Everett

Jonah Baker is very peculiar//2

                  

Thursday 12th June 1998

Fat, ugly tears streamed down my face. Uncontrollable sobs escaped my lips. I tried brushing them away with my arms but they never ceased to stop flowing. I ran out of the house, I ran as fast as I ever could that day.

Boys don't cry I thought. I shook my head, I would never believe that, nor would I live by that rule. What I believe is that boys don't cry in front of anyone. They never let anyone see their weaknesses, see how powerless and insignificant they are

I couldn't see clearly. The tears were blurring my vision yet my legs knew exactly where to go as they had been there countless times before. I came to a stop, the tears had stopped running and my sobs had disappeared.

Furiously I wiped away the tears and as my vision cleared up. A wave of shock washed over me and I stood completely frozen in my spot unable to make a sound. In my secret place away from everyone in a forrest close to where I live, sitting under a tree with a notebook and pencil in hand scribbling away, a boy.

The shock falling away, I came back to my senses. I stared at him studying everything. He was around my age but he looked years beyond his age. Curly midnight locks fell in his face. A blank look on his face. He was so composed but something didn't feel right. He screamed loneliness. Hidden loneliness

Maybe that's why he seemed so lonely. He was so cool and composed even when scribbling away. He was nothing like all the other 11 year old boys. He was so different. My curiosity only grew when I remembered that he was in my secret place. How did he find it I wondered.

"hello" my body jerked. I hadn't realised he had stopped writing.

"hello" I replied curtly, a hint of curiosity laced in it. I looked down at his eyes. A striking silvery grey. I had never seen eyes like that before. They were so unique, but they seemed so cold.

I couldn't help myself. I needed to know how he found this place. I was so sure that no one knew about it and I thought I was right until today. So, without thinking I blurted it out.

"I saw a kitten come towards here and so I followed it without a second thought and he led me here." Mystery boy said. Not an ounce of emotion in his words. What a peculiar boy.

"What's your name? Who are you? What are you doing here?" I asked him, no longer being able to contain my curiosity.

"I am Jonah Baker. I moved here from England yesterday. I wanted to find somewhere I could be alone." He answered. I could tell he was studying me, I could see it in the way his eyes were staring at me.

I sat beside him. He closed his notebook and out the pencil down. He brushed the hair out of his face. I lied down next to him, staring up the blue cloud filled sky. The tree seemed to float. The warm breeze gently lulling my worries away.

I heard a shuffling noise and turned my head. Jonah was lying down next to me, staring up at the sky like I was before.

"Beautiful, isn't it. The warm breeze. The blue sky. The way the trees seem to float. I have never seen a place like this before. Never felt so at ease." I thought I was the only who noticed. This boy is full of surprises I thought.

"That's why I fell in love with it in the first place. It was different. It is my secret." I said softly. My voice could barely be heard, but I knew he heard.

"Why are your eyes red?" He asked. It intrigued me how even when he was asking a question he seemed so blank.

"It's nothing. Forget about it" I dejectedly said.

"It can't be. What happened?" Jonah continued prying for answers. I sighed.  I was breaking the only rule I had; showing anyone my weakness. Something told me he would get an answer and so he got what he wanted.

"I couldn't handle it. It all became way too much. I am wasting my childhood trying to be the perfect child. I have no free time for myself." I said monotonously. It surprised me.  Had I worn myself out that much.

"Give some things up then" Jonah said. I wanted to laugh. I didn't. If only he knew what it was like.

"I can't. It will make me feel like I lost the battle without fighting" I told him.

"You have dug your own grave" he simply said. A calming quietness became present between us after that. I continued staring at the sky. Before I knew it, my eyes had closed and I had fallen asleep.

I opened my eyes. The sky covered in hues of oranges, reds, pinks and purples. I guess I had fallen asleep. I rubbed the sleepiness away from eyes. I looked around, Jonah had gone. It felt as if he was never there in the first place, as if Jonah Baker had never existed.

I stood up and ran home. Just as expected. My mother was waiting for me, not because I was home late but because she wanted to see if I had done my homework. I managed a curt nod telling her I had done it and went straight up for a shower.

That night as I lay in bed, thoughts of Jonah had attacked my mind. Such a peculiar boy he was. His striking silvery grey eyes that loneliness and vulnerability lurked deep within was the only thing lingering in my mind as I fell asleep.

As promised. Chapter one. I tried to make it long so you could a taste of the story. I really hope you enjoyed reading this....until the next time I stop being lazy and move the things called fingers I have been gifted with and publish the next part.

-Blackheart