Earth is Dying

Chapter 5

He approached me one day, when I was writing in my journal, oblivious to the world around me, and asked me what my name was. I was so content where I was, that I almost turned him away, without even looking at him. But I'm so glad I didn't , because his dark brown eyes and hair made me stop in my tracks for a second, and I wondered why a boy like him was wondering who an outcast like I was. His name was Atlas Montana, a name that I would never soon forget. He had a raspy voice, and he was well-built, definitely one of the more muscular men I've seen in my life, but then again I don't go out much.. When he asked me my name, and I took the time to look up at him, I lost my train of thought. I didn't think the orphanage had guys my age that were actually attractive. It took me a while to stop gawking and pull my gaze away from him. I brought myself back to reality, and put an unbothered expression back on my face saying, "My name is Layla." I didn't ask him anything about himself, and I pretended to be busy. I hadn't thought about a guy since Miles, so seeing him was definitely unnerving on the inside and I felt like there were worms of anxiety crawling throughout my whole body.

It reminded me of when I had my English exams, and I was so nervous that my palms were pouring with sweat and my heart was beating 100 beats a second, like I had 10 cups of coffee, and my body was on overload. I thought that since I managed to have a calm composure, and seemed uninterested he would turn around, but he didn't.

"When did you get here?", he asked, watching me desperately check the soil by tracing around dirt with my finger.

"Why do you care?", I shoot back, looking square into his eyes. I can only look into them for a second before I notice my cheeks turning red. I blame it on the hot weather.

"I've seen you, you know, by yourself every day over here. I got here a little over a month ago, and I've talked to everyone else but you. I've been waiting to talk to you."

I stop tracing the dirt, and I feel the worms again. He's seen me?? What does he even mean by that, and every day?? Why would a guy like him even notice me, or want to talk to me... Why would a guy like him wait to talk to me?

"What makes you think that its okay for you to stand here and stare at me from a distance? Don't you think that's a little bit creepy?", I ask, I'm standing up now, and starting to get a little bit frustrated.

He smiles at me, and something I've never felt before emerges. "I can't help it. You appreciate the beauty of nature, and I've liked to appreciate the beauty of you."

I can't help but laugh, it must be a joke. Then I see his face, totally unbudged... It has to be a joke... right?

I don't even know how to respond, so I just roll my eyes and say, "I'm guessing you use that on all the girls?" He smiles at me again, and I think the sun somehow starts to shine brighter. I cant let him notice how much his appearance is affecting me, so I look away. There's a reason why I've chosen not to talk to anyone unnecessarily here, and that's because everyone I've cared about has left me in some sort of way. Maybe its unhealthy for me to be alone for this long, but I don't care. There's so much peace in being alone, and I have this bubble floating around me that doesn't let anyone hurt me. I want to keep it that way.