[Hidden with a Smile.]

❸

When I got to school, Dean and Desiree were near the gates waiting for me.

"Hey miss mermaid, it took you long enough? You got lost or somethin'?" Dean asked, as he tossed me a can of sprite.

"Nope, I was just wandering around the park too long" I said, not mentioning the guy I watch every morning.

"Ah, well you might've been snatched up by a pervert looking that cute and colorful today. I still want to know where you get all your awesome clothes" Desiree said, as she walked up to me and ruffled my skirt up a bit.

"I have my ways" I told her mysteriously, as I bounded over to where Dean was and gave him a solid slap on the back.

"Hey, hey, y'know I have baseball practice today, you can't get my back all bruise up already!" Dean told me, laughing while rubbing his shoulder.

"Oh forgive me, your kingliness! The Lord of the baseball field must be careful not to hurt themselves lest they want to hit a home run for once!" I exclaimed to him, giggling afterwards.

"Yeah, yeah, now shut up Ariel or I'll report to King Triton of your misdoings."

"Woah, now your Sebastian?" Desiree added, laughing at his knowledge of The Little Mermaid.

" 'Ey, you guys need to stop teaming up against me. We need to get to class, not waste all our time talking about Disney films" Dean said, as he rushed ahead of us, turning around to stick his tongue out at us.

"Such a child" Desiree huffed, laughing.

As we began to walk towards our first period, I said hi to everyone who waved at me in the halls, high-fives some kids I barely talk to, and laughed with some of the less close friends I have who stopped to tell me a joke.

Sometimes I wish I didn't attract so much attention. It's nice to feel affection from other because they like something about you and all, but since they like the "me" that's not exactly "me", I feel a bit empty.

Most of them only see me for my looks anyways. I mean, yeah, I'm not ugly, but I don't want to hear any more compliments like "wow, your eyes are amazing!" Or "Man, you're so skinny and small, so cute!". It gets really annoying for me when people notice those things about me, but they can't tell that I'm feigning my smiles.

I wonder how Dean and Desiree would feel about me if they knew how I lived. I don't want pity, I just want to get away from my depression of a home at school. But still, it would be nice to share my problems with someone without them feeling sorrow for me. I'd like them to understand without feeling pity. They just.....

Before I could finish my thought, I heard someone screech my name.

"AZALEA!" Dean yelled, as he tried to run towards me.

I turned around to see a full book bag heading straight towards my face, the owner of it looking at me in shock. I was too stunned to move, my legs stuck in the same place. As I got ready to feel myself smash into the floor, I felt warm arms wrap around me.

"Dean? No, he's not wearing a jacket today, who is this...."

Looking up, I found myself looking square into the artist boy from the park's (and from my class) eyes. He looked back at mine and seemed a bit stricken with shock because of something. He quickly snapped out of it and returned to his unnerving, rough attitude as he unattached himself from me and picked up the book bag that hit his back instead of my head. He took it and tossed it back to the guy who accidentally swung it. He then looked back at me, inspecting me for a second before speaking.

"Be careful" he whispered, walking away.

Not wanting him to leave, I tried to think of something to say. "W-What's your name?" I exclaimed toward him, quickly catching the back of his hoodie.

He looked back at me with a piercing stare.

"....It's Grayson" He said, giving a smug salute to me then walking away.