Solangelo Oneshots

Mythomagic After School

Head down, eyes to the ground, get on with the day.

Three rules. Three rules start everyday. Rules are important. If you don't follow them, people think you're weird. People already think I'm weird.

I've gone to school for approximately eleven years. I know most people's names, all the teachers' names and what colour the headmaster's office is. It's green if you didn't know. Sage green to be precise. I like it because green is Bianca's favourite colour. Mine's aquamarine.

Bianca didn't walk down to school with me today. She has friends. They want to walk with her too. She must be with her friends now. The bench I'm sitting on is cold. My food is cold. My feet are cold. My social life is non existent.

People sit in groups around the tables. There are lots of groups. I don't belong to any of them. Eddie is staring at me. He's in the main group. The big one that's in charge only Bianca says they aren't in charge they just think they are. Eddie wants to date Bianca. Bianca doesn't like him because she doesn't like boys, or Eddie. If I was strong, I would punch Eddie like Bianca punched him when he tried to touch her breast. She reported him for harassment. The school did nothing.

"Nico!" Bianca's running towards me, almost dropping her tray as she sits. "Sorry I'm late. I made a new friend."

Bianca makes lots of new friends and somehow managed to communicate with all of them. I only talk to her and our cat and I'm exhausted. Maybe she has superpowers. Social superpowers.

"Real friend?" I ask. Bianca told me there are two types of friends: real and fake. Fake friends are the one's you're nice to because you're supposed to pretend to be friends. Real friends are the ones who steal your food.

I have no fake friends but Bianca steals my food.

"Real friend." She nods. "He's really nice. You'd like him. Are you okay if he sits with us today?"

I say 'no' in my head but I say 'yes' out loud because Bianca looks so excited. She didn't get excited for a while after Mamma died.

"Thank you!" She flaps her hands in what is known as a happy stim. She used to clap but it hurt my ears so she flaps now. Like a bird.

"Will!" She waves someone over. "Come sit!"

A tall boy comes towards us. He has shaggy hair and a large grin. He looks warm even though it's cold today.

"Hi, I'm Will," he says. He holds out a hand but I shake my head.

"Nico isn't the keenest on touch," Bianca explains. Will takes his hand back.

"That's cool. Mind if I sit next to you?"

He's talking to me. I stare for a few seconds.

"It's okay," I end up saying. I'm not sure if it is but he sits next to me. Bianca's on my other side. He could have sat next to Bianca. Friends sit next to each other, right? I can't do the wrong thing now. I might have a friend.

"I've seen you in the art block before. You're really good," Will tells me.

Small talk. Okay.

"I know."

There should be a manual for this.

Most people get cross at me when I agree to compliments but why give me the compliment if you want me to say no to it. Will doesn't seem cross. He smiles.

"How did you learn to draw?" he asks.

"I traced mythomagic cards," I answer.

"Nico is obsessed with mythomagic," Bianca pipes in.

"I am not!" I object. "And besides what is the fault in being interested in a highly strategic, intelligence building game? It teaches you valuable life lessons."

"Like what?" Will questions.

"Careful planning," I say. "And battle defence. And Greek mythology. And keeping secrets. And teamwork. And solo work. And building alliances. And how to have fun. There's nothing more to want."

"You'll have to teach me some time."

I can't tell if he's making fun of me or not. I don't think he is. Bianca stops being friends with whoever makes fun of me. If he isn't making fun of me, then he's offering friendship. Bianca says you're supposed to offer back.

"You can come to our house after school and I can teach you."

I glance at Bianca. She's smiling. Will’s smiling too.

"I'd love to." Will beams.

And he does. After school, he walks back with me and Bianca. He talks to us the whole time and he doesn't do what people normally do and ignore me. He talks to me more than Bianca. Bianca already has friends. I'm sure she'll be okay if Will is my friend.

We head upstairs to my room and I get out my cards. I start explaining all the rules to him and why they're important. He doesn't laugh at me. He nods and pays attention. We set up the game and start playing. He doesn't even mind when I point out when he makes a bad decision. He just nods wisely and tells me that this is why I'm the best at mythomagic and not him.

He's not patronising either. Some people talk to me like I'm two. They think I'm stupid. I'm not. I'm actually very smart. I got As and A*s in all my subjects last year.

"I'm hungry," Bianca says half way through the game. "I'm going to grab a snack."

"You can't go now," I tell her.

"I'll be back soon," she promises.

"How soon?"

She checks her watch. "About five minutes? Anyone want anything?"

I don't. Will wants some water.

Normally, I'd be worried being alone without Bianca. I think it's okay if it's Will. He talks a bit about himself. He has two siblings and a mother and a dog. He likes science and golden oreos.

"I like the normal ones," I say.

"But the golden ones are the best kind!" Will protests. "They make you smile just looking at them!"

"They're like you," I say. "Maybe that's why you like them."

He goes quiet and I worry I've said something wrong.

Bianca comes into the room.

"I am going to gorge myself on nachos," she says.

I don't want Will to go home but he has to. He says goodbye to Bianca and gives her a hug. Then he says goodbye to me.

"Thank you for teaching me mythomagic, even if I'm not very good at it."

"You should practice," I advise him.

"I should. Thanks for having me. I've had probably the best time in years."

"Me too. Other than when my aunt got a puppy."

"I could never achieve puppy standard."

He's smiling so I smile.

"Would you mind if I kissed you on the cheek?" he asks.

"Oh." I blink. "Do friends do that?"

"Some do."

"Okay then."

He kisses my cheek. His lips are warm and he's smiling a lot when he steps back.

"Bye, Bianca! Bye, Nico!"

We both say bye. Bianca shuts the door.

"Why didn't he kiss you on the cheek?" I ask. Bianca hands me a glass of water.

"Buckle up. We have to have the talk."