Misfit

Drew pulled his hood up as tight around his head as possible, trying to conceal the red faced boy underneath. He didn't see why he had to move to America. But his parents had always wanted to move here. Drew wished they would have just waited four more years until he was out of high school. He sat himself down at a desk in the back corner of the classroom, praying not to be noticed.
"Well it seems as if we have a new student. Drew? Drew Galloway?" The teacher called.
Fuck.
Drew wearily raised a hand.
"Hello there. Why don't you come up here and tell us about yourself?"
Was she serious? Last time he checked this was a high school. Not a preschool. He reluctantly walked to the front of the classroom.
"Ah'm Drew. Ah'm from Ayr Scotland." He said. He didn't get the point of this. Not like any gave a flying fuck what his name was.
The students didn't even attempt to stop the laughter. Drew's face got hot and he thanked god for his hoodie. He heard the whispers. Several kids were already doing imitations of his thick accent.
"Mr. Galloway. You won't get detention for it today since your new but we do not permit children to have hoods up in the building." The teacher said firmly.
Drew slowly slid his hood down revealing the tomato red cheeks and narrowed eyes at the teacher.
"C'mon Drew why don't ya smile for us?" The teacher prodded.
He gave a fake smile, showing off the painfully awkward gap in between his two front teeth.
He grumbled, attempting to ignore the laughter as he sat back down.

Mike sat in the back of the room, it was his assigned seat. Mike Mizanin was one of the popular kids even though he tended to be nicer and shyer than them. He was the leader of his basket basketball team and his grades were always high. He seemed to be the only one who was not poking fun and laughing at the new kid. He was directly beside the kid so he noticed him before anyone else and he felt bad for the poor kid and everyone else just had to laugh at him and his accent. The poor man couldn’t help it. Mike just stayed quiet until the boy returned to his seat. Mike usually didn’t bother people but he felt bad for the Scottish boy.
“Hey, Im Mike.” Mike greeted lightly with a friendly smile.

Drew examined Mike carefully, he was very paranoid. After concluding that he seemed nice enough he nodded.
"Ah'm Drew."

“I sort of heard, and if you need help with anything I won’t mind….”
Mike blushed a dark red, his eyes looking anywhere but Drew.

Drew nodded slowly.
He could use someone to help him around the school to his classes. This map made no sense but he didn't want to ask.

“So Umm….who do you have next?” Mike questioned quietly as he surveyed the new boy in the seat next to him.

"Er... Mrs. Shatto..." He blushed. He had tried saying that name without the accent because it sounded so stupid. But he had failed.

Mike beamed. “I got her next too. We are doing some weird project where you have to write a song and sing it to the class.” Mike blushed. “I hate it though, I sound stupid trying to sing.”

"Are you kidding me?" Drew groaned. Just his luck. "Don't worry. You won't be the worst one now that I'm there."

“Nah, I like your accent, its different and new.” He nodded to himself before looking at Drew again.
“You play sports?”

Drew shrugged.
"Kind of. Used to play football." He said.

“Im the leader of my basketball team.” He was proud, they had won the cross county trophy. “So…..you mean football football or soccer?”

"Football football." Drew chuckled, giving Mike a crooked smile. But he quickly closed his mouth after remembering the gap.

Mike smiled back, Drew had a nice smile. Mike hated his own smile, it showed all his teeth and he looked dorky.

Drew caught a boy in front of him staring. He then whispered something to his friend and pointed at Drew. The other boy laughed.
Drew blushed looking down at the paper he was supposed to be working on.

Mike glared. "Hey, Gary and Conner, stop beging so rude." The boys looked at Mike and quieted down but continued to giggle.

Drew smiled to himself. Maybe he'd at least have one person to talk to here.

Mike rolled his eyes. "You will learn to ignore them, they laugh at everything, they are the trouble makers." He chuckled. "They usually are in Internal."

"Well so far everyone in this room has laughed at me. Except for you. I'm sure I'll learn to ignore it fairly quickly."

"Yeah, I don't usually laugh at people like th. I wouldn't want you laughing at me so I won't laugh at you."

Soon the bell rang signaling the next period. Drew groaned. He was dreading going because of what Mike had told him. No way in hell was he singing in front of everyone.

Mike gathered his things and waited for Drew before walking him to the next class where they were told to get paper and pencile and write there song.

Drew reluctantly sat down with a blank piece of paper.
"I already hate this class." Drew chuckled, hesitantly sitting down beside Mike. He didn't know if they were going to be friends or if Mike was just being polite.

Mike looke up and grinned at him before going back to writtingb his song. Soon it was tim to sing them.

"Hmm... Drew why don't you go first? Since your new I'd like to see how your mind works." The teacher said.
Drew grimaced. He snatched his paper off the desk and walked to the front of the classroom. He began to sing, cheeks getting hotter with every line and every snicker and giggle he heard.
"When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all

I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you

I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind"