The Anatomy of a Parody Heart

monster

Enzo waits until break to sneak into the school library. It is not normally a place that Ryan or Tyler go, so Enzo figures that he will be safe there.

Safer.

He logs onto one of the school computers. It is slow today - slower than ever. He drums his fingers on the desk as he waits.

It rained last night. Rained hard. It started as a drizzle, in the park, then got heavier. Enzo is hoping - crossed-fingers hoping - that he can still use the computer. The satellite in the TV at home is down. Robyn wouldn't shut up about it all morning. Not until Enzo threw a book at his face.

Someone sits down at the computer next to him. It is a girl. A girl with dark, wavy hair, dark eyes. A year or two below him. Enzo has never talked to her before.

But apparently she doesn't see that as a setback. "Hi, Enzo," she says. Brightly.

Enzo opens the internet up on his computer. Ignores her.

"I was just wondering..." She leans towards him.

Enzo leans away, automatically.

"Prom's coming up soon, and I was thinking... Well, you're cute." She blushes. "Right? And unless anyone's asked you already... Do you want to come to prom with me?"

Enzo stares at her. "I don't go to prom."

"Sure you do! It's at the end of your year, and - "

"Are you deaf? I don't go to prom."

The girl pulls back a little. Miffed.

Enzo sighs. "Look. I don't even know you. I - "

"We were in nursery together. Like, ten years ago."

"Right. That's great. But - "

"Well, what if I like you?" The girl glares at him. "Like - really, really like you?"

Enzo raises an eyebrow at her. "I don't even know your name."

"Sonja." The girl smiles at him. Prettily. "Sonja Parka. And - I mean, I know you can't love me back - like, that's impossible - but - "

Enzo can't help thinking that this escalated quickly. Way too quickly.

"Wait. You're in love with me?"

"Out! Out of the library!"

Enzo jerks around.

The librarian is bustling towards them.

"How many times do I have to tell you kids that you have to be quiet in the library? No, Miss Parka, no excuses! No, I don't want to hear it. Out, the pair of you. Out!"

Snarling under his breath, Enzo logs off the computer, swings his bag over his shoulder. Stalks out of the library.

He is halfway down the corridor when he passes a group of girls. Sonja is among them, and there is something in the way that they are looking at him, laughing at him, that makes Enzo's face burn suddenly hot, and then cold.

Another prank.

Another prank.

"You should've heard him, seriously - 'I don't go to prom'. It's like he actually believed me or something. Like he actually thought that I could be in love with someone like him!"

"Ha! No way!"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Not even Betty has that badder taste."

"Badder? That's not even a word."

"Who cares? He's such a freak. As if anyone would ever fall in love with him. I mean, I'm sorry, but he's basically a monster, for God's sake! He can't exactly expect someone to love him, can he?"

Enzo's fist tightens on the strap of his bag.

How the hell can you like them, Dan?

How the hell can you like anyone at all?