Means of Despair

1: park polaroids

Jaime

I walked out of school, saying a quick goodbye to Tony. I went to the park, knowing I'd find something to take a picture of, even if it was just plants.

I made it through town and to the park. I took some beautiful pictures of the leaves. Thanks to autumn, they were different colours. Reds, oranges, and yellows all together to make a beautiful sight that I just had to save.

Then I saw something. Something more beautiful than the leaves. I raised my camera and snapped a picture of the boy sitting on the bench. I grabbed it as my camera printed it out and held it, waiting for it to develop.

Once it developed i looked at it, proud of my artsy-ness. The wind blew and the picture went flying into the air and landed right at the boy's feet.

I ran over to him and he picked up the picture, staring at it in confusion. I mentally slapped myself. I expected him to ask about it but he just handed it back silently. "You aren't gonna call me a creep?"

He gave me a confused look and then grabbed his sketchbook, flipping to a new page and writing,"I'm sorry. I'm deaf so I didn't hear what you said, would you mind writing it out for me?"

I gently grabbed the book and the pen, writing what I said as we sat on the bench. I passed the book back to him and he wrote a response," I'm a little weirded out that you'd take a picture of something as ugly as me, but I guess if that's how you wanna spend your Friday afternoon, be me guest."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," I said.

He glared at me and shoved the book and pen into my lap.

"Sorry . I forgot. I said, Don't be so hard on yourself."

"Why shouldn't I? Everyone hates the kid that can't hear."

"That's not true. I like you."

"You don't know anything about me."

"Doesn't mean I can't learn a thing or two about you."

"And why would you want to do that?"

I shrugged for I honestly didn't know.

"My name is Jaime, but it's pronounced hi-me. What's your name?"

"Vic," he wrote, shyly looking down as he handed me the book.

"You're name is very cute, Vic."

He shook his head, cheeks lightly tinted pink.

"But not as cute as you."

He blushed and quickly sighed, writing out a response,"I'm far from cute Jaime. Don't waste you time on someone like me. "

"And why shouldn't I?"

He looked up at me, face covered in confusion.

"I've gotta go, sorry.

How about you text me sometime cutie?"

I wrote out my number and he waved a silent goodbye, as did I as I jogged home.