My Brain and Other Things I Don't Understand

Two

Alex

Her name was Cassidy.

It sounded as smooth as her voice, like butter rubbing onto a soft, slice of loaf. It was honestly one of the prettiest names I've ever heard.

But I was not going to tell her that. I was not going to tell anyone that. As if I have anyone to talk to aside from her, a few prying classmates, and my family.

Weeks passed by with Cassidy as the only person I could ever get along with. Although I don't speak that much or have the energy to find new friends, she was somehow the only person I could bear being in the same room with. She was the epitome of comfort. And I liked that.

I was in the boy's bathroom today, my hands idle under the moderate rush of cold water pouring out of the faucet. Slowly rubbing my hands off from the pizza grease that stained my hands from today's lunch, I went ahead and grabbed some hand soap I packed inside my bag and poured out a coin sized amount.

This school just lacks the basic necessities. It sucks. Aside from having faulty cubicle doors and clogged sinks, we don't even have a soap dispenser around inside bathrooms.

So I carry one with me.

I know, it's kinda weird actually carrying hygiene products such as tissues, wet wipes, and hand soap (in a small squeeze dispenser that is) in a school bag. I can't help it. Dirt really bothers me.

I finished washing my hands, slimy pizza grease was finally gone from them. Going out, I was met by Cassidy who had her fiery, red hair in two braids that hung loosely around her shoulders. Smaller baby hairs were hanging loose around her face but they suited her. And I smiled.

"Let me guess, you used your handy-dandy portable hand soap thing again, didn't you?" she asked mockingly as we continued to walk over to our next class.

"Sorry." I answered back.

I was still new to this whole conversation thing. I still sucked at it big time and I hated myself for not answering her with words that actually make more sense than one word answers.

"Don't be. I think it's awesome. I mean, a guy who actually cares for hygiene? Sign me up." she said with a smile.

Walking with a person like Cassidy to class was nerve-wracking. It was like I was some bag on sale with middle-aged women staring at me for my low price. It made me feel uneasy.

But I didn't want to leave her. It would be selfish to abandon someone who actually talks to you because you don't want anyone to turn their heads to look at you; the first time you were suddenly the center of attention.

I was not sure which of us people were mostly staring at.

It could be me with my skin so pale, you could mistake me for being death itself. My thick, black hair was messy and unruly, I didn't always have a chance to fix it because I was too broke to get myself hair products or something to manage it.

That was how much I disliked people.

My clothes were crumpled and old, mostly second-hand from my older cousins who were teens during the Jurassic period. Basically, they were very old and worn. My family didn't have all the money in the world to get ourselves new clothes or anything. We only just bought what was necessary. It was hard living with only a mom at home and female siblings. Everything needs to be budgeted and planned. Nothing should go to waste.

I was almost convinced people were looking at me because of how bad I dressed or how I looked closer to a vampire than a human with my physical appearance but then I turned my head to Cassidy.