Standing Still

Chapter 2: Beautiful

I hear my him crying. He's crying over her body, collapsed in grief. He's screaming at the sky hoping, praying that she will come back. I can't feel anything except the pain of knowing that my she isn't coming back.

* * *

Beeeeep! I shoot up and slam the alarm. " Awww man." Time for school, and this day is worse than any other school day that I have to get up at 6:30 AM. Today I have to stay after school to meet my tutor. I slowly sit up and start doing my normal morning routine. Push ups, sit ups, wash face, get dressed in my regular black clothes, get backpack ready and head to the front door. I'm purposely going as slow as I can so that maybe, just maybe my dad will think that I'm sick and I could stay home today. I walk out of my room and meet my father at the door. This time he has a more serious and concerned look on his face.

" All ready Antonio?" he asks. This is when I start the fake coughing.

" Sorry dad, I think I'm coming down with something, I think I should stay home," I knew this excuse would never work but it was worth a try.

" Antonio, this is not the end of the world. You're just getting a little extra help." I groan and start walking out the door.

" Have a good day son," he yells after me.

I turn around and smile the biggest grin I could muster and wave saying, " bye dad." Then I do what I do every day, trudge to school, walk to my classroom, wait 'till bell rings, pretend to pay attention. This is how my day goes until the last period of the day. I'm sitting in my desk moping, and staring at the clock. All the other kids are fooling around, planning parties for the weekend or just simply waiting for the school day to be over.

Driiiiiiiiiing! The school bell. Everyone rushed out the door to go do their after school plans while I sit there.

" Um... Antonio," Harvey walks up to me and says, " You better get going to your lesson. I bet your tutor is already waiting." He smiles at me, that goofy Harvey Dent smile. I'm pretty sure he's delighting in my misery. I roll my eyes and pick up my backpack, walk out of my classroom and slowly walk down to the library.

I reach the entrance of the library and just stand there. Here goes nothing. I take a deep breath and walk into the library and I am greeted by the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life. " Hi, you must be Antonio. I'm Isabella, your tutor," she says and smiles. I am dazzled by her teeth, I know that sounds weird but, they are so white and sparkly that they could light up a dark room. She has long, wavy, blonde hair that shines like the sun and piercing green eyes that look like a meadow.

" Hello?" she says. I didn't notice that I was staring at her like a creep, so I quickly try to cover up my embarrassment. Though I think it's too late because I can feel the heat rising to my face.

" Oh...hi," I stutter out. Why am I stuttering? It's just some stupid tutor lesson. She chuckles and it sounds like the most beautiful thing in the world.

" Come on, let's get started," she says. We sit down and open a social studies textbook. " Lets start with the Age of exploration," she starts talking and talking and I am really not following. Partly because I have no memory of learning any of this stuff and also I can't help but be mesmerized by her smile. By the end of the tutor session, I have learned absolutely nothing. When I look up she's looking at me like I should say something.

"What?" I softly ask.

" I asked you if you were listening to anything I said," she looks a little annoyed.

" I...uh...just don't understand... I mean," I was completely caught off guard. I tried to pay attention but I just got lost in her smile, but I wasn't going to tell her that.