The Annoying Dreamer and the Artistic Doubter

Manufactured Truths

When she came into class the next day, they noticed Silas staring out the window, too busy and smiling in thought.

"Maybe he's planning on shooting up the school."

Camila grew uncomfortable with the comments as it seemed he cracked his neck back and forth, just pointing to the window with a finger gun.

"Probably looking for a good place to get a sniper gun to shoot us down from another building. Right, Camila?"

"Uh, sure," faking laughter alongside them. "Would he really do that?"

"I mean it's only a matter of time."

She wasn't going to get anywhere, turning around to talk to Royal.

"Is that true?"

"Nah, of course not. They just be bullying him for no reason. If it was true, he's not killing me though. Hey, Silas," she yelled. "You won't murder me if you pull up with a glock, right?"

He didn't answer, leaving both of them scared.

"Change the subject. Does he like anyone?"

"He was into Majesty but he did something stupid to her once, but she forgave him. Maybe Taheirah, but she was just faking it. He felt mad when he found out. Why?"

"Curious. Would he try to steal someone else's girl?"

"Nah. But if he was into someone, I'd want him to tell me."

When the class ended, Silas was the first to get up and leave, but Camila spotted a note. Too late to let him know, she took a quick look, with hearts drawn around the words.

See you everyday, since we met at the store, big breasts, those strong bones.

Who is that? She put it down, and left, quietly, spotting another classmate looking at it, not prepared for what came next.

"Silas has a sneaky link with someone?"

"They see each other every day. Who is stupid enough to get rizzed up by him."

"Yall need to figure it out, just ask him in the locker room. Keegal, you do it."

"He always gets out before we get there."

"What do yall do to each other in there?"

"Talking about who has the biggest sausage."

"It has to be from our grade though, right? Ask the StuCo people."

"He said he don't like none of yall that way."

"Well he does now. Mans not even into gyat. But what he means by strong bones?"

"Majesty was on the cheerleading team. I guess he's into jocks."

"Fine, you ask Majesty. So who in the basketball, soccer, or cheerleading team he vibes with?"

"What about Athena: she's got arms, breasts, and a gyat."

"I'm literally standing right here. But doesn't he hate basketball?"

"Okay so it's Emerald?"

"As if. We're rivals. Well if his ball control wasn't so sloppy."

Camila watched this unfold over the whole week while Silas evaded everyone's attempts to ask him about it.

"Royal, maybe it's you?"

"You think so? But we never went to a store alone. I know, you could ask him! You're new so he might trust you with it."

"Sure, but I don't want to go behind his back."

"Alright, you figure it out for yourself. Just let me know if it's someone in the school."

Just to be clear, she asked Mecole, Blanca, and Tilly.

"No idea. He would've told me at least."

"Wait, does he like Spanish or black girls?"

"It's definitely one of those," Tilly groaned.

With no answers at the end of the day, Camila followed him back into the class while everyone else went to their lockers.

"Hey, can we talk now?"

"Oh yeah, sure."

"The whole grade's been trying to figure out who this girl is: Majesty?"

"She's into someone else. Think about it."

"Everyone sees her every day, you met her at a clothing store, she has big boobs, and good bones. I give up, who is it?"

"We're in the same room as her right now."

She looked around. "Me?"

"No, not you. "That."

He was pointing to the skeleton.

"Wait. Big breasts," touching it, "good bones..but the store."

"They sell those at Walmart. I never said it was a real person. Putting a few details and heart-shaped notes on a piece of paper makes the perfect bait for gossipers.

She couldn't contain her laughter. "I can't believe you managed to make everyone fall for that."

"And now it's our little secret," he teased. Then Principal Dresden opened the door.

"Mr. Knight, a few minutes to talk about certain statements that came to my attention regarding your female peers?"

Camila waited till he left her office.

"She said not to give into peer pressure," sighing. "Even when I win, I lose," hearing the bell ring. "Anyway, let's go, that A train's going to come soon."

"I thought you took the 2 train?"

"I can get off at Nostrand and take the bus home. You said none of your friends went the same way as you, right?"

"True," spotting they had ten minutes to get there and bolted. On their way, she had this to ask him.

"So you're not into any girl from high school?"

"I wouldn't say that," thinking about that. "There was something with Gayle but we're just better at friends. Still, for me, it's not the size of the boob or privates, it's the heart that has it that matters most to me."

"You're demi?"

"Demi-straight. When everyone puts up walls, you can only bond with the ones who build bridges. Camila, I want to be able to give my heart to someone. Not just love, but my friends, without worrying they'll break it."

"Or be used against you. No wonder Royal said you wouldn't tell anyone else."

His face flared.

"Wait no, I meant."

"Get out your metrocard, hurry!"

They swiped through the turnstile just as they heard a train come into the station. With people walking up their path, he left her, jumping all the way down and sprinting into the train.

He's mad at me.

"Camila, hurry!"

Huh, catching him holding the door while the others were closed.

"Wait up." She forced people to let her through, and he pulled her inside before the doors shut.

"Close call, right? So, what were you saying?"