Optical Illusion

Part 6

The next day I woke up fully refreshed, which was extremely unusual for such a heavy sleeper. Kyle wasn't in the room ,so he was probably already downstairs, and Brandon was still in the process of waking up. I quickly got dressed and headed for the stairs when I witnessed a sight never before seen. The bathroom was completely unoccupied. The thought of my hair looking, for once, remotely like a normal person's, gave me the drive I needed for the day. You think I'm over exaggerating, but to even see your reflection in a window is a privilege . Now, seeing as we are an all boys foster home you would think we wouldn't have the constant bathroom struggle, but times have changed to the point where boys value their appearance as much as girls.... or even more than. In this house it was particularly bad. Seeing as most of the boys were going through middle school meant we all got to suffer the the awkwardness of puberty together, which explains their constantly checking their reflection.
I was one of the oldest boys in the house at the time, being 14, yet had somehow managed to bypass my awkward stage of insecurities. Don't get me wrong, the awkwardness is there and functioning in full swing, but the constant need to look good for others was somehow non-existent. Until now least.
My breath hitched as I caught sight of my reflection. I couldn't place the last time I had really looked at myself. My hair was uncontrolled and my eyes wide and completely wild and frazzled. Suddenly I understood why my social life was lacking so much. I so caught up in my head all the time, that my appearance had suffered, making me look unapproachable.
My life couldn't go on like this, I had to stop living in my own head. Something had to be done to make me more humane, all I needed was help from the right person. I had to accept Walter's offer for a new councillor.
I let out an exasperated huff as I pulled my fingers through my hair and unsuccessful attempted to tame it. Unsuccessful being the key word. Looking at my reflection for so long suddenly made me feel extremely self conscious. Without being able to look at myself for another second I quickly slipped out of the bathroom, just as one of the other boys made their way for it.
The old, worn floorboards of the second story creaked slightly under my weight as I made my way down the stairs. The creeks and squeaks announcing my awkward presence to the calm setting of the breakfast table. That's when I knew something about today was off. Things were going way too according to my liking for it to be a normal day. Don't get me wrong, I was grateful for every rare moment of anything remotely close to quiet in the house, but considering it was a house full of rowdy preteen boys, all fighting for their share of whatever no brand breakfast cereal was up for grabs, the eerie silence made me uneasy. Something had to be going on. It wasn't my birthday.... so then what could it be. Walter wouldn't have told anyone ... would he? I started getting nervous. What would my housemates think of me if they found out the weird older boy who never really spoke much lashed out at their care giver? Are they scared of me now? Do they think I'm violent? I swear I'm not.. it was just an extremely unusual one time thing.
My haze of thoughts was interrupted as one of the other boys pushed past me to get to the table. I took the time to carefully look anyhow everyone in the house was acting. I wanted to catch the uneasy glances that approved my suspicions, but I came up empty handed. There were no whispers, there were no skeptical looks or even threatening glares. I found myself sighing in relief. Walter must not have told them. The odd quiet would be caused by tiredness or they had already gotten in trouble and received punishment that morning. That usually got them in a more calm state.
Feeling no need to eat I thought that it would just be a waste of time to fight for a bowl of cereal I didn't even want. I went upstairs to grab my backpack, filled with forgotten homework, and decided my time would breath better spent getting to school early. I might then have time to stop in the schools library and get something to read.
I made my way for the front door when I was stopped by am almost wary caretaker. The cautious look in Walter's eyes made my empty stomachs drop with guilt from yesterday's incident.
"Look..um.. Levi? I really hate to push the subject, but you know the state has laws that state the need of a councillor for kids in.. um.. your situation" he states.
"Look Walter I'll see someone,  okay? But I really have to get to school" I say in an attempt to stop the conversation early. The last thing I need is to have an argument that makes him second guess my mental state, again. And with that I swiftly exit and make my way to school.