"Hey," said a tall boy as he sat next to me on the bench. "Are you new here? I'm Sean - that is, s-e-a-n. What's your name?" I merely grunted in response. "This place is kinda boring, huh?" He chuckled. "Do we have any of the same classes? What's your opinion on the colour red? Purple? Green? Orange? Blue? You're pretty. Like, super pretty. Sorry, I'm a little gay, haha. Well, a lot gay. Are you homophobic? What's your name?"
I sighed. "My name's Mike," I said. Sean smiled.
"Wow, Mike! What a cool name. Can I call you Mikey? What class are you in? Wow, you're quiet. That's alright with me. I like your jacket. What shade of purple is that? Is purple your favourite colour? Where did you move here from? Are you British? Gasp, I love Britain! It's so pretty. Like you! Or maybe you're not from Britain. I just thought because of your accent. I love your accent! I'm Irish, by the way. I speak Irish Gaelic occasionally, but it only comes out when I get mad. Are you mute or something? I do think you're beautiful. Are you homophobic?"
"What I am is exhausted," I said quietly. Sean just laughed.
"I like you, Mikey!" Sean continued to drone, asking several questions and sometimes a statement or observation. I never answered one, but he didn't seem to mind. He sure was a talker.
Finally, thank goodness, his bell rang, and Sean got up and ran to the door, leaving me alone on the bench. I saw Evan float off a nearby tree towards me.
"Does he never stop talking?!" he shouted, rubbing his ears with an exaggerated pained expression. At this, I laughed loudly. Sean, still standing around the corner, poked his head around and smiled at me. I briefly smiled back as he left; I saw him sprint toward the door, along with the rest of his grade.
"You know, Evvie," I said, "maybe I like him, too." I smiled at the door Sean entered and flinched as I felt the cool mist of spirit creep up to my ear.
"You have a crush~?" he teased, grinning. "Oooh! Mikey has a crush~! Mikey has a crush~! Mikey and Sean, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-"
"STOP!" I shouted, flushed and laughing. "It's not like that, I swear!!" Evan cackled and poked my arm lightly.
"Sure, Mikey," he said. "Whatever you say."
I smiled even broader as I saw Sean staring through a window at me from the second floor. I waved, and he waved back.
