The Fading Summer

Chapter Two: The Fallen Star

<Jason>
He walked tall, but unnoticed in the school halls. The cheerleaders who used to flock around him passed him talking amongst themselves. The praises and glorified male athletes that used to be his closest friends gave him a few disgusted looks and turned away. Jason refused to acknowledge their painful rejection of him. He had to remain calm and strong. He had to prove his worth to the school once more.
While he was unlocking his locker and taking out books for his A day classes, a disturbance resounded down the halls. It came from the school's front entrance and lobby. Sounds of excited shouts, teachers telling students and others to back away, and the distinct sound of cameras snapping their shots resounded.
Curiosity got the best of him. He slipped into his backpack, and walked toward the school lobby. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. They were coming to him.
Walking around the corner was the horde of journalists, students, teachers, and bodyguards. Their faces and cameras pointed at the center of the mass of bodies. From the crowd he picked up someone's name: Matthew Braddock. The name was so familiar. He walked towards them trying to get a glimpse of the individual receiving such massive attention. Students who saw him simply moved slightly to avoid touching him. He pushed and maneuvered through until he saw him. The son of the mayor, one of the most highly regarded teenagers of the city and state. He represented the ideal son of the secessionist movement. Loyal to family and state. Unwavering in beliefs. Dedicated to honor. Jason saw and heard about him constantly, but never heard he was enrolling here. Matthew then made eye contact with Jason. His shockingly warm hazel eyes jarred his mind. He couldn't look away, and neither did Matthew. Both locked in a trance. Jason saw something so familiar in him. Something he saw himself: immense loneliness. The crowd swallowed both of them up and their brief moment of being linked broke off.
=•=
Mrs. Davadel's Pyschology class ended with the beeping sounds of the "bell" signaling the start of first lunch. Jason was the last to leave the classroom with wireless earbud in each ear. His favorite playlist blasted blanketing the sound of the chatter of students exiting the cafeteria. With his head lowered, he entered the lunchroom heading towards his usual spot in the secluded corner far from the windows. One malfunctioning lightbulb flickered its pale blue light onto the dilapidated table. But in the shadows of the dying light sat someone. Jason slowed down wondering who would sit there. His light brown haired head rested on folded arms placed on the table. His nicely dressed body heaved like he was crying. Like a creeping predator, he stalked towards this stranger, put down his backpack silently, and lightly touched his shoulder.
Like a machine turned off, the boy's body just froze. His breathing, shaking head, and trembling arms simply turned off.
"Are you alright?" Jason said softly. His voice sounded like a deep rumble reverberating through his broad and strong chest.
The boy lifted his head at an angle. Quickly wiped his face. And turned towards Jason. A face of stone, but a pair of eyes made of soft honey looked into his. Recognition lit up on Jason's face. This was Matthew. "You're Matthew," he said almost breathlessly. His intense puppy and wolflike eyes furrowed. Matthew remained silent. Jason slid into the seat across of him. "Are you alright?" Matthew gave a forced polite and business like smile.
"Yes," he said slowly, "I'm fine. Excuse my appearance. I've been having allergies lately and been sneezing a lot." A clever lie, Jason thought. Jason smiled at him.
"I forgot to introduce myself." Jason said. "I'm Jason. A senior here."
"You know my name already," Matthew chuckled, "but I'm a junior."
"So what brings the famous Matthew Braddock to this messed up school to mingle around mere commoners?"
Matthew's jaw muscles twitched ever so slightly. A touchy subject, he observed.
"My father wants me to follow in his footsteps and understand both sides of the social status spectrum. He also wants to show his confidence in the city's school system that he would put his only son in it."
It wouldn't have been evident to others, but Jason immediately detected the taint of resentment in his voice. He recognized it in his own voice. The endless talks he gave his relatives and few close friends on his school life. Anger and Sorrow disguised in fake optimism. Every time he could feel the bubbling rise of his emotions, and every time he held it down if only just barely.
"What about you, Jason?" Mathew's voice dissipated his absent mindedness. "I just remembered hearing about you two years ago. You were quite skilled in basketball and various other sports. I remember because of the city's endless news coverage of Jefferson High's win at the state level. The star captain of the team. How's the team doing this year?"
  Jason felt that inky cold feeling in his stomach rising to grip his heart. The rejection, loneliness, depression, and anger wrapping around his soul.
  "The team is doing well," he finally said. "I took a break from the team, though."
  Matthew frowned slightly, "why? You're very talented. My father spoke highly of you."
  Jason made direct eye contact with Matthew. "You'll find out soon enough, Matthew." Soon enough.