Heartily Manner

Heartily Manner

Chapter 1

It was 3:15 PM, and the wind blew like no other hour on the coldest September day of the year. Nebraska wasn't the best place to be in the colder months.

Mei Lung wrapped her poncho around her tighter, trying to block out any source of wind. Every minute or so she would have to release the warm rain coat to lift the rim of her large, round eye-glasses that would lightly slide down her nose.

Her steps were swift, she was determined to get as far away from Lerman High School as soon as possible. Before she could be stopped and laughed at by the in-crowd, before she could be tripped and stepped over by the populars.Though It was no use, Mei knew that it was bound to happen. It didn't matter if they followed her or not. Their voices bounce around her head like a ball of hatred and loathing. But not just a bouncy ball, a large bowling ball that would crush her, hit by hit. The names she had been given filled her head. The one that stuck most is what haunted her worst. The Fake Chinese. Mei was completely American and everyone knew it. Her rarely seen blue eyes, long matted blonde hair, and the lightly dotted freckles on her face showed for it. Society didn't care. With a name like this, she thought, I'm no less Asian than Mao Zedong.

Her thoughts were cut-off by the perfect example of what she was going through. She was halfway home, who the heck would follow her this far?

"Fake Chinese girl! Wait up!" a male voice called.

The command given and her instinct were opposite, she sped up. She could loose him. No chance. He's running now. Mei pushed the voice out of her head and started to jog when she turned a corner. Tears trickled down her face, she wasn't sure if she was going home tonight. He could beat her up. She wouldn't be able to face her parents. Their reaction would be blown way out of proportion.

"Mia? Ming-ling? Isn't that your name?" His voice was getting heavier every word. Closer. Mei was stung by a million bees every name he called her, every step she took would slow her down.

Mystery Boy was in arms reach now. Mei had two choices, to jet across the street into her neighbors garage, or to turn and face the boy who'd been following her. She absentmindedly chose the first. She ran onto the black turf dropping her chemistry and human bioligy book as she went.

She crossed the street. Before entering her neighbors open garage she looked back at Mystery Boy. He was standing in the middle of the road, bending to pick up her books. She almost felt bad for him, she didn't know why, but something made her want to apologize. Mystery Boy did it for her. "Hey, I didn't mean to make you run like that. I just had a question." And at that moment, Mei realized something. He didn't know how rude he was being. He didn't understand how much closer he brought her to suicide with every word he said. He thought he was just another helpless teen who was going through the same thing as her. He thought they had the same mind, this frightened her most.

The dense air lightened when Mei felt the presence of headlights coming their way.

"Hey, watch out." Mei's voice frantic. The car was closer than she thought.

"What? Are you going to come beat-"

"Really watch out dude!" Mei cut his humor off. She was already running.

All too fast, Mei and mystery boy where laying on the wet grass, his white polo sweater now stained green and brown, one on top of the other. Mei lifted herself off of him. "Watch out next time." She rolled her eyes and dusted herself off. "What's your name anyway?" Mei noticed the silence. "Sam. Samuel Wilkinson." Sam nodded in agreement with himself, not sure as to what was going on.

"Aw, frick." Mei was paying no attention to Sam, but sitting on the cold street trying to piece her glasses back together. "Look at what you did. You could've gotten both of us killed! I'm just about blind without these you know! Don't expect to see me at school tomorrow not that you would even-" She turned to see no one behind her. He just left. You have got to be kidding me. Mei checked the time. 3:37 PM.