Boy King

The Beginning

Rory glanced into the mirror and decided it was as good as it was ever going to get. Combing his fingers through his hair one last time, he stood up from his makeshift desk and made his way into the small kitchen and greeted his guardian.

“Hello Mary.” Rory opened the fridge and got out some milk.

“So today’s your last day in school right? After this you’re graduated?” Mary peered at him from where she was sitting at the small breakfast table.

Rory made himself a bowl of cereal and answered her. “Yes, Mary. Today is the graduation ceremony and after that I’ll be out of high school.” Sitting down at the table with Mary, Rory continued talking. “I’ll turn eighteen in a few weeks and then I’ll be out of your hair. Don’t forget that the graduation ceremony is at seven.” Rory glanced up at his guardian from under his lashes.

Mary stared at him with barely concealed disbelief. “I’m finally getting rid of you? After almost thirteen years?”

“Hard to believe, Mary? Well it’s true. I’ll be leaving for Texas to move into the dormitory of my college in July.” Rory finished his cereal and placed his bowl into the sink. “I’ve got to go now. We have a rehearsal this morning and then I’ll be spending my free time working at Joe’s shop. I’ll see you tonight if you come.”

Rory walked out of the apartment and into the bright Alabama sunshine. He stared up into the sky as he walked to the bus stop. She’ll probably go out and get drunk and then show up with some guy. He glanced down the street and was surprised to see a cat sitting on the apartment complex’s fence, staring at him. The cat looked like it was waiting for something. Then it stretched and Rory could have sworn that it had fluttered wings while it was stretching.

Rory shook his head and kept walking towards the bus stop. He must be imagining things. Rory reached the bus stop and looked around, searching for the bus. Not seeing it, he glanced at his watch and discovered he was early. Ten minutes early actually.

Signing, Rory settled on a nearby bench and searched through his bag to find his music player. Finding it, he turned it on and listened as he waited for the bus, letting his mind wander. Suddenly, a shadow fell across him and he looked up.

A girl outlined by the sun stood in front of him.  Beautiful, long, flame colored hair framed her face and made her face seem far whiter than it actually was. Lush rose colored lips and pink cheeks moved as he stared. The girl smiled and rolled her eyes. She leaned closer and…

“RORY!” Rory jumped and turned the music player off and put it up. “Always listening to that music player. I bet you haven’t even noticed me waiting here with you for the bus all year.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t.” Rory made to move over on the bench but the girl just shook her head.

“Don’t worry about moving. I like standing. Anyway, so you don’t know who I am then”

“…no. I’m sorry.” Rory hung his head and tried to encourage quiet through his body language. It didn’t work.

“Don’t worry about it.” Despite her pervious statement she sat down beside Rory. “My name is Amelia. Amelia Ashvant. I’ve been going to this school for a lifetime.” She began fiddling with her bag, which sat on her lap.

Rory couldn’t ever remember seeing her. But he shrugged it off and blamed it on the fact he avoided interactions with those he went to school with.

“It’s a bit overwhelming, thinking that today will be the last time that we’ll ever set foot in that place again. I mean, we’ve spent almost our entire life in that school.” Amelia stopped worrying at her bag and looked at Rory. “Are you going to college? Where are you going?”

Rory mumbled a response. “I was accepted for the summer semester at The University of Houston in Texas.”

“Oh wow. That’s really awesome. I’m still thinking about it. I’m taking a year off before I go to college anyway. There’s the bus. Wanna sit together on it?”

Rory made a noncommittal gesture and Amelia smiled. Getting up, Rory walked towards the curb and hoped she wouldn’t sit beside him on the bus. She was so loud.

Amelia jumped up and followed after him though. Rory blocked her chattering out and hoped that she would eventually get the hint and decide to stop talking at him. The bus pulled up and the next thirty minutes was spent with Rory looking out a window and Amelia remarking on anything that caught her eye.

Later that day, Rory had suffered through three classes of Amelia, wondering in all three why he had never seen her, and if not seen her, why he hadn’t heard her before. He was at his part time job now, working for Joe in a small shop on Main Street that sold used books. Normally, it was quiet. But Amelia had followed him to work after the seniors had been dismissed early to get ready for the ceremony that would be held later. She was sitting in one of the saggy but comfortable arm chairs and commenting every once in a while on a passage in the book she was reading.

“Honestly, I can’t see the perks of being a wallflower. All you ever do is sit and watch the world go by.”

Maybe that’s the idea. Rory glanced at the red-headed girl and then laid his head down on the counter he was sitting behind. Closing his eyes, he began to day dream about what it would be like to get out of Mary’s apartment and away from this town, where everyone knew everyone.

 Except, of course, for Amelia. It seemed that every time she said hello to anyone, they would look at her as if for the first time. Then, suddenly, they would smile like they had been best friends for their whole lives. Very puzzling. Rory opened his eyes to peak at the girl. She had her nose buried in the book and so he closed his eyes again.

An eye. A large ice blue eye, surrounded by long, sooty lashes and eye liner. Rory whipped his eyes open again and suddenly he could remember a bit about his parents. That his mother was named Theresa and his Father was a giant of a man. Much more broad shouldered and taller than Rory was. He raised his head and looked at Amelia.

She was staring at him, as if she knew something he didn’t. As if she knew what had just gone on behind his closed eye lids.

“Well, it’s getting late and we’re supposed to be at the ceremony in an hour so I’m gonna go home and change.” Amelia jumped up from her spot in the saggy armchair.

Rory glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost five o’clock. He’d have to begin closing down the shop now so he could make it to the ceremony by six. Suddenly large ice blue eyes appeared in his vision and Amelia’s voice said, “You should come to dinner with me and my friends after the ceremony. Unless you already have something planned.”

Rory jumped away from Amelia and pursed his lips. Some people just didn’t know about personal space. Amelia was looking at him with wide eyes.

“I don’t know. It depends on Mary…” Rory looked down at the computer and began balancing his cash drawer.

Amelia leaned away from the counter. “Well ok then… I’ll find you at the ceremony and we can talk more then.” Amelia dashed out of the shop and down the street. Rory shook his head and closed up the shop for the night.

Rory was making his way around the crush of bodies in graduation gowns and suddenly he was accosted from behind.

“Hey!” Rory groaned internally as he heard Amelia’s voice. “I’ve found you!” Amelia ducked around Rory so she could see his face. “Have you decided on going out with us afterwards?” Amelia looked expectantly up at him.

Rory was looking for an escape when he spied a familiar looking figure stumbling towards the crowd with a guy on her arm. From the looks of things, she was definitely drunk and not in the mood to be here. Rory glanced back at Amelia and her large blue eyes and made a quick decision.

“Sure. I’ll come. I’ve just got to tell Mary first.” Rory couldn't help but feel he had condemned himself to a night of suffering with those words. He shuddered and turned to find his guardian.