Trying To Fit In Who: Keegan and Logan Where: Music Room - Regan High When: Tuesday, February 22
Keegan didn't feel she could handle a second day eating in the school cafeteria amidst the stares and whispers she withstood her first day of attending Regan High. It was for that reason, and the looks and comments she received from some of the boys in the hallways, that Keegan retreated to an empty music room.
Setting her lunch down next to her as she sat on the bench at the piano, Keegan let out a soft sigh. She sat there silently for a moment before fingers started moving slowly over the ivory keys. The soft, gentle sound of her voice soon echoed lightly within the room.
I can almost see it That dream I am dreaming But there's a voice inside my head saying "You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm taking Every move I make feels Lost with no direction My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying Gotta keep my head held high
Logan Pendergast was a senior, popular with his friends and well sought after by the ladies (he'd yet to meet a girl he really clicked with, sadly). He hadn't cut his hair in quite a while, so it was rather long and shaggy, but otherwise he had a very tidy appearance today—He was wearing jeans and a nice white t-shirt. He smiled brilliantly at a few girls as he passed them (who were all soon giggling and fanning themselves) and collected his lunch from his locker before taking the long way to the cafeteria.
It was lucky that he did go the long way, come to think of it, as that led him directly to the path of the music room. Hearing Keegan, he quietly made his way inside, set his lunch at a nearby table and picked up an acoustic guitar. He listened briefly, and started to strum a few chords in unison to her piano playing.
</i>There's always gonna be another mountain I'm always gonna wanna make it move Always gonna be a uphill battle Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb</i>
Keegan hadn't heard anyone enter the room, but when the teen heard the accompaniment, her fingers stopped their movements along the ivory keys. "I didn't think anyone used this room during this period." She said apologetically, and without a glance back to see who now occupied the room with her, reaching for her lunch as she moved to stand. Last thing she was wanting at the moment was company or to be subjected further to looks and whispered words of her peers.
"No, no, no. It's okay," Logan replied as he set the guitar back down on the stand and moved over to her with his hands apologetically in the air. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you or anything. I just heard you playing and—You're really good," he complimented her. "You should consider joining band or something."
"Not sure I'd fit in." With lunch in hand, Keegan turned toward the guy. And she wasn't about to making any protest concerning the boy's compliment. Keegan knew she could handle a piano quite well as her mother had taught her to play, and it seems like she hadn't forgotten any of those lessons.
He smiled softly. "One of the new teachers books this room out on Thursday afternoon's. It's a group thing... the drama and music kids come here... writer's... it gives us a way to express ourselves freely. You wouldn't have to perform if you don't want to, but you should come."
Keegan was hesitant about all of that. "I'll consider it." The girl told him after a beat. That had been, after all, what she was doing prior to Logan's entering the room. Expressing her feelings through the music she played. While the guy seemed to be accepting of her, Keegan wasn't sure if the others in the group would be.
"That's all I ask," he replied, giving her a warm smile. Logan wasn't the type to judge people, and more than that, he was a friendly guy. "You're Keegan, right?" A kid coming in near the end of the school year was big news, apparently. "I'm Logan."
"Yeah," she answered. Keegan then felt a slight sinking in the pit of her stomach. If he knew her by name, then there was a possibility he knew more then she'd like him to know about herself. "Nice to meet you, Logan." The blond returned politely.
He'd heard the rumors, sure... but again, he wasn't one to judge. Nor was he one to take advantage. "Well, it's nice to be met." He picked up his lunch. "Anyway, I should probably go and meet my friends." He could tell that she was a bit standoffish, but he put it out there anyway: "You're welcome to come, if you want. We're all wacky in our own way, so if anything, we'll provide you with amusement."
There was a brief moment of hesitation there with Keegan tucking hair behind her ear before the teen responded. She could either hide herself away from the entire student body or she could take a chance in trying to fit in. "If you don't think they'll mind the intrusion of an outsider."
"Nah, they're pretty accepting of new people," he assured her, opening the door to let her out first before leading the way to the cafeteria. "I promise if they make you uncomfortable, I'll eat my feet." Yes, that was how much faith he had in his friends.
Now that got an authentic smile out of Keegan when she stepped out of the music room into the corridor. "Well, I'm definitely the new kid on the block." Keegan said as she walked beside Logan toward the cafeteria. It was kind of ironic that the room she tried avoiding was now the one she was seconds from entering.
"Well, stick with me and hopefully it'll be an easy transition for you," he replied with a warm smile. Logan was a fairly popular student so he hoped that, at the very least, people would treat Keegan with the respect and kindness that he was showing to her right now. He led by example. He pushed the doors to the caf open and led her over to the table that he usually sat at with his friends.