Moths and Butterflies

Chapter Two - Addie

I guess you could say I'm unique. But I'm more of a freak then unique. When I was born, I was just a regular baby. A happy baby, even. But then once I got a little older, I started teething. My mom was excited when I started growing my teeth, until she and my father noticed that they looked different than theirs. Once I was three, I had sharp, pointy front and bottom teeth. My parents took me to the doctor, but even they couldn't explain it. They just said I was different, and at least it wasn't anything worse. So I lived with it for a few years. I never thought I was really that different from other kids, that is until I went to kindergarten.

I was terrifying to the other kids. The first day of school, I smiled at a girl and she screamed, saying I was a scary vampire. She told the teacher and everyone else, but at least the teacher didn't mind. The other children, however, screamed as well. I had zero friends all of that first year.

Then when I got to second grade, a new kid came to our school. He was even more different than me. He had two extra eyes, and everyone talked about how weird he looked. That first day at recess, I sat alone on the swings, as kids whispered rumors about how I secretly drank other kids's blood for breakfast. Suddenly I heard a voice.

"How come you're sitting here alone?" I looked up and saw him. He had slightly curly, longish brown hair, and a regular plain t-shirt on. I was slightly scared to respond, since I had a feeling even he would be afraid of me if I told him.

I simply opened my mouth and showed him my sharp teeth. "They think I'm a vampire.." I explained, whispering. "They've always thought I was a vampire. Ever since kindergarten." I looked down at the dirt.

I waited for him to scream or laugh and run away, but he simply stood there and replied, "That's super cool! I wish I had pointy teeth too, but all I have are these two extra eyes. I can barely even see out of them."

I looked up again at him, completely shocked he responded like that. "Y-you.. like my fangs? You aren't scared of me..?" 

He laughed a little. "Why would I be scared? You should be scared of me, I look like a creepy monster with these eyes." he pointed at the one near his mouth. 

I stared. "I think you look cool with them." I smiled a little and he smiled back.

"Really?" his eyes lit up, surprised as well. I nodded.

"Hey, maybe we could be friends, since we're both different. Those kids are just jerks anyway." he walked over to the swing next to me and sat down. 

"Yeah, sure! We could be the vampire and monster crew." I joked, laughing. He laughed too.

"Hey, what's your name? I'm Elliot." he said finally introducing himself.

"I'm Addison. I go by Addie though." I replied. We talked a little bit about regular kid things before the bell rang for everyone to go back to class. The two of us walk together and talked more, while I heard kids whispering behind us about how creepy we are.

"She doesn't even need a costume, she already is a vampire."

"I heard she lives in a cemetery. She's actually 100 years old."

"She's super scary.. I hope she doesn't try to suck my blood."

"They're perfect for each other, they're both creepy freaks."

I was slowly getting used to the rumors and name calling, but it still hurt. Me and Elliot never stopped being friends though. In sixth grade I got garlic thrown at me and I always had notes in my locker that said something like, "Don't suck my blood, vampire girl." or, "Don't go out in the sunlight, you might burn a little." Sometimes they were so bad that they made me cry. Elliot always tried to stand up for me, which I was thankful for.

Although, as I got older and got closer to him, I grew a small crush. He was just so sweet to me and understood me, and he had been my only real friend. I actually had other friends sometimes, but they always ended up being fake and did it to prank me or hurt me. You can see why I would have trust issues nowadays.

The two of us still hang out, now that we're in high school. People still think we're freaks. I still think I'm a freak. But I know that the good thing is, Elliot is here by my side to help. 

And yet I still wish someone else would talk to us, and not be fake.

I doubt that will happen though, since it's been like this for a very long time.