Flowers on Graves

DISCOMFITED - chapter one

Whether or not you believe in evil doesn't matter to me. It couldn't mean less, because I know it exists. I've seen it, and I've experienced it. It presents a normality to an extent where you know something isn't right. Evil is what life tries to hide. Its what we all try and pretend that we aren't, and yet secretly it lies just below the surface of every single person. It's what the movies and the music show with underlying notes but with a cheery curtain, so it can never be certain.

Senior year was different. My parents decided to split after almost 11 years of nonstop fighting and holes punched into walls only to be later filled up and covered up with a bunch of roses and another ring to add to the sorry ass collection of apologies. My mom and I decided to move  to Shady Dale, Georgia. My father picked up all of his things, quit his job, and moved to New Zealand to be with a woman twenty years younger than him - what a shining role model to the already wonderful men who walk the streets. So that left me with my mother, who thought it was best for me to experience everything on my own. Now this little rule of hers went for pretty much everything: school, heartbreak, and possibly jail because she thought her mother was too high strung, so she decided the best way to raise a kid would be the exact opposite way. Whatever she needs to sleep at night, I guess.

I started at the new school in the oddly warm month of August. I would miss D.C., I would miss the cold, and I would miss the lacrosse team I had grown so much to love. Those were my girls, the only people who really understood me when I said I wasn't doing well. But I had to give all of that up for Shady Dale High School: Home of the Horsemen founded in 1874, which was a generic school. Basic unpainted brick walls, with that classic prison feel. As I walked in the trophy case sat right in the front with freshly cleaned glass reflecting the glare of the LED lights.

The office was in the front of the building. They gave me my class schedule and basically kicked me out- guess they aren't too fond of visitors. At that point I made my way around the maze like school and eventually made my way to the chemistry lab. As I walked in that room, I wanted to turn right back around. I'd rather get my GED.

"Oh my goodness! A new student! We are so excited to have you here my darling! My name is Miss. Peach and I would just love it if you could introduce yourself to the class!" She basically shouted from excitement. I'd rather go into cardiac arrest than tell strangers fun facts about myself.

As I opened my mouth to speak one of the boys in the back began to cough, "My name is Topanga Myres and I moved here from the Capital District in DC. I'm 18 and I've been playing lacrosse for at least eleven years - midfielder to be specific." I told them through a very fake smile.

"Well Topanga, I'm very glad you're with us this semester. You may have a seat next to our own Mr. Bryant." She told me in a less loud expression.

As I began to walk towards my seat people began to whisper and some even began to glare. I guess he has some influence here. I really couldn't care less.

"Topanga?" the nameless kid spoke 

Yes?" I answered

"I'm Christian. It's nice to meet you." He introduced himself

I put my hand up and give him a slight wave with another fake smile, "Nice to meet you."

"I noticed that you said your'e a midfielder. Our team is actually having open tryouts today, and if you wanted to, you could drop by and maybe show coach and my team a couple of moves from your previous team."

"I'll think about it. Thanks for bringing it up."

This school was already becoming too much. The girls seemed snobby and Christian, well, he's the exact fuck-boy I was mentally preparing myself to meet, but not on my first day. I know exactly what he wants, and thats exactly what he planned when he brought up the open tryouts. I couldn't ever imagine playing with another team anyways, after all, eleven years with the Flyers was all I've ever known because they were home.