Jon still shared most of his classes with Karyn, and so he was closer to her for most of the day. He mostly tried to lay low and now draw her attention while she giggled alongside Amber, Tiffany, or one of the other cheerleaders. But every so often he'd look back to check on her, and every so often she would catch his glance. And Jon's best friend would give him the stink-eye and pointedly turn away from him.
When Jon arrived at the cafeteria for lunch, Karyn was already sitting with the cheerleaders, already in the middle of some bitchy gossip session. Jon couldn't help but look forlorn as he passed by the table. Sarah wasn't there yet, but once she did arrive, and once the real Karyn was back in control, it's not like she could get up from that table anyway. If she did try to sit with Jon, she'd just turn back into the bitch again along the way.
Jon slumped against the wall as he joined the line for food. Usually it felt like forever to get through the lunch line, but today was even worse than that. For the first time since the morning, Jon didn't have a class lecture to distract him, didn't have anything to do that could keep his mind busy. It was him and the line and the cold tile of the cafeteria wall.
And his eyes kept drifting to the cheerleader table, as he felt his stomach drop inch by inch as the seconds ticked by.
When Jon was young, before Mikey was born, when Zoe was limited to crib time in the evening, and when Jon's dad was in his night school classes, his mom would pull him up into her bed with her and turn on the TV, and they'd watch re-runs of the Mary Tyler Moore show together. Usually the theme song would start with the line "who can turn the world on with her smile?" But sometimes, on some rare occasions and for reasons that 5 year-old Jon was too young to suss out, the theme song would start differently.
"How will you make it on your own?
This world is awfully big
And girl, this time you’re all alone"
It stuck with Jon, this sadder version of the theme song. It felt more real to him than the usual lyrics, in a way that five year-olds can't articulate even if they know the emotions that they're feeling. But that was when Jon was five, and he hadn't really thought about the Mary Tyler Moore show in years.
Until this moment. Until he had to turn one last time away from the cheerleader's table, away from Karyn, towards the warming trays of the cafeteria, and he heard that mournful voice in his head once again: How will you make it on your own? This school is awfully big, and Jon, this time you're all alone."
He collected his food, and he paid for it, and he managed to hold back his tears. But as Jon turned back to re-join the main seating area of the cafeteria, he felt like he'd take any lifeline, accept any help, if only someone would offer it.
And it was in this moment when Jon felt a warm, strong hand place itself on his shoulder, and he felt for a moment like all his prayers had been answered, like this one hand was going to support him. And with just a little bit of support--
Jon turned to see who it was, and turned straight into Biff Meadows's catapulting fist.
The next thing Jon knew, he was on the floor and blood was gushing from his face.
