U N V E I L E D
hi i got this idea and im super excited so stick around ? :)
(lowercase is on purpose btw)
[Katie]
i step outside of my house for the first time in a week per request of my mother who says i it will 'make me feel better' and 'put some sun on my face'.
truthfully i think she's just tired of me.
but i agree to take the dog (who doesn't like me much at all) on a walk to the park.
so here i am, blinded by the sunlight and choked by the hot, musty air with a barely restrained retriever lumbering beside me.
the walk to the park is shorter than i expected but not a bit more enjoyable. it's late May and the constant rain and heat are near unbearable. we weave among the greenery, Jo's nails clicking against the pavement. she pauses occasionally to relieve herself and i tug on the collar of my shirt to help with the disgusting humidity that is always present in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
the park is empty except for a boy who looks about my age or older sitting on a bench that we are coming up to. the closer we get i see that he has a cigarette between his lips and tears are trailing down his cheeks and dripping off his jaw. i stop walking, yanking on the leash.
"boy, why are you crying?" i question softly.
he does not falter from staring straight ahead but eventually he answers in a mocking tone, "girl, why do you give a fuck?"
however i am not phased that easily, and i smirk, "boy, why do you assume that i do?" he then turns to look at me, a frown spreading over his face.
i cross my arms.
"then why are you asking?" his eyes are red, evidence that he has been either crying or smoking for a while. perhaps both like he is now. i shrug and gesture to the bench and he nods, so i sit and tell the dog to lie down. the boy looks ahead again and takes a draw from the cancer stick. "i am crying, girl, because i hate myself. and that is reason enough to cry."
i look at him. other truths out of the way, he is quite an attractive guy, paired with defined muscles in his arms which draw his t-shirt taut along his shoulders, and tan skin. his green eyes are bloodshot but beautiful and his head is adorned with a swept back mop of brown curls.
"why?" i say and he smirks at me, "i don't hate what's on the outside. i hate what's on the inside."
i pick at my nails, "i hate myself too. except i hate the outside also."
he tosses the cigarette to the ground and stomps it out.
his head tilts back and he looks at the pale sky.
"interesting." he mumbles after a moment.
i watch shamelessly as he crosses his arms and the muscles become even more prominent.
"why is that interesting? anyone can hate themselves."
the boy purses his lips and tilts his head to connect eyes with me.
"true, but beautiful people shouldn't hate the outside too. it's illogical."
i open my mouth to say something but he stands and holds out a hand to me. i shake it as he says coolly, "harry. and you are?"
i answer, "katie."
his eyebrows draw together.
"short for...?"
"kathryn." i tuck my hair behind my ear and wish i had put on makeup.
harry nods, pleased.
"til next time, kathryn."
he salutes me and walks away, leaving me very flustered and very confused.
