Love , M

Monday, ugh dreaded Monday . The very word made Raymond cringe and a Monday at a new school...just his luck. Ramond Jackson, our "main character" if you will, was a scholar to say the least but instead of devoting himself to getting into Yale or Harvard or whatever pretentious bullshit his parents wanted for him thats not the path he wanted to follow, he wanted to be different—stand out. You see Ramond was an artist, not some NYU fashion or arts major who went there because they had the money to spend. He was a real artist. That why he goes here—the most prestigious school in his state , know as Yosemite  (on a scholarship of course). Not to say his family is poor but they definitely don't have Yosemite money.

Monday morning comes scarily fast ,  Ramond still jet lagged coming off a 4 hour flight and having to unpack his whole house in the same day, rolls out of bed—not as quickly as his "tiger" mother would have liked— and practically drug himself to the bathroom to refresh his curls and shave what was barely able to be called a mustache. He walks into his closet before remembering those trivial tasks are now behind him with his new strictly mandated uniform. Yosemites uniform was simple: navy blue pants, and burgundy polo with their emblem of course, the Griffin. It contrasted nicely against his bronze skin and almost jet black hair color. He makes his way downstairs just as his father leaves for his new job at the Dermatology clinic in the middle of town.

"I almost missed you Ray" his father pull him in for an uncomfortably long hug
"It is me or did you have another growth spurt?"

Raymond was going on 6"2 with a slender build due to running cross country majority of his middle and highschool life. He had broad shoulders with slim arms. Which raises the question to why he has never had a girlfriend or any experience with women for that matter? Well he formerly attended a all boys school since elementary, which surprisingly didn't result in him being gay.

"Maybe he chuckles, I hope it's my last" he says as his father leaves

For breakfast he ate a simple avocado toast and black coffee because his mother has been insisting on eating more "fancy" meals. Though in comparison to the Hamburger Helper which she seemed only capable of cooking until recently, it seems like it was cooked by a michelin, five star, chef. As he finishes up his mom grabs her work badge signaling it's time to leave. In the car , Ramond stares out the window gauging his surrounds of his new "home". He could tell he was getting closer to the school when suddenly the grass got greener, houses got bigger, and suddenly everyone's front yard had a gate in front of it.

When he arrived it was like everything really started to settle in...This is really my new life, he thought.

He made his way down the chess tiled halls, peeping into every classroom and staring at the stone carved ceiling as he makes his way to his Ap Art Appreciation classes on D hall. He pulls open the chestnut tree door and stands in the doorway feeling the eyes practically burning a whole through him as he searches the room for his teacher.
"You must be Ramond! " says his stout art teacher in a European accent that threw Ramond off initially.
She doesn't even bother to introduce him to his class, just guiding him to his seat by the left window. Once situated he realizes the stares never stopped; though his class was diverse: having students of Asian, Indonesian, Indian nationality—it was clear they didn't get many blacks around here. The stares prompted Ramond to turn left and stare out the window until the lesson resumed. Just as the teacher began to speak again and gather the class, he felt a tap at his back.
"Hey, I'm Justin. I didn't think there were ever going to be another black kid enrolling here. Where are you from?"
"Im Ramond but I go by Ray. I just got here yesterday from Boston." Raymond says startled

After chatting throughout practically the entire class Raymond realized Justin's house was fairly close to him, not "gate with a family crest" level but still but still big by normal standards . They arranged to "hang out" after school, which just included cracking open a bottle of his dad's Ciroc and playing smash or pass centered around girls they have classes with. They agreed Ramond would ride his bike to Justin's around 7. This day would go down as the best day of Ramonds life.