The Ballad of Monalisa

I walk down the halls slowly. I dont really want to go back to the room so I head towards the cafeteria. I have about five dollars in my pocket. That should get me something, right?

I open the door and automatically shiver. Why are cafeterias always freezing? I pull my sweater closer to my body. I buy a water so Im not just a total weirdo who just hangs in cafeterias. Though, I wouldnt be alone. I guess people need to get away from the antiseptic and sickness sometimes.

Im reading the label when a girl slides into the seat across from me. "Hey." She says. She has bright blue eyes, her brown hair is cut short, and she has a messy splattering of freckles placed onto her face without a care. I pretend to just glance at her, but I really notice all of it. All of her. Ahhh. Great now I sound creepy. Im not. I swear.

"Hello," I say. Her greeting was definitive, almost aggresive, like it was forcing me to accept that she was saying 'Hi' to me. Mine, however, greatly paled in comparison. My voice was shaky, and unsure.

"Why are you here?" She asks. By here she means the hospital. Shes so direct.

"My... uh... My brother broke his leg in about six places last month. Its a f-follow up." I stutter. Not that Im usually smooth, but Im usually a little better than this. "Why are you here?"

"Um.... my... grandma. Yeah. Shes having surgery. Yep. Its heart surgery." Is it me, or did her blue eyes turn almost gray when I asked her why she was here? They definately darkened.

"Oh. So, whats your name?" Shes more at ease with this question; she relaxes.

"Im... Mona. Lisa. Yeah I know its kinda weird, but my parents both majored in art or whatever and they met when they were both sketching the Mona Lisa, and yeah... I know you dont care."

"No! Thats, um thats actually really cool. Yeah.. Im Patrick. Not really much of a unique name, but its me, so that counts I guess and Im rambling. Ill stop now." She grins at me. "Do you want something to eat? I can buy you something?" The water was only a dollar, so now I have five dollars to spare (I actually had six dollars in my pocket. Scandelous, I know).

Mona? I guess? Or maybe Monalisa? Shakes her head. "No, Im not allowed to eat anything until after five o clock because- Well um my mom doesnt like when I eat before dinner." Shes lying.

"Oh okay," I say. Then after a moment, "What should I call you?" She taps her lips.

"Well my parents call me Lissy, but I hate that. You could call me Mona maybe, or..." She smiles. "Well my full name is Monalisa Landon Scari. You decide what you want to call me and text me the answer." I open my mouth, but she takes a sharpie out of her pocket, and writes her phone number on a napkin. "Bye Patrick, I have to go now."

Um, okay?

I know almost nothing about this girl. But she has a cool name. Monalisa Landon. Has a nice ring to it. Well. I take out my phone and input her number into it. When it asks for her name, I put Landon, I dont know why, but I decide its right. I dont want to be the person.to text her right away though, so I tell myself to wait.

I find my brothers room and lean on the door. "Hey" I say. No one really cares. Whatever. I sigh. I replay the conversation between me and Landon (Im calling her Landon now). Finally my mom says 'lets go patrick', but not 'Lets go Patrick,' which isnt her pinchy 'hospital' voice. No one else hears it apparently. I follow her and get into the car wordlessly. I decide to text Landon, since it's been almost an hour since our conversation. "Ive decided to call you Landon" I say.

I dont get a response for three hours. "Thats a great name actually. Cant believe I never thought of it" She says.

"I am just that talented I guess" I say, but she doesnt respond again that night.