Click
Tap
Click
Tap
I've memorized the rhythm of the tapping pen. It similiar to that of a clock.
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
I glance at the pen, and the hand holding it. Hesitantly, my eyes trail up the arm to his face. I register him as the new kid, I can't seem to remember his name, and it didn't occur to me that he sat next to me until now...
Click
Tap
Click
Tap
"Braxton, how about you?", Mrs. Clark says, raising her voice slightly, startling me. I mentally scold myself for getting distracted. When the sound of the tapping pen comes to a halt, I realize that the guy next to me is Braxton.
He answers her question with confidence, not a single trace of doubt heard in his voice. After the teacher acknowledges his 'brilliant point of view', he simply nods his head and offers a polite smile. I take note of Braxton's slightly shaggy dark brown hair, dark eyes, and his killer smile. He's what Tess would describe as a ten.
I pry my eyes away from him and refocus. The tapping proceeds, and I notice that its much faster this time, as if time itself was going faster.
Ever since I was little I've always been so...observant, in a way. I notice things others don't, and pick up on the little things. My mind is constantly thinking, wondering, imagining, analyzing. Ovethinking is one of my best qualities. And I mean that in the most sarcastic way possible. Me analyzing everything is sometimes fascinating, but the anxiety that comes with it is what I struggle with the most. As soon as I notice some things off, its like my mind assumes the world is ending. My head becomes filled with stress, confusion and all these thoughts about every little thing that could go wrong, or that's a possible danger. I battle with reality constantly, telling myself that its all in my head.
Also, I deal with what I call trances. When I'm so deep in thought that I just space out. A million things are going through my head in the depths of my mind, and I just can't seem to break out of it. I'm not even aware that I'm doing it most of the time, its just... happens. Tessa knows about all of this, and so does my mom, but none of them know truly how it takes a toll on me.
One of the upsides to all of this though, is the dreams.
I find myself thinking back to last nights dream. I can't seem to remember much. As I stare blankly down at my English text book, I dig through my memory trying to put the pieces of the dream together again.
Click
Tap
A purple light...
Click
Tap
Tears...I was crying,
Click
Tap
Running?
RING
I jump, the end of the day bell startling me out of my thoughts. Everyone starts to shuffle out of the classroom, I scramble to get my textbook and notebook into my bag. I have to meet Tessa at the side entrance, she decided at lunch that we would go to our favorite café after school. As I stand to leave, I glance beside me to the guy next to me, and meet his gaze. I freeze, he doesn't do anything, other than stand. We stay like that for what feels like five minutes. Just as I was about to say 'well cya tomorrow' and leave, wanting to get out of this awkward situation, he opens his mouth to say something. But just as fast as he did, he closed it, as if he decided he'd rather not. I just look at him, confused.
My phone goes off in my pocket, probably a message from Tessa. I take my phone out of my pocket, seeing that I was right, her message, աɦɛʀɛ aʀɛ ʏօʊ?? ɦʊʀʀʏ ʊք! comes up. I respond saying I'm coming and begin to leave, glancing back to Braxton who is now staring at the floor. Weird.
"Well... cya tomorrow," I say, practically mumbling. I walk as fast as I can until I'm out in the hall, where I start to running to the side entrance, which is halfway across the school.
When I finally reach Tessa, she's sitting in her beige VW convertible beetle, on her phone. When I open the passenger side door and sit down, she looks up and I can see she is not too happy. She starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. I gaze up at the sky, its a beautiful day, although slightly windy.
Neither of us say anything, she drives down the road from our school, to central downtown.
"So are you gonna tell me why you were fifteen minutes late?" Tess asks as we reach the café. I sigh as she parks.
"My English class was on the other side of the school, sorry Tess," I say, pulling my hair up into a ponytail. I look over at her to see she's giving me a questioning look.
"Alright, its okay," she replys, getting out of the car and heading towards the café door. I grab my bag and step out of the car and follow her.
