Aaron and Blue

Chapter 2

Blue sits at her desk, longing to be home listening to music or exploring the woods. The teacher raps on her podium to get the class's attention.

"You are going to be doing a project with a partner." Students whisper to their friends excitedly. Blue and Aaron sit emotionless, the same thoughts running through their heads. Who would be the least awful to work with. The options are few.

"You may pick your partner," says the teacher and the class erupts. Girls clasp frantic hands and boy nod at their friends. Quickly, partners are snapped up leaving Aaron and Blue in a lonely sea. Aaron looks over first. Blue stares straight ahead waiting for him to talk.

"Umm," Aaron swallows. "Everyone else has a partner. Do you want to..?" His voice trails off. The words nudge into Blue's shoulder, presenting her with an opportunity. She nods. Don't be too excited. He will probably run away like the rest. But still Blue cannot keep a small tendril of hope from unfurling in her stomach.

The teacher continues, explaining the details. Tension flows between Aaron and Blue, almost visible in its intensity.

"We can't meet at my house, sorry." Aaron says, something stirring behind his eyes.

"Alright. Mine then."

The next day on the bus, kids shout, a couple behind Blue lean in for a sloppy embrace, but in Blue's mind the world is quiet. The only sound is the hot air as it rushes in through the windows, stirring the stew of sweat, hormones, and loose papers. The bus jerks to a stop and Blue stands. Several rows behind her, Aaron mirrors her actions, swinging his bag up to rest on his shoulder. He has to duck slightly as he navigates the mess of long legs and backpacks spilling their guts over the floor. One girl notices and whispers to her friend. Soon the whole bus is alive with whispers. The emo boy is getting off with the wild girl. Aaron realizes what they are whispering and pauses for a second, evaluating. Blue turns toward him, fists clenched and ready for a fight. This is when he ditches her. She meets his gaze intentionally, ultramarine and amber flashing, and is taken aback. Instead of the usual steely calm, Aaron's eyes spark with anger. He sets his jaw and walks after her, down onto the gravel.

Blue walks ahead, leading the way, but also avoiding the look that is sure to be in Aaron's eyes as he takes in the poverty of her neighborhood. Most of the kids at school come from middle class wealth. To them, being born poor is an unforgivable sin.

They reach her house after what seems like years of walking in scorching heat through tall weeds, rusted metal, and abandoned toys. Blue steps up the concrete steps, pulling back the screen door. They walk into the kitchen, linoleum floor shifting slightly under their feet. Blue slides her backpack off her shoulder and it thuds onto the floor. She sits, motioning for Aaron to do the same. He complies, staring down at the fake wood-grain of the table. Blue speaks first.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I'll just do some and you do some." Blue rolls her eyes.

"Yes. That's what I was thinking," she says, sarcasm tinging her voice. Aaron runs his finger down the tabletop, tracing shapes and squiggles. Blue waits for a few minutes then loses patience. She stands suddenly, shaking the table, and walks to the back door.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm taking a break because nothing is getting done." Blue sounds more than a little annoyed. She opens the door and leaves it swinging as the screen door slams behind her. Aaron pauses for a moment, studying the lines of his hands then follows. He finds her standing on the last of the worn concrete steps looking out at her backyard. It has no borders; patchy grass spreads in all directions till it collides with other homes. Instead of the rusting metal and toys in other yards, what look like tiny houses are spread throughout, mainly clustered near the house. Some look to be made of old teapots, milk cartons, boxes, while others are broken down bird or doll houses. All of them have leaves, tiny colorful pieces of glass, rags of cloth. Aaron looks over at Blue questioningly.

"What are those?"

"Fairy houses," Blue responds, an edge to her voice. She turns, expecting to see disgust or judgement on his face. Instead he simply nods and says, "Cool." There is no sarcasm in his voice. Blue nods back. She walks back up the steps towards him.

"Let's do this."

They work together at Blue's house several days that week. What was once awkward and stiff becomes a little easier to bear. They mainly sit in silence, talking only when they need to.

Blue breathes deeply then stands.

"Do you like music?" Aaron smiles slightly.

"Doesn't everyone?" Blue motions for him to follow her. She leads him down the dimly lit hallway and through the last door on the right. Colors swirl and dance along the walls and over her face. Blue pulls out the record player and puts on an album. Music floats through the air, slightly scratchy. Songs by sad boys about how life is pain. Blue and Aaron sit, letting it soak into them. After a while Blue relaxes, lying down with her forearm across her forehead. Her tangled, curly locks spiral out from her head across the floor tinted rainbow by the hanging glass. Her knees, cocked towards the ceiling are bruised, blue and purple with tinges of green splashed across her skin.

Blue and Aaron float on the music for what feels like an eternity. Aaron is roused gently when he notices the light seeping in has turned orange and grey as the sun sets. He pries himself from the floor, a mess of gangling legs and aching muscles. He walks to the door then turns to say goodbye. Blue's eyes are open, strange colors fitting in with those in the glass. For the first time, he sees peace within them. He turns away smiling and leaves the house, walking through the dusk, sad boys still singing in his heart.