Dark Alley

Chapter 16

     "What happened to you?" Tracy came in and asked. I waited her to sit next on the couch beside me before I could answer. I waited for her for three hours from school and she came back like nothing happened bad to her - like it was another normal day. Of course, she is not a newbie - like me. "First you smell like the undead - now I heard you skipped class."

     "I didn't skip class," I said in my defence. "Well sort of - but it wasn't my fault it was Dean's -"

     "Dean?" She looked at me fiercely. "Dean Woodley?"

     "Maybe," I said. I see Tracy turning and twisting around, she kept on swearing and then she looks into my eyes. I could tell how terrified she was through her eyes, the skin around it circles and darkens and naturally swells. "Tell me. Why are there so many mean people in the world."

     "You bet," she agrees with a nod. "Promise neither me you ever talk nor do anything that guy tells you,” she said. Tracy didn't have to make me promise since I already did that to myself. "Did he throw you on a garbage can?"

     I nodded and said, "Newbie shower?"

     "Yes, newbie shower," she said, Tracy placed her hand in her forehead.

     "Why do you know him?" I asked. There's something Tracy isn't telling me. Her eyes shallow and remorse.

     "No I don't," she says. "Just remind yourself that he is the most stupid guy on earth that's all." I placed what she told me in my brain.

     "Thanks for agreeing with me," I say with an uncertain smile. "I was really scared."

     "It's okay, you have the right to say that," she says. "I'm not going to take it as a proof if ever I want to be suspicious about you being gay."

     "What?" I cracked a smile; Tracy softly punched me in my arm as she laughs.

     "Just kidding," she says as we exchanged looks. I couldn't believe she's talking to me again.

     "I hope you know what I'm feeling Tracy," I tell her. I leaned my head over the couch and looked at her like a five years old baby. "I must inform you that there is no way I'm staying away from you."

     Tracy Harrison laughed. She laughs every time I get serious in a conversation, thinking she can make it less serious - but this time I won't let her.

     "Your seriousness makes me laugh," she says. "You're just so naive." Tracy pursed her lips as she smiled as she throws a pillow frim the couch to me. I blinked my eyes to find out she's walking out. She paused in front to grab something from her bag. She took out a small rectangular object and threw it to me. "It's a USB if you're asking," she says. "I copied some of my music there, mind if you check?"

     "Sure," I say. "Thank you." I raised the USB I caught as Tracy gave me a hand salute as she continued walking.

     I stare at the USB. Even this small thing produces music. Such technology that never happened in my time. So many things, events or even people that I missed. This little piece of rectangular thing made me a little bit emotional, a mixture of happiness and sadness.

     Of all the sudden I remembered about the whole being like a bird trapped in a cage thing. I was set free to be caught in a fancier cage, but the fancier cage has a lose lock and I have the choice to be free. The free world hurts.

     I went to my room and found a speaker like Tracy's lying on the bed. I took it and found a little hand written direction taped with a little arrow on the side.

'Insert USB here'

     I did what was instructed, the USB perfectly fit in the device. After seconds of beeping the device started singing. My naivety. Naivety indeed. A lot of things ran into my mind - as I let the beat of the song run into my veins.

Where was I when the rockets came to life?

And carried you awake.

Into the Alligator Sky.

     I closed my eyes as I let my body slam into the soft bed. I want every line of the song to enter my body.

Even though I'll never know what's up ahead.

I'm never letting go.

I'm never letting go.

     Tears ran into my eyes. I don't know why I am crying - but it's either because the tune that restores the broken parts of my guts or I am not yet recovering from how the people treated me.

Roller coaster through the atmosphere.

I'm drownin' in this starry serenade.

Where ecstasy becomes cavalier.

My imagination's takin' me away.

Reverie whispered in my ear

I'm scared to death that I'll never be afraid.

Roller coaster through the atmosphere.

My imagination's takin' me away.

     I felt like passing out - I see the ceiling differently as if it's waving or moving in an unstable direction. That's when I realized I called it a day. My eyes shut down.