I See Diamonds

Chapter Two: Lukas

I try blink back my tears and avoid any attention. Lukas, stop freaking out. It'll be alright. Nobody's going to know you were one of the underground kids. It's been so many years. You look different now. It's old news.

But what if someone recognizes me?

The bell rings and while the teacher is hastily organizing some papers, a cocky looking boy saunters in. Late. The teacher whips around and crosses her arms. An incredibly impatient look decorates her already stern face. "Mr. Kohler, this is your second tardy this week! One more and you're getting a detention," she snarls. The boy shrugs dismissively.

"Cool, cool. Hey, new kid?" he asks. He grins over at me and I suddenly wish for nothing more than pure, blissfully instantaneous death. It would relieve me of my impending humiliation on my first day of 10th grade. That's when I notice the seat next to me is empty. I am now tempted to scream my lungs out. I don't want anyone to be next to me, and certainly not a clear troublemaker like this boy.

But, yes, as my horrible luck would have it, that seat is the boy's assigned seat. Class begins, but he ignores the teacher and tries to strike up conversation with me.

"Hey, your eyes are a pretty color, dude," he whispers and winks. I didn't realize people actually winked nowadays.

"E-excuse me?" I ask.

"Don't be all shy about it. It's just some stupid myth. Heck if I know why we can really see each other's eyes," he says and smirks.

The urge to just drop dead pushes forward again once the meaning of his words sinks in.

"Oh. Uhh, yeah. But it's not a myth. Soulmates are real," I mutter.

"Sure, sure. But, thing is, as cute as you are, I can't imagine myself ever hooking up with someone as...timid as you."

"Timid?" I say, quickly feeling defensive. "I am not a scaredy cat."

"Kohler, pay attention! This is Bondevik's first day and you're already giving him a bad impression of Mondo, how terrible," the teacher scolds. She makes a sort of, "tut, tut," noise and crosses her arms.

"Sorry," I say for him. He narrows his blue eyes, but says nothing. Now that I think about it, I don't even know his first name.

The period passes slowly and painfully. People keep sneaking glances at me and I begin to feel paranoid. Have they figured out who I am? Are they judging me? No, no, I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

When it's finally over, Kohler slaps a bright yellow sticky note onto my notebook. The note is covered in little doodles of stars. I gaze at him in confusion, but he just motions for me to read it.

"Sorry for being so lame earlier! I guess we can at least be friends, maybe. If you've got second lunch, sit with me, k? I'll look out for you!