Navigating Life, Called Claude

Chapter 2:

After Jai leaves my room and Bailee announces it is time for her to leave, I decide I need some fresh air. I launch myself off of the bed and march my way out the door. It seems that due to my hasty exit, I was not able to equip myself for the prickling, icy-cold wind that was waiting for me on the other side. I hug my elbows close to my chest. My thin cotton t-shirt is doing nothing to expel the bite of the wind. At least I am wearing jeans and a scuffed up pair of Converse instead of my normal shorts and thongs attire. I ignore the cold, I can’t be bothered going back inside to get a jumper.

 I take off at a steady pace, my feet drumming rhythms on the concrete. On the plus side the brutal chill is assisting with clearing my head. After a while I stop to get my bearings. I have wandered all the way to the park a couple of blocks away from my house. It is equipped with a large grass oval, decaying in places where the ground has gone soggy and an old metal playground, complete with a slide and swing set. I crunch over to the swings, my feet turning the tanbark to dust under my shoes and take a seat. I notice that I am not alone. A group of teenagers are playing a game of cricket, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt I might add. I scowl. How come guys never feel the cold?

I notice one of the guys looking at me but he quickly turns away when I catch his eye. Even from the distance I can see he is medium-height and has a solid frame. One of the boys hit the ball high over the oval and it lands in a clatter at my feet. I bend down, a hand still clasped onto my swing and pick it up. The boy from before has come to retrieve it. I can see his face more closely now. He has caramel coloured hair peeking out under his cap, curling against his skull. There’s a messy flick of hair on his forehead which I’m assuming is meant to be a fringe. He has a wide, short face with a nicely cut jawline and eyes the colour of burnt toffee. He is kind of cute in a rumpled sort of way.

“Are you looking for this?” I ask holding up the large, weathered ball.

“I certainly am.” He replies grinning.

He has a dimple on the left side of his cheek.

“Well then I better give it to you.”

I hand over the ball and his fingers graze mine. He looks at me a little while longer, his eyes flicking over me curiously, a half smirk plastered to his face.

“I’m Jason.” He says extending his hand.

“Claude.” I mentally wince at the sound of my name.

“That’s a pretty name.” He smiles.

I meet his hand halfway. They are soft but worn at the same time.

“Why don’t you come and watch. I’m batting next.”

I follow Jason soundlessly, a smile blazing on my lips. At the boundary line, a row of shining silver fences, he stops and swivels around to speak to me.

“You can sit on these.” Jason gestures to the fence closest to him. “Don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you fall.”

I roll my eyes at him, “I think I can manage.”

He strolls out to the middle of the pitch and meets his friends halfway. They look at him questioningly but Jason just waves them off and grabs the bat. I see the bowler shrug and the rest of the boys get back into position. Jason hits his bat against the ground three times, it echoes over to me clashing in my ears. The bowler runs forward and releases the ball, it snakes towards Jason and connects with the bat cracking through the air. A rustling next to me divides my attention. A petite blue robin is making its way through a bush. Its feathers gleam brightly in the light. I watch it with fascination. It picks up a stick and disappears into the shrub.