The Broken Boy (AMANDA)

When It Began

     You can make it through. There is a way out of tunnel. Your dreams still exist. Even if you don't think so. Life is full of surprises, up, downs, and twists. The worst of times strengthen us for the future. I've seen the fault in this world. It's a scary place, but it's your choice to hide or fight.
  

I heard kids yelling in a circle as I walked into school one chilly Wednesday morning unaware that the next five minutes would change my life forever.

    My name is Amanda Kong. I'm thirteen years old and am in the seventh grade.  My best friend is Sealion Lasagna, her real name is Celine but noone calls her that because she's not important lolz. I grew up in a very Christian community, no cussing, drugs, and impurity. I only saw the bright side of life. I was pretty sheltered. I've never seen the real world until this year when I attended my first public school. My parents have been divorced for about two years and my dad and I live with his girlfriend and her daughters.  I'm pretty quiet, not really known for saying the first word. I might be quiet in front of strangers, but in front of my friends I might as well be called a psycho. I don't care for popular people. It's not that I'm stereotypical or anything I just care for those people that have been through the most, and have more depth. I used to be a straight A student... The pressure has killed me. I'm a martial artist, not a very good one, but hey, it's the blood, sweat, and tears not the trophies, am I right! Bottom line, I'm insane. And that's okay.

    I walked over and there was a timid boy about 5'6 with scared brown eyes not just regular brown eyes, deep brown eyes with lots of dimension with blood running down his eyebrow in the middle being circled by a very tall boy with his fist up. His eyes reflected rage. I shoved my backpack into Matthew's hands and I ran towards him, sucker punched him straight across his already crooked nose sending blood in every direction.

"GET AWAY!!! UNLESS YOU WANT THE SAME!" The group of people fled in every which way running into one another. "You okay?" I ran my thumb across a cut on his forehead. He winced at the pain. I grab his shaky hands and pick him up and dust off his back.

"Where's your next class?" He shyly shrugged. "Room 304."

 "Ugh I hate English. I'll walk you to Maley." He looked thrown by my response
    I carry on with my day. My knuckles had a pulse from the punch. PE was terrible. Of course Mr Martin had us do push ups.

"Albert can you carry my backpack?"

"Sure... What's up with your hand? You keep holding it and it's all red."

"Oh nothing. You know me... I fell off my bed again." I fell off my bed last week when trying to take a selfie. Yeah I know I'm stupid, you don't have to tell me.

"Oh." "Thanks I'll see you at lunch." "K bye." I'm in pain. Full fatigue. I limp into math and crash in my seat.

    "Amanda. Amanda. AMANDA!" I feel a pinch on my shoulder.

"Kohl!"

"You fell asleep!" he answared. "I did?" I check my phone 11:14. Ugh. I rub my eyes and get out my binder. OW!!!! I swear under my breath. I banged my hand on the desk. The world starts to spin around me. I'm so done. I open my binder carefully and start taking notes. I drift off; head bobbing every five minutes or so. I place my cheek in my right hand and give into sleep. I couldn't take it anymore.

    The door squeaks open. Light floods in the room. To my surprise it was the boy from this morning. "Ms Paul?" Ms Paul was in her "mood" again. Shocker.

"Why are you late?"

"I got lost."

"For half an hour?" He stood there with his lips pursed looking at the ground. "Well take a seat!" He aimlessly makes his way towards the nearest desk stumbling over some backpacks on the ground. The girls in the corner laughed. For most of the period he sat in silence. I couldn't help, but stare at him. This was the guy who made you give up everything you believe in? How is he going to react to you? Does he hate you? Or does he even love you? The bell rings. Thank God. One more period until lunch. I'm starving.

    Science was okay didn't really do much. Too much reading. I swear! I can write, but I can't read! I run out of the room. Freedom!!! I walk towards my groups table even though nobody's out yet.
    I look around and I spot the boy sitting by himself picking at his food like a sickly dog.     
I sit down across from him. He flinches in terror.

"You're okay! I'm not going to hurt you." We sat in silence for a minute or two until I finally said,"What happened this morning?"

"I was listening to music, looking at my phone (he pulls out shattered iPhone 3) and I ran into that tall guy and he got mad. I saw a fist, after that everything came in blur.

"Why did you help me?"

"Cause I wanted to." We spent most of lunch getting to know each other. He was abused by his parents and he loved music. Music was an outlet for his depression and he couldn't play sports because he had terrible vision and didn't wear his glasses because he got bullied for it as a kid.

"Hey glasses rule! Nerds unite! Sorry I'm kind of a derk."

"No I can't really complain. You're the first person who's talked to me in ages." The bell rang.

"By the way my name is Riley." " Amanda. I'll see you around!" He made kind of a semi-smile and walked away.

     After choir my mom was going to be late and all my friends left so I went out to the field. I had a long day and I needed to vent. The field was empty. It was 3:45. The school was empty. Kinda felt good. I hear a voice in the distance. A voice that gave you the chills. Something unlike I've ever heard. I see Riley at the end of the field by the dumpster. I walk over and sit next to him. He was startled and his cheeks turned a bright chiffon pink.

"It's okay! Relax! Your really good!"

"You don't have to lie. My parents don't let me sing... They think I sound close to a dying bird..."  But really his voice sounded as warm as a fire burning during a cold winter.

"Well they need a hearing aid or ears, anyone with ears would kill for a voice like yours." He cracked a smile and let out a little warm but shaky laugh. "Oh my God. Sorry I haven't talked to pretty girl or any girl really for a long time.

"Can you sing for me?" He shakily begins to sing a Frank Sinatra song. I forgot what it was called, but I recognize the sound and the feel. My grandpa loved jazz and Frank Sinatra. His voice instantly filled my body with warmth. Memories from my early childhood linger in mind.

    My whole life I have loved music. I grew up to Styx and Bon Jovi. Oldies is in my genes. Singing was one of the only talents I'm almost sure I'm good at or at least okay. I've been in choir for nine years. I was never given the chance to shine. I was always the smart quiet one. That one whose name was forgotten. It wasn't until I was about ten when I broke out of my shell. I found my voice. I mean it's not much, but it's something. Music makes any moment timeless. Sheer beauty. Good or bad.
   

I hug onto him. He smells like fresh linen. His presence brought me peace. Nothing in life exists right now besides me, him, and the music.  I sing along . I look up and he's smiling, not with fear or anxiety ,but with happiness. Never in my life have I felt this. I can't even comprehend what I'm feeling. Is it love? Is it sympathy? Is it curiosity or just my stupidity? We sit there in the field singing our troubles away. Not thinking about yesterday, or tomorrow. We were living in the moment. No troubles or doubt. Just song.

    My mom texts me startling both of us. I have to leave. I write my # on a piece of paper and run off. I don't look back because I was afraid to see his sad but beautiful face. My mysterious love.
    I sit in bed that night thinking about him . I couldn't get the image of us singing together in the field out of my head. He thought I was pretty. I hugged him. We sang together. What happens next?