Flickering Shadows

The New Boy (Chapter 4)

THE NEW KID

I MOVED ONCE, from Arizona to Colorado.  I went to school the first day, and was instantly popular.  I was in a state of shock the first few weeks; I never had many friends in Arizona.  I wished that the kids who used to make fun of me in Phoenix could see me now. Unfortunately, as the year progressed, and my shock wore off, the friends started dropping away like flies. The only one who remained was Lindsay, but even that didn't work out in the end.

           That's probably how the new boy will feel, when he arrives in the morning.  He will be the shiny new toy in a hospital full of toy collectors.  I feel sorry for him already.  Maybe he will be from a different state, and the press about me would have been smaller.  Maybe I will have a shot at another friend. Two new friends in one week-I would be on a roll!

           It is dark outside, as well as inside; it's probably around midnight.   Everyone is sent to bed around nine, but it isn't silent until around midnight.  I don't usually sleep, I'm a bit of an insomniac, not that I would dare tell Dr. Howard.  I don't want to have to take any more pills.  Right now, I have to take several anti-psychotics and anti-depressants.  None of them do much good.  I am not depressed, and I don't see or hear things. Waste of medicine if you ask me. But no one does.

           As I lay in the dark staring at the ceiling, I start hearing voices. "Great," I whisper out loud. "Maybe I am crazy..." These voices sound much too familiar though, and I soon recognize them as three of the other doctors outside in the hall-Dr. Bradshaw, Dr. Phillips, and Dr. Moore. What were they doing here, wandering the halls so late? 

           Slowly and quietly I slip out of my bed. I shuffle across the tile floor and press my face against the long, glass window next to the door. The three doctors were escorting a tall boy into a room-the one across from mine.  He towered over all of them, and could have easily gotten away if he had wanted to.  Strangely, he seemed calm-which was unlike most of the new arrivals.  He had a hat on, and the bill was pulled over his face. 

           Was this the new boy?  If it was...that was good. I was half expecting some fourteen year old, short, anti-social nerd who sat around playing video games all day. I would almost prefer that, to see the look on Amanda's face when she would see him.  That'd make my day. 

           They made it inside the room, and lingered in the doorway for a few minutes. Then they turned and two of them left; the other one-Dr. Bradshaw-headed towards my room. Fearing that she'd seen me watching, I jumped back in bed, not worrying to cover up the bouncing and squeaking noises.  There was a gentle knock on my door, and then a woman in my room.

           "Miss Arnold?" Dr. Bradshaw whispered softly.  When I didn't respond, she said it a bit louder. "Lucy? Can I speak with you for just a moment?"

           I pretended to stir awake, and yawned for effect. Then I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and answered in a groggy-or what I hoped sounded like it-voice, "Yeah? What's up?"

           "Dr. Howard when home for the night, but I thought that you might want to know this now."  She whispered.  "Dylan Randclev, our new patient, is going to need someone to show him around on his first day tomorrow...er, today actually. We have unanimously agreed to assign you to that post."

           I opened my eyes wider. "Why me?"

           "You'll give him a tour around in the morning and introduce him to people, all that good stuff." Dr. Bradshaw explained. "Dr. Howard said that you were making great social strides at last, and you would make a great candidate. It would also help you with your social skills. It was either you or Amanda."

           "I'm sorry, but can you pick Amanda instead?  I don't really want to, you know...I just..." I didn't know what to say. If I said Amanda had a claim on Dylan already, there was no way that she would let her, and I would be stuck with the job.

           Dr. Bradshaw smiled sympathetically. "I know you don't have as much experience with guys as Amanda, but you don't have to give it to her just because of that."

           I was appalled that she thought I didn't have any experience with guys! Which of course I didn't, but still!  I did my best to keep my voice calm. "No, no; please just give it to her! She wants it more than me, I'm sure."

           "Alright." She sighed, and turned to leave. "Goodnight, Miss Arnold."

           Then I was alone again.

The next afternoon I was in the computer lab typing an essay on why Hitler killed Jews in World War II for my history class back home.  Before I was arrested I went to Black Forest High school, in Black Forest, Colorado.  Though I had been incarcerated and put in here, I had not lost my determination to graduate high school. So many kids here give up, stop trying and drop out.  I want to be someone, if that could ever be possible, when I get out. I have six months left of school, and six months until I was either moved to the adult wing of the hospital or discharged.

           My theory for my Hitler paper was something about how he might have been schizophrenic and that's why he went all psycho and killed the Jews, among other people. I'm sure my history teacher would love that, considering my current situation. Then they walked in. Amanda dragged Dylan into the computer lab by his hand.  She looked prettier than normal, like she had tried extra hard on her make-up and hair this morning.  I was pretty sure that she purposefully wore her lowest-cut top, the one that staff almost confiscated

           But Amanda wasn't where my attention was-Dylan had my full attention.  He had long, messy brown hair that reached his chin, and large, dark blue eyes.  His skin was almost as pale as mine, and I'm pretty white. He had such high cheek bones, and a jaw bone that could slice granite.  In short-Dylan was absolutely beautiful.

           I retired to my room early that night. I was in such a daze that I could not begin to focus on the real world. I laid back on my bed and let my mind wander.

           Why can't I stop thinking about him? I would love to know, as I haven't even spoken to him and he is constantly on my mind.  "I wonder what his favorite band is. Where is he from?  What does he have that put him in here?  Does he have a girlfriend? What if he's gay? If he is...does he have a boyfriend?" My mind screams these questions at me, along with many more.  If I wanted to find this stuff out, I was going to have to pluck up all the courage I had within me and talk to him.