SPACE ODDITIES

EVERYBODY HURTS

Bowie, too saw the advantages of being close to Zila as he whiffed the vanilla extracts that escaped her hair. For some reason, she had that magnet effect on him, which was a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Why do you like video games so much?"

"They let me relax, and I escape when I play. I mean, don't you have something a hobby that makes you feel that way."

Zila thought for a second; she had no hobbies.

Tired by her existence, coping with the living was a task that took up all her time, yet she found something.

"I like to look at the stars."

"You mean constellations; you like astronomy?"

Embarrassed, all Zila could do was nod. Never did she confide to anyone anything about herself. Still, in the presence of this boy, she barely knew she unveiled something.

"That's cool; I like that too. My favorite constellations are Orion and Andromedia. What are yours?"

"I-I just watch from my bedroom window," Zila said, thinking she shouldn't have told him.

Bowie hesitated between pursuing or changing the subject.

"Oh, ーeh, perhaps we should check out Ms. Martin's assignment. That way, I can legitimize my presence here and do something more productive," Bowie said with that perfect smile.

"Okay good idea," Zila said, eyes locked on him like a feline predator.

Does she know she has amazing eyes? Bowie thought.

The black crayon Zila used to conceal the misery under her eyes brought out their green, which gave her an alluring cat-like stare, but one had to be this close to her to realize it.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, let's start."

Unlike his moment with Shelly in the morning, time flew. Bowie found himself wishing the clock would rewind so he could replay it.

The sound of Zila's chair jerking backward broke into his daydream.

Zila didn't realize how late it was. The library was soon to close its doors and was almost empty.

"I have to leave," Zila said, bumping into a chair, "I'm late, oh, my God, oh shit!" She touched her head with both hands, and she trembled like a leaf.

Zila had to go home and cook for her father, and her mom was working late. Clayton and patience were like sworn enemies; the man hated waiting.

"Calm down, Zila, I can drop you off; I came in my car," Bowie said, getting up.

"No, no, you can't," Zila said, almost yelling in her frenzy. Being caught in a boy's car would be like signing for premature death from the hands of Judith.

Bowie could tell she wasn't in her normal state.

"Zila, let meー," she didn't give him time to finish.

She dashed out of the library, he tried to follow, but Mrs. Braithwaite stopped him and lectured him about the noise.

By the time Bowie got out, Zila was gone; she cut through the woods running as if the ground behind her was collapsing.

When Zila arrived home, her dad stood in the kitchen, belt in hand.

"Zila, do you know what time it is?"

As usual, she didn't know if the question needed an answer.

"I SAID DO YOU KNOW WHAT FUCKIN' TIME IT IS?"