I'm Not Listening.

2

"You're cowards for leaving! You hear me?! Cowards!!!"

"Asher, you're scaring me."

"Shut up!!!"

---

After a washing up session of flicking water at each other, me and Amy packed our bags, and I made sure she didn't forget her homework this time. I never heard the end of it from Ms. Sandy when I went to pick up Amy.

Amy hoisted her pastel rainbow bag onto her back and waited for me by the door, tapping her foot saying she'd be late for art club. I don't know how she could be so sophisticated, but it made me smile.

"Your love is a lie."

Nope. Not listening.

I strolled over to Amy and held her hand, opening the door to face the opposite apartment. She waited as I locked the door, then we traversed down the corridor to the stairs.
"Alright, don't slip over this time." I said carefully, holding her hand tight.
"Are you talking to me or you? Cause we've both tripped before." She laughed. I nodded and we went down.

---

Nearing Amy's school, I heard the various screams from children in the playground, letting off steam before first lessons. Amy saw her best friends Micah and Sally, and ran to them, shouting their names. I smiled. I was so happy she had friends, and good friends too. Friends that treated her well.

"Bye Ames!!" I shouted to her. She turned around but wouldn't let me go that easy. She skipped over to me and gave me a big hug, squeezing like I do sometimes.
"You be good Ashey." She squeezed more. I laughed.
"Of course I will, cheeky." I said, ruffling her light brown hair.
Eventually she let go and went to see what Micah was showing Sally that seemed to be so amazing.

I turned, and immediately dreaded my arrival to college. It wasn't like people bullied me, to my face anyway. It's just the looks, the whispers. I don't get it.
"Cause you're a weirdo with no talents." It stated as a fact.
"I guess." I said out loud. But they used to be fine. Some would even greet me! Then one day everyone was silent, and the stares. Oh the stares. I don't know what happened.

It chuckled. I frowned.

As I predicted, walking nervously on site, it was all the same. I even heard a few talking.
"I heard he took out a knife."
"I heard he attacked a teacher."
"I heard he killed someone, and the body is still in school."
"I heard.."
"I heard..."
I heard nothing. I did none of these things! But I never confronted them. That would make them more afraid, as they seemed to be afraid of me.

"I wonder why.."

My friends left me. I had no one. Luckily, no one outside of school heard anything, but the people in school did nothing to help, to stop it.

"Cause you're worthless."
"SHUT UP!!!" I screamed.

Everyone looked at me. A few looked scared. A few looked protective. Some started to run. Most avoided eye contact. All of them stared.

My breathing got heavy, and I ran into the school, trying to ignore how everyone stayed at least 10 metres away from me. I kept running, like all the predators in the world were chasing me. I reached the physics department, my safe space. Emphasis on space, I found it calming. The darkness filled with various burning balls of gas and planets inevitable to be destroyed. It was infinite, had no worries. It was calm, so I could be calm.

Usually no one else was in the space part of the phsycics department, but there was one other person. I didn't recognise them.

Their face seemed so smooth, kind of dark and prickled with freckles. But their eyes were bright, hazel, shining, full of wisdom and innocence. I would want to draw it. Every detail, sometimes focusing on certain things. They wore a blue and pink jacket, with black dungerees and a purple jumper with stars on. A lot of layers, but it was autumn. I saw they were bouncing their legs up and down in a rythmic motion. Hyperactive? And their hair, a curly, black mess but cute all the same.

Then they noticed me staring at them.

They cocked their head, but they didn't run. That was a first, I was relieved. But I also suddenly felt really awkward. I look at the tiled floor and tried to focus on all the spots of dirt.

"Hey." They said. Their voice seemed sweet. Like they weren't gonna say mean things about me. I looked up and they still had their head cocked, but they were now also fiddling with something.
"Um.. hi?" I got out. God I hate social situations..
"Hi! What's your name? I'm new here, but I want to make lots of friends!!!" They beamed. I chuckled.
"I'm Asher."

They gasped. "THAT'S SUCH A COOL NAME! Hey you know what else is cool? Space. I love space. Stars look so tiny but they're massive and planets are awesome and hey, it's dark but fun!" They said so quickly, I had to process their words in my head.
"Um.. yeah I agree. I love space too."
They screamed and jumped up.
"YESSSSS YOU LOVE SPACE YOU'RE MY NEW BEST FRIEND I LOVE YOU!!!!!"

They ran over to me in a blink of an eye, and hugged me. I was a little shocked and surprised, but I hugged them back. Finally, someone who didn't judge me.
"You must be awesome to love space." I pointed out.
"You think I'm awesome?" They looked up at me. They were quite a bit shorter than me, it was a bit like hugging Amy.
"Yeah, definitely." I smiled.
"EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" They shrieked. "We are going to have so much fun!! I'm Morgan by the way, Morgan Strind."