Where Sky Meets Water

Chapter 7

Jun's POV:

9 years ago - Freshman year

After a troubled year in middle school, dad transferred me to this place. Same story, every year.

Bullies chased after me everywhere. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, right?

Right from middle school people labeled me as the "troubled child." The rich kid who was useless and did nothing but fight.

I never really liked to study. I hated all of my classes. Except for one - music. And my art class - my teacher was the best.

Music fascinated me like nothing else did. I loved to sing. Until the bullies got to me. It all started with me winning a middle school competition against the most popular girl in school and then people spread rumors about me using my dad's influence to have done that. And then I found out through the other kids that Dad was trying to go after my kind music teacher. Ugh. That made me sick.

One thing led to another and now I'm here.

I've been minding my own business, trying my best to not attract any attention to myself. I didn't want to upset dad even more if I did something wrong again this year.

It was a nice day. The weather was quite pleasant too - until a certain girl got a bit too persistent.

"Have you done the homework?"

It's that girl - Myra. She always hanged out with me. I tried not to say anything much. Couldn't handle people. I didn't want to be rude and scare her off either.

"No."

"Oh. But it's important - it's a graded assignment."

I shrugged. I didn't care.

"Do you only speak in monosyllabic words? 'Yes,' 'No,' - is that all you say?"

I pursed my lips and didn't react. That was annoying.

When it was time to go home, Myra brought a tall guy with her.

Omg. Male Myra. I mean - he looks like Myra who had a growth spurt with glasses.

He holds out a hand. "Hi. I'm Sam." He smiles shyly.

If you'd look beyond those glasses he's wearing - people would call him 'Classically handsome.' Like Myra. She's pretty.

I stare at his outstretched hand. He holds it open for a moment and then takes it back.

I was too late to respond. Again. I think I kind of lost my human side to respond cordially anymore.

"He's my big brother," Myra says with a smile, "he's in senior year."

I nod. I'm trying.

I know they were not going to bully me. It's just me - unable to let go of the past thanks to kids who pretended to be my friends, only to turn their backs against me, making my life miserable.

I looked at Myra's honest eyes and Sam's. His eyes met mine for a second, then he sharply turned away to look at the trees on the other side of the sidewalk.

Oh no.

I try to smile back a wobbly smile.

"Nice to meet you, Sam."

Myra gives an exaggerated shocked expression.

"Omg, you saw that Sam? She smiled! You can smile? And you can talk? You've got facial muscles in there that work?" She said as she touched my face.

I shook my head away from her.

"Woahh. Our ice-queen has some warmth in there after all," she poked my cheeks and smothered me with a hug.