...well, at least I'll only be stuck here for two more years.

Two long years.

[Black Wings]

Dawn-Renee was quiet the entire class and then lunch rolled around. Not having many friends, Dawn ate alone. She sat at the little round table in the back of the lunch room by herself. She cleared her throat whenever someone looked at like they did everyday. She considerd them rude enough, and she decided to show that off a bit when a glare crossed over her.