Hopelessy Devoted

Chapter Four: New Kid in Senonia

I haven't said anything to anyone about Zach hurting me that night. I haven't said anything about the light and the figure. I have stopped running all together. I hate feeling this way. Hollow. Scared. Lost. October is here and that's even more scary. October means tricks. It means scary things.

"Come on- it's fourth period!" Zach tugs on my hand, taking me from my depressive thoughts. I don't want him to walk me to class. I don't want to be near him any more. I don't want to be his girlfriend.

"Zach!" Jimmy calls to him as he runs up in his gym clothes. Zach haults us in the hallway, still holding me tight.

"Yo bro. What's up?"

"You didn't hear? There's a new kid- rides a motorcycle, wears a stupid leather vest, long dark hair- total douchbag!" Jimmy says excitedly and Zach laughs.

"Well, maybe we should welcome him to the school after class." He's evil. He's the devil. Such a trusting face for a clean cut demon. They do their stupid handshake and Zach takes me to class, pushes his tongue down my throat and then leaves. Walking into art, I sit down at my normal seat up front. But looking around, I sense a pair of eyes on me- then I see him. The new kid, sitting in the back with a notebook doodling. He's all alone. He's glancing between me and the book. Or maybe he's looking at Rosita ahead of me. She is the number one popular girl is school- transfer student from Texas. I shake his eyes off of me and start my project, but the thought of him keeps me from concentrating. Standing up, I gather my sketch book and go back and stand in front of him. My floral dress is tight against my stomach as the rest of it flows to just above my knee. He doesn't look up at me until I clear my throat.

When he picks his face up, I can't see what he was drawing becaus eof hia arms over top of his book. His dark brown hair hangs in his eyes slightly, but I can see his blue eyes. They're like deep oceans and my breath leaves my body.

"Excuse me..." I say and he looks back at his work. "I was wondering if I could sit by you?"

His eyes look deep into mine and then continues his work. It's weird how he won't answer me. Standing still, I continue to watch him draw and then suddenly he moves. Picking up his holey backpack from the stool beside him, I take that as I can sit beside him and take the seat. Starting to work again, he keeps his head hunkered over his book like it's a top military secret. Pulling my booklet out, I starting drawling again, but my mind still stays with him. Why is he so quiet? Is he that focused? Is it me?

"Whatcha drawin'?" Iask and lean closer and her turns slightly away. "I get it. I'm Beth..."

He doesn't answer and it is beyond frustrating to me. How can someone be that rude?

"Daryl..." He says with a deepness to his voice. It's rather rough, but it's surprisingly soothing to me.

"Nice ta meet ya." He just looks at me and then back to his booklet. "Not a big talker? That's alright."

Class continues on and Daryl remains quiet and hunkered. It's odd, but then again, it's his first day- I'd be shy too. Sitting back on my stool, I notice his vest has wings on them- angel wings.

"Those wings are cool. I never knew anyone to have a leather vest before...and not a lot of students ride motorcycles either..." He glares at me and I can feel the intensity in his body. Looking at the inside of his right forearm, I notice a blue winged demon tattoo. It's scary, but there's something about it that...I don't know, interests me. "That tattoo is pretty sick too. Did you design it?"

"What's your damage?" He asks me and I kind of laugh because no one uses that phrase any more.

"I just wanna be your friend." His eyes go from cold to soft and warm. His face droops, not in a sad kind of way, but a stunned and confused kind of way. With his lips slightly parted, I can tell no one's probably paid this poor soul any mind, especially not a girl. "Is that okay?"

He remains still and then his face becomes at war with itself. Part of him wants to smile and the other half is depressive and shut down. He must have some real issues, but who am I to judge him?

"Why?" He asks quietly and I smile brightly at him.

"Because I want too. I would hope if I was new to a place that someone would want to be my friend." His whole face softens like he has found the key to bliss, but then he looks back at what he's drawing. I still can't see it, but it's okay.

"If you wanna be my friend...who am I to stop you from trying?" He hides his face from me, but I can see the outline of a smile on his face and cheeks slightly reddened. I smile too and go back to drawing.

At the sound of the bell, I stand up and gather my things. It was nice and peaceful drawing with Daryl. I feel I did ten times better knowing he was close to me. Making me feel safe- in an odd way. As he leaves before I can even say goodbye, I notice his booklet is on the floor. Picking it up, I shouldn't look at it because it's not mine, but I open it anyway. The picture he had been working on was of a girl in a floral dress woth blonde hair sitting drawing next to a dark shaded person who has no face and not real identifying marks. Looking down, I know this picture is about me and him- it just makes mesad that he doesn't see himself as something worthy to draw. Taking the booklet with me, I go out to my truck where I notice Zach, Jimmy, and Tomas surrounding Daryl as he tries to start his bike up.

Racing over to him, I push thtoughthe throng of people and Daryl looks a little surprised.

"Daryl...you forgot this is class. I wanted to return it." I hand him the booklet and he takes it quickly, shoving it in his backpack.

"You know this loser?" Zach asks angrily and surprised.

"He's not a loser. He's my friend. And I expect you to be nice to him....babe." Hopefully that will get him to be nice- as disgusting as that was, I lean in and kiss his lips. "I'll see you tomorrow Daryl. By Zachy. Boys."

Walking back to my truck, I get in, wipe my moyth out and watch as Zach dismisses the boys from around the motorcycle. They leave and I see Daryl just stare at me, once more at wore with a smile and a frown.

I leave, knowing I just saved that kids life by doing something i completely hate- being Zach's girlfriend.