defeating the purpose

Olivia was so tired of this.

It seemed everyone knew how things worked, but her. It was a bit upsetting.

True, she liked her own little world best where the dragon was actually in love with the knight that rode her back, and they had so many adventures in far away lands where no one seemed to understand they only wanted to do good.

And then there was this world where people looked at you thinking how stupid could you be. Where your manager who wasn't but a year so older than her swore he'd fire her if she didn't stop frowning. And God forbid, don't open your mouth if have to.

It wasn't easy to have friends. She was after all, an outcast. Slumming in special ed. for the most part even if she hadn't actually had a class in it for years. But she just couldn't fit in otherwise.

She could sign in a glitch if she had too. It was nice to hear for some people. Of course, there was Steve. They'd been friends forever. She supposed. Only, it was hard to tell, and yet she was used to his harshness, at times. Other people avoided the oaf, but not her. And she didn't avoid Molly, either.

Boys liked her.

"They'll like you to," Molly's eyes strayed of course as she went over the matter of the party. She was blind, after all, and she didn't have to see straight. "I'll show you what to do."

It felt like an adventure of some sort. Maybe. But what if she couldn't live up to that sort of standard?

"Really? You'd show me?" What did that mean. Hopefully, it didn't mean a high wire act and jumping a fire of some sort. She felt a little sad about it, even. Especially, after what Eric had texted. He hadn't wanted her to go.

She knew he didn't really care. How could he?

But she felt as if she'd put on a coat of icicles when she walked into that party. All the loudness about. The sick smell of alcohol, clouded with smoke that might have been just sweet weed, but since she'd never tried it, she wouldn't know. Following Molly deeper and deeper into the crowd. Just what had she gotten herself into?