Chapter Seven: The Outsider:

I have always stood out. I don’t mean to, it just happens. Miss Caroline tried to make me feel welcome. I couldn’t tell what she was really thinking most of the time. Was she smiling because she liked me or because she had to? I stood there, blinking.

“Hi…” I said.

“Let’s have a good day together, shall we?” she asked. She pushed me along into the brightly colored classroom. I looked over my shoulder to see Miranda staring at me. She had no expression on her face. I kept my eyes to my feet. The walls were covered in children’s drawings. There was an ABC puzzle rug near the chalkboard. A podium stood off to one side of the classroom. The teacher’s desk and a TV sat on the other side. Twenty-three desks sat around the room. I took my seat near the back. Miranda sat between me. To my left sat a little boy with bright blonde messy hair. To my right was a little girl with black pigtails. I didn’t know who I wanted to talk to first. Still, part of me said that I shouldn’t at all. The black girl stared at me and waved.

“Hi,” she whispered. I glanced up at her.

“Hi…” I said.

“I’m Addie,” the girl said. “What’s your name?”

“Kinsey,” I said. Miranda sat quietly behind me. Addie smiled.

“Nice to meet you,” she said. I pressed my lips together and nodded. She tilted her head.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Not really,” I said. “I’m not used to people.”

“Huh?” Addie asked. I shook my head. She was the only one outside of the family back then who wasn’t scared off by Miranda or me. That’s probably why Addie was still alive to this day. Mis Caroline walked up to the front.

“Good morning, class,” she said.

“Good morning,” the students said. Miss Caroline turned to the board and written down her name.

“My name is Miss Caroline,” she said. “I will be your teacher this year. Let us all go around and introduce ourselves and something interesting about us. I will start first. My name is Miss Caroline and I love to draw.” I barely remember much of that first day. The students all stood up and introduced themselves. I don’t even remember half of their names. Something interesting about me, huh? I didn’t know where to start.

Then it came my turn. I stood up.

“My name is Kinsey Moss and I have a special friend named Miranda,” I said. Everyone stared at me. Miss Caroline didn’t speak at first.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “There are other things too.” My eyes shifted back and forth as the class stared at me.

“I live near the swamp,” I said. “My mama parties and is in a band. There are a lot people around our house.” There was so much more I wanted to say, but it wouldn’t come out. The many eyes on me didn’t help either. I’ve never had to do this before. Even with the parties at the house, I either stayed in my room or hid behind grandma when I had to interact with people. I just wanted to sit down now. I think the teacher got the gist.

“Okay,” Miss Caroline said. “Who’s next?” I sat down as Addie stood up.

“My name is Addie and my daddy owns a pig farm,” she said.

“I see,” the teacher said. “Who’s next?” Addie sat down and the next kid stood up and talked. I don’t know why I do that to myself. When I open my mouth, I end up isolating myself further. That’s probably why I didn’t speak so much. Miranda was the only one who could get me to talk at all. I thought that I was going to be an outsider at school too. I happened to turn to my right and see Addie smiling at me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Is your house Victoria Manor?” she whispered.

“Yes…” I said.

“I’ve heard of that place,” Addie said. “Is it true that it’s haunted?”

“Haunted? I don’t know…” I said.

“I like scary things,” she said. I stared at her, blinking. Just like that, Addie latched herself onto me. Miranda didn’t seem to mind it in the beginning. At the time, I didn’t know how to deal with it. That day, the struggle between protecting everyone I cared about by avoiding them and wanting to reach out for help began.