Wildest Dreams

o n e

Specks of sunlight passed through the blinds of my window, hitting my skin with a hint of warmth. The alarm on my bed went off, signifying another morning had arrived.

I rose from the floor I was sitting, my knee joints popping from sitting the whole night. I snooze the alarm, letting out a sigh. I looked around the room, it was still untouched even though I've been occupying it for two weeks now.

It was my mother's room when she used to live with her parents. But after she and my dad died, I had to leave my old home and here I ended up.

After I took a warm bath, I went downstairs to greet my grandparents and eat breakfast. It was silent as I ate; I didn't like it because I didn't grew up in the quiet. I felt lonely in this room and yearning for any sort of noise to cover up the tension. I feared that this might be my everyday situation and the loneliness will soon eat me up.

Unless the nightmares raced to it.

Later on, I was sat in the front passenger seat of my grandfather's truck. It was a silent ride as well, so I was left to my own reminiscing of my old life.

My life was the countryside. I witnessed the sun travel the sky and conquer the horizon. I stayed up late with constellations above my head, only to sleep when the wind sang a lullaby. I would've never asked for a better life with my family.

But all good things come to an end, as they said. Those who have met tragedy.

When Grandpa dropped me off in front of school, he told me he'll pick me up later as well. He bid me goodbye and that I have a good day.

Walking in the hallways full of other students, I strangely felt a bit more relaxed. There was noise, there was people, and it was high school. I could've considered it a good day already, if not for the fact that city folk are sometimes shitheads.

"Excuse me?" I tapped on a girl's shoulder. She turned around to answer me, but a look of disgust crossed her face and instantly turned away.

I shook my head, looking back at my schedule and then trying to approach more people. But they all shared the same cold shower towards me.

I was getting frustrated rather than disappointed with these suburban teenagers.

Screw them and screw this life.

I was about to turn away to another direction when I saw a boy with his back leaning on the lockers. I decided to approach him.

What more could I lose anyway?

"Excuse me?"

The boy straightened up as I made my way towards him. He seemed surprised so I thought he was just new here like me.

"Do you know where Mrs. Harrison's homeroom class is?" I asked.

"Uh... that's my first class too," he replied, but far from the answer I wanted.

"Nice to meet a classmate then," I said, being polite out of frustration. "You're not heading there yet?"

"I'm waiting for a friend."

"Okay. Do you know where the classroom is though?"

He shrugged. Hopeless.

"Thank you. See you in class then." I flashed him a grin then walked away.

This is a hellforsaken place. Why am I not dead yet?

Five minutes later, I was in Mrs. Harrison's homeroom class. The boy I talked to earlier arrived ten minutes after me with a friend of his. Polar opposites they were when they entered.

He was shy and even embarrassed when they entered, instantly apologizing to the teacher. His friend on the other hand even styled his slick black hair and just came in  without saying anything.

They sat in the front row after Mrs. Harrison told them she'll let go of their tardiness since it was first day of school.

Lucky.

#  #  #

"Hey!" Someone called from behind me. I turned around and saw the boy I talked to this morning.

"I just wanted to say sorry I can't give you directions earlier."

"It's fine. I'm sorry too if I came out a bit rude when I walked away. I swear that's just how I walk."

He grinned. Somehow, it was contagious because there was a smile tugging on my lips, too.

"I'm Glen by the way. Glen Lantz. Are you new? Not new in the school, I meant in the neighbourhood."

I raised an eyebrow. "What gave that away?"

"Your walk."

I giggled and then I stopped myself quickly.

"No, I'm kidding," Glen jested. "It's just that I've never seen you around town plus your accent's kind of, well, it's new to me."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Glen."

He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck.

"So since you're new here... my friends and I are hanging out, we can show you around before you go home, if you want."

If I was going to be honest, my heart actually fluttered at his kind offer. It's been a while since I encountered genuine kindness.

Maybe that's because he doesn't know my past yet.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'd love to but my grandfather said he'd be picking me up. I don't want to make him worry when I'm suddenly gone."

Glen nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll see you around then..."

And I realized that I haven't told him my name yet. "Oh! Maple. Maple Hartley, at your service."

"Like the syrup?"

"And the tree it came from."

Glen laughed at my lame joke, which surprised me, but I didn't show. My parents used to be only ones who laughed at it.

"Okay, Maple. Good one. I'll see you around." He took backward steps, leaped then turned around.

"You too, Glen!" I waved my hand. He glanced back, smiling at me. I watched until his friendly figure was out of sight because of the corner of the school building. I let out the breath I didn't even know I was holding.

Later on, I sat in the silence in my grandfather's car and realized that maybe, just maybe, I could have a second life here where no one actually knows me and my past.