Clipped

The Way We Are

Jake was unique. Most people are, but Jake’s uniqueness was curious. He blended in with the people he was around. He was just smart enough to converse with the “nerds,” just athletic enough to keep up with the “jocks,” just cool enough to hang with the “popular” crowd, and just rebellious enough to chill with the “skaters.” Being adaptable, Jake knew a lot of people, but only had a few real friends.

The adjustment to high school had been rough. The work was doable, but it wasn’t so easy socially. Jake entered high school starting fresh, knowing only five people from his junior high and a couple of others from outside of school. He signed up for the football team partly out of love for the sport, and partly because it was guaranteed that he would know at least 40 more people by the time school started.

Things didn’t work out exactly as he planned. His sleepaway camp had run late and he had left a week early to make the last day of summer practice. There was still a week of football camp to get to know the guys, but it seemed like cliques had already formed within the team. Being late was advantageous, however, as Jake could test the social waters, rather than being sucked into a group he didn’t like.

He ended up floating, adrift in a social sea. Not committed to any one group, he had time to himself, but could latch on when he wanted company. He had fun, and eventually got to know all the guys, finding few he really disliked. There was this loner, Mike, who mostly kept to himself, but hung out with the “popular” guys when a group situation arose. They found themselves across from each other at lunch one day and made quick friends. They hit it off instantly, as an easy rapport developed.

Jake and Mike were down, and by the time camp was over, it was as if they had known each other for all of their lives. They could be mistaken for brothers at first glance. They had a mental connection, one always knowing what the other was thinking; even finishing each others sentences on occasion. An unparalleled rivalry started, as only friends can have. The results were even, and all in good fun. They could talk about anything, and usually did.

The start of the school year offered nothing new except teachers and subject matter. Jake got to know a couple of people each class, and they were his usual garden variety of acquaintances. There was Danny, the computer junkie in English, who played with Magic cards in his spare time. There was Sally, the cute girl in chemistry, whom he called for the homework once. There was Matt, the guy that got all the girls and maintained a 90 average. There was John in French, who talked so much trash in sports you’d think he was the man, but once he stepped on the court, the talking stopped. Mary the tomboy, Will the jock, Brian the pothead, the list went on.

But what Jake wanted most was stability. He wanted to be “in” with one group of people, and know everyone well. To be part of something, instead of a parasite, leetching off any available host. It was something Mike had. Mike was either by himself or with the “popular” clique; none of this floating around bullshit. But he and Mike were friends, and he didn’t want jealousy to get in the way. He wanted to keep his friendship intact, to have stability at the lowest level. Jake was almost labeled a jock, but avoided that because he wasn’t stupid and didn’t spend all of his time with the guys on the team.

As school let out early one day, Jake was hotly debating whether escapist entertainment was necessary for the mind to function properly with a couple of guys easily classifiable as nerds, when the “popular” clique walked by. The catcalls started almost immediately. “Hey Jake, you gonna go play Magic when you get home?” “Why don’t you fix my computer, you fuckin’ loser?” In a nerdy voice, “E=Mc2 is directly proportional to how much you suck.”

The worst part was, Mike was with them. Not taking part, but not doing anything to help Jake out either. Jake was humiliated, but let it slide, thinking, “They’re popular. It’s their job to make fun of nerds.” Even so, he was surprised at Mike. He figured Mike would at least make a motion for the guys to cut it out, but none came. “Maybe it was a fluke. It happens. I’ll give him another chance,” Jake thought.

The school year trudged on, with the football season ending, and midterms approaching. The social structure at structure at school stayed the same, with Jake still floating adrift. Jake and Mike hung out when they could, and with time Jake forgot about the incident. Things were as normal as they would get.

Jake eventually got to know this one girl pretty well and they ended up going out a couple of times. The relationship didn’t last long, but its effects did. The girl wasn’t that cute and the guys on the team didn’t let Jake forget it. They dissed on him constantly, to the point where Jake started to tune them out completely.

Jake and his ex hadn’t seen too much of each other since and had made no effort to rectify things. Jake had a free period one day, and decided to go out to lunch. He ran into her at McDonald’s. They ended up having a pleasant conversation and were eating when the guys on the team walked by. Jake was so engrossed in his conversation he didn’t notice until he heard the muffled laughter outside and looked up. He saw then pointing and making faces and unintelligible comments. He turned back to his conversation, but thought something had been out of place.

He realized Mike had been there, laughing and pointing with the rest of them. He did a double take to make sure he had seen correctly, and then, emotions jumbled, made an excuse to go to the bathroom. Jake locked the door and grabbed the sink for support. Looking into the dirty, rusted mirror, Jake saw a face twisted with a mixture of anger, disappointment, and humiliation. It was then Jake embraced his uniqueness and realized if that was being part of a group, then he didn’t want in. Collecting himself, he went back outside and promptly asked his ex out on a date.