Dementophobia • tyler joseph •

six // hello, my name is

When Tanner signed me up for this class, I didn't expect to be the center of attention the entire time. I figured I would just stay under the radar like I usually did, but Josh's reaction ruined all hope of me not being noticed.

Everyone wanted to know why their instructor randomly ran off to make a phone call right after I introduced myself. They thought I had an explanation or history with Josh. I had no history with him whatsoever. I had never seem him before and he didn't look familiar to me at all. 

Josh quickly came back and resumed the class. Nobody asked any questions aside from Mia and Miranda, who bombarded me with questions as soon as the class ended. I assured them that I did not have some former secret romance with the teacher that they both had a crush on.

Of course, they didn't believe me and I kind of understand why. Why did Josh randomly run out like that after he heard my name? He must have recognized me from somewhere, but I have never seen him before in my life. Or at least, I didn't think I did. It would really hard to forgot a man with a bunch of tattoos and bright red hair.

"Do you feel any better about being home?" Eli asked, his fork making contact with his dinner plate.

I shrugged, poking at my food, surprised that my mother hadn't gotten on me about not eating. "I'm adjusting, Eli. I'm making new friends too."

Nathan, who was sitting beside Eli, lifted an eyebrow. "You are making new friends? You've only been home for like two weeks. How did you possibly do that?"

One thing I wasn't used to about being back home was the family dinners. I was used to eating by myself in my room at the mental hospital, not with all my siblings, my mother, and sometimes my father when he was off duty.

"Courtney joined a music class at Brighton," my mother beamed, proudly. I knew this music class would get her to stop worrying about me. To her, I was actually making an effort to improve my health.

"That's great!" Both of my brothers exclaimed. "How are you liking it?"

Ginger cleared her throat from beside me. "The two girls that drove her to the class think that she has had some secret relationship that nobody knows about with the teacher because he ran off the stage as soon as she introduced herself."

My mother wiped her mouth before speaking. "That's quite strange, Courtney. Based on what you told me about his appearance, I don't think you've met him before."

I nodded, not looking up from my plate.

I obviously haven't met him before. If I had, I would probably be able to explain his reaction yesterday. Hopefully the second teacher wouldn't have the same reaction.

"Okay," I remarked, sitting my silverware down on my napkin, "I think I'm full. Besides, I have to get ready for Mia to pick me up."

"You are going out tonight?" Nathan asked. "The thirteen year old Courtney had to be persuaded to actually leave this house if it wasn't for school."

I grinned as I pushed back my chair and got to my feet. "Things change, Nathan."

With that, I hurried up the stairs to my room.

•••

Mia and Miranda picked me up about ten minutes after I rushed away from the dinner table. I was honestly happy that the two blonde sisters wanted to hang out with me because I never really had people that truthfully liked to hang out with me aside from Hope.

"You are going to love our friends, Courtney. They are very unique," Miranda explained.

"More like very different," Mia countered.