someone special

Chapter Three

I hear an alarm ring, and I jolt awake. It is December 16th, I have school. I slide out of bed and walk across my room. I glance at the mirror and see myself, and then walk to the bathroom.

After I am fully put together, I step out of my house and walk through the torturous snow. My school is about a 30 minute walk, but I don't have a car so it's my only option. Its a small school, basic education and nothing real fancy. I don't eat the school lunch but usually a granola bar holds me over until its over at 2:00 pm. I don't have friends, maybe one or two girls I talk to but they don't really know me. I am just waiting to graduate, senior year has been the longest.

Though I am walking a separate path than the one to the cafe, I remember everything from the night before. I remember Gabriel. Gabriel Moorre, is what he told me his full name is. He said that his mother didn't care enough to give him a middle name, I thought he was joking but the topic was sensitive. He mentioned how his favorite animal was a cat and he had three of them. I told him about my parents and how they're always on vacation or a work trip. I told him that my school was a 40 minute walk from the cafe. I told him I lived near, he told me he did too. Gabriel Moorre. He didn't go to high-school, as soon as he had escaped middle school he dropped out to get a job. I asked him if he was dumb, he told me that he took the occasional online class.

I let my mind wander as I take the long walk to school, only paying attention once I've realized I have arrived. I walk up the steps to my school and enter the gym, there's a group of kids sitting on the bleachers and talking, and a group of kids tossing around a tennis ball across the gym. I look at both groups as I walk through the gym and into the rest of the school. It's before first bell, and before a lot of people even arrive at school. I suppose I walked fast today because I'm not usually early.

I decide on walking to the auditorium. Usually the theater kids practice there, but there's a bunch of rows of seats and I can always just sit there while I wait. I push open the doors to the auditorium to reveal a semi lit room full of seats. Six students stand on the stage reading out lines to each other, they are all over-dramatic in their delivery. A teacher stands in the pit of the stage, giving cues for the students. They all seem pretty focused in their work, except the one that makes eye contact and smiles at me. I give a small wave and then find a seat, put my headphones in and close my eyes while listening to the music.

After what I could only think had been 10 minutes, I feel a tap on my shoulder. I open my eyes and turn my head, where I see the same girl which had been smiling at me earlier.

I take an earbud out and she retracts from her close position. "Hello!" she speaks loud, hurting my ear. I cringe but nod back. This girl has a blonde bob-like haircut and dark blue eyes, she is wearing bright pink makeup and a big black choker. She smiles big, so big I wonder if her mouth is too big for her face.

I am hesitant to say anything, yet I do. "Hi, can I help you?" I half smile.

Her eyes light up, "I think your hair is cute. Did you like the performance?" I slightly slide away from her, now in the corner of my seat. What does this girl want?

I consider standing up, maybe walking away. "I didn't watch it." I whisper, looking around the auditorium to make sure other people are here.

"Rude, wow." she frowns.

Before I can get up and leave, a boy who I hadn't seen comes up behind the girl and grabs her shoulders. "Bridget, leave Simon be." the boy speaks. I look up at him, he looks a little taller than myself, but he towers over the girl. From his info, I can assume this girl is Bridget. I stare at the boy, hes got dark skin and patches of beige all over his arms and two big splotches on his face, Vitiligo is what I think they call it. I have never seen this boy in my life, I'm stunned he knows my name.

Bridget spins around to look at the boy and then looks over at me. "Simon? Cool name! What year are you?" she spits out words like rapid fire, the boy rolls his eyes.

I look at the boy, and then Bridget, and then the boy again. This is such a strange situation. "I'm a senior." I say before checking my phone to reveal I have 10 minutes until homeroom.

The boy sits in a chair a row behind us. "He's in like half of my classes." he says. I look over at him, raising an eyebrow. "I'm Flynn?" I stare blankly at him, I don't pay attention to my classes but I seriously cannot remember this boy. "Simon Levine, you are in my history, composure, and french classes. Do you seriously not know me?" I shake my head, no. Those are all legit classes of mine, but not once have I seen this student in them.

Bridget laughs at Flynn, "Holy shit! You're ruthless, Simon!" she smiles and holds up a hand for me to "high-five". I shake my head no. She frowns, "Oh, you're no fun."

"I'm sorry, I really don't know you." I scratch my neck and stand up, grabbing my bag and getting ready to flee.

Flynn smiles, "That's okay, you do keep your wits."

I nod politely, almost bowing and then scurry off. As I leave the auditorium, I hear Bridget. "I seriously need that guy to be our friend. Did you see what he was listening to?"

Flynn scoffs, "You creep."