Walking Home

Gabriela walked behind her brother Alex and Monica, while Philip walked beside Gabriela, making sure to not get too close to her, not wanting to find out what she would do, if he accidentally rubbed his arms against hers or something.

********Conversation during their walk home:

PHILIP: "Your brother is nice, I am glad I get to walk home together with you."

Gabriela: ....silence...

PHILIP: "So, I take it, you don't like nicknames, even though they seem to like you." (trying to lighten up the mood.)

Gabriela: "Yes, I would prefer to be called by my name, but it seems like people at this school prefer nicknames. What is yours?" (She didn't catch what he meant about nicknames "liking her".)

PHILIP: "Um, no." (he frowned....well now what?)

Not knowing how to explain the situation. I mean he has heard people called by nicknames before, but this was a whole different story. Seeing how she didn't understand what he meant and not knowing how to explain things further without getting her upset, he regretted ever asking her about it.

PHILIP: "I don't have one." (He decided to just answer one question at a time.)

Gabriela: "I see." (What he meant finally sinking in, causing her to sigh in defeat. It seems like no matter what she did, she would end up getting a nickname.)

PHILIP: "It is probably just because you stand out, I mean you are a pretty new face inside the school." (....and you keep to yourself.....He kept that last part inside his head as well as some other reasons why she stood out.)

ALEX: Looking back at his sister and her friend, he noticed the atmosphere a bit tense.

ALEX: "Philip, do you always walk to school in the mornings?"

PHILIP: "Yes. You?"

ALEX: Pausing a moment so he can meet his Sister's eyes.

ALEX: "Why don't you try walking with Philip tomorrow morning. See how it goes."

PHILIP: Stopping, like everyone else, watching Alex turn to ask Gabriela to walk with him in the morning, shocked him. He quickly looked at Gabriela anxiously awaiting her reply. Screaming repeatedly inside his mind, 'please agree, please agree'. Not even caring about his last question being ignored nor understanding what Alex meant by, "See how it goes."

Gabriela: Looking from her Brother, who was seriously suggesting it, to Philip who looked like he was anxious to hear her reply, then to Monica who was smiling, giving her a thumbs up. She looked back towards her Brother.

Gabriela: "Ok," she said a bit hesitantly but wanting to make friends, and with Philip willing to walk with her in spite of everything that has happened, she decided it wouldn't hurt walking with him at least once.

Everyone: Inwardly all of them were grateful, albeit for different reasons, but still grateful she agreed.

Alex and Monica were happy that at least one of Gabriela's classmates was willing to get to know her, despite her odd behavior. They both could only imagine what had occurred during the day to make Phillip stand at a distance when they first saw him. Philip, of course, was happy that he is getting more chances to hang out with her outside of school since they don't see each other much during school. He began to think of what to talk to Gabriela about during lunch, reminding himself not to touch her at least for now. The thought of being able to see her smile or touch her made his imagination run wild. (Blame it on puberty, since he is just a 13 yr old teenage boy.)

**************

At the intersection where everyone parted ways, Philip told Gabriela the time to meet and asked if that was ok with her, she agreed. Everyone said their byes and left. Alex looked at Gabriela, saying he was happy she made a friend on the first day of school. Gabriela nodded in agreement, hoping he wouldn't ask about the rest of her day, since everyone was just gossiping about her, and not touching. 'I was the one to actually physically touched someone first,' she thought. Alex walked Gabriela to Amy's house before going to his.

Knowing Gabriela would be arriving soon, Amy placed snacks and beverages on the living room table, ready to hear how her first day of school had gone. After changing into house clothes, (which now consist of a loose short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirt and leggings or PJ pants.) Gabriela went to the living room where her Grandmother was to greet her, then she started to explain how her first day at her new school had gone. Amy's expressions were changing from excited, to worried, and then to horror when she heard about the cafeteria instance. At her Grandmothers' reaction, Gabriela quickly said that she didn't get in trouble and that the boy was fine. He even apologized, for his previous actions and they even walked home together. She then explained that it was decided that she will be walking to school with him tomorrow morning as well. By the end of the story, Amy didn't know what to make of the boy Philip, since she thought his actions were a bit strange, but then looking lovingly at her Granddaughter, she could only hope that the boy will help her Grandbaby to open up more and help her out with enjoying school life. She wouldn't mind Gabriela making more friends, but was truly grateful that she at least made one on her first day at a new school.