Vacant

Chapter Two

          The next day, I was at the skate park hanging out with Jesse. We were sitting on the ledge of the rail, right behind the park. The view of Peterborough was great. We could see the top of every building downtown, the traffic barely visible. There were mountains in the background while the air was cool and fresh. The cliff below us always made me nervous, but I grew out of that fear as long as Jesse was beside me.

            “So, when are you going to tell everyone? You know, if you keep up you’re amazing skills, people are going to start wondering,” Jesse questioned. He was eating a hamburger, wrapped in a red and white checkered paper. Jesse ate a lot, but he never gained any weight. He was a skinny lad, but he was fairly strong as well. His auburn hair swayed in the wind, and his blue eyes were fixed on the city skyline. He chewed silently, waiting for my response. “I really don’t know. Only you and Shane know about it, and if I tell people, then they’ll start to stereotype and all. I really don’t want that,” I replied. I was feeling lukewarm in my large navy blue hoodie and helmet. I took off my helmet and hoodie, hoping I would feel better. I glanced at Jesse, who was looking at me and smiling. “You know you really have to tell them. Trust me, I think they’d do other things than stereotype,” Jesse grinned. I punched him lightly in the arm, and looked out to the view.

            “I know, I will. It just needs some time,” I protested. The sounds of skateboards rolling and falling filled my ears. I could hear people with their friends, having competitions and yelling “Oh!” and laughing at fallen foes. This is my life and I have to live it my way. I will tell more people when the time is right. I caught Jesse staring at me again, so I turned to him. “What?” I asked, wondering why he always does this. “Nothing, it’s just weird how you are one person with me, and another person behind the board.” I thought about what Jesse had said, it was true, I was a two-faced person who doesn’t have a true identity. I need to pick one and quick.

            I took my hoodie and put it back on; I then tied up my hair and placed my helmet on too. I took my glasses and threw them down the cliff. Jesse finished his burger, and looked at me in shock. “Dude, what are you doing?” I knew what I had to do, I needed to become who I really was and it starts today.

            “You’ll see.” I finished the conversation there, and left Jesse on the rail. I took my skateboard and rolled it out of the trees and out of the park. I could hear Jesse calling my name, but I didn’t respond. I just kept skating until I got home.