The Plant

Over the rooftops

The next day I had high hopes and felt so naive. I realised at some point that I was smiling more than usual. But it didn't matter somehow.
I hope he is at school today. I hope the bullies keep their distance or stay nice and friendly... or maybe they are afraid of my kick? Or maybe... well it was probably the plant and roots that scared them. But if they saw them, wouldn't they let it become gossip? Wouldn't they...? Aah! I got to hurry just in case.

Just as I thought he sat there peacefully in the corner. Luckily with no bullies or any sign of them. This time he turned around to greet me. Which made some of the others turn around in wonder. I heard someone whisper too loudly "what happened to them?" But I pretended like I didn't hear it.
I went to him and sat down. Just smiling. But somehow he seemed uneasy about that and looked away.
Maybe something happened? Maybe that greeting was enough? Disappointed I silently disappeared from his desk and sat down in my own seat. That made the others even more curious, until they shrugged their shoulders and let it go.
I didn't want to look at anyone as the disappointment felt too big. He was so friendly to me yesterday. Why can't he be like that today? Should I just have ignored him after the greeting?
I wanted to turn around to look at him, but I just couldn't. What if I do something wrong again?

The rest of the day I tried to avoid him at all costs just in case. Maybe he will open up another day or something?

I was on my way home when I felt a shadow come closer to me. I turned around and there he was just standing there partly in the shadows looking at me carefully. I went to him reluctantly. So this is okay?
"Are you okay?"
"That's my question!" I answered realizing how I sounded. My voice was shaking. But I couldn't hide it. All day I had walked around feeling down trying to avoid him. And now he just talks to me like normal?
"I'm sorry about earlier"
"Well. You should be!" I said and looked away immediately after. I shouldn't have said that. But it all just came out in frustration and fear. I couldn't understand why I was so emotional about this.
I could hear his breathing changed a bit. As if the air was heavier.
"I'm.... sorry..." I heard him say again. As I looked back at him again I saw he wasn't quite sure of what to do. And for a moment I forgot about what had happened earlier. Right now I just wanted to understand him better.
"It's okay." I said and tried to smile.
"I want to make it up for you by showing you something" he said and dragged me deeper in between the buildings. "I hope you don't have a fear of heights"
I shook my head and soon I felt myself being lifted up into the air just above the roof tops. As I looked around I realized you could see so much more than on the ground. The city lights. People on the streets.
The ocean in the distance with waves crashing slowly against the rocks and the sand on the beach. The sun already on its way down. Autumn colours on the trees.
So much to see.

"I'm taking you down now." I heard from below. I looked at him and the branches and plant parts that held me up. It looked like an entwined tree branch that extended from his arms. We both looked at each other as I slowly came down towards him. A moment like this made the time seem slower. But soon I was back on my feet and on the ground again.
"Did you like it?"
I nodded feeling a bit better. So he really intends to stay in contact with me after all. (It wasn't just a one-day friendship.)
He smiled proudly at me. This smile makes me happy.

That night I had a dream. A dream of us watching the view from high above. He had made a tree for us to sit in. The view kept changing into weird scenery and monsters began to come up from the sea. I turned to look at him but he had become more like a plant. "What's the matter? I have always been like this." He said and took my hand. I got scared but kept staring at him. Suddenly he changed back. My arm was entwined with a lot of plants just like the first day. Right when I moved towards him I woke up. This was about to become a nightmare. But the ending was so sweet that I wished I hadn't woken up.
I hurried, took my pen and wrote it down. "... I wish this wasn't a dream. Like yesterday." Well some of it really wasn't. I clearly remember the view he showed me yesterday. I wonder why he wanted me to see it. Me of all people.