Hair Color Theorem

Darkness Lies in the Past

I walked in my last class of the day, and Kaleb was sitting in his usual spot. The french warm-up was on the board. My teacher greeted me and smiled as I walked in. I walked down the aisle of desks, looking down them to see Kaleb. I smiled at him as he looked at him. He looked down though.

I sat down and did the warm-up and I kept looking back at him, and he looked sad, but he focused on his warm-up as well.

The bell rang at the end of the class, and Kaleb got up to leave, and I blocked him.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's... It's nothing."

"I know it's nothing."

"I don't want to talk about it."

He pushed past me and I let him go. I saw a blue card sticking out of the small pocket. I approached my french teacher and asked if she had student information. She said she usually shouldn't give it out, but she said just this once. I asked for Kaleb's information. She brought it up and showed me it.

He was still labeled as a Dark, I noticed. I looked at everything until I saw what I needed. I checked my phone; it was December 3rd. His birthday was today.

I thanked the teacher and she closed out of the school teacher's page. I sped out the door, scanning the hall. I didn't see Kaleb anywhere. I ran out the back door we always went out of. I ran to the street, still not seeing him. I started my way to his house. I had to get to his house. He was sab because obviously someone had forgotten his birthday, and it was me.

On my way there though, I realized I needed to get gifts. I turn a turn and got to a general store. I bought a sketchbook that was labeled as double size. I went searching through the aisles and I found a black dog plushie. I thought it was perfect and I got it for him. I then got to the birthday aisle and picked up a birthday bag and some wrapping paper to stuff the bag so you can't look into it from the top.

I made my way to the registers, and I purchased the present. I headed out and walked twice as fast as before to Kaleb's house. I got to the front of his house, and I knocked on the door. Kaleb's dad came to the door, and he greeted me, inviting me inside. I showed him the gift, and he looked in shock for a moment. Then he pointed to Kaleb's room.

I headed to the room, and slowly slid open the door. It creaked on its hinges as it opened.

"Mom, please, you know I don't want to talk today."

He looked up, and saw me.

"Oh- oh! Joey, um. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, I'm sorry I forgot it was your birthday."

"You didn't forget... I never tell anyone... "

He gave me a suspicious look and I looked sheepishly.

"I may or may not have asked our French teacher for the student files."

"You're such a bad boy."

He chuckled, and I laughed with him. Then we paused for a second, and I held out my birthday bag. He looked at it in shock.

"You... You got me something?"

"Of course, it's your birthday!"

"I only ever get money from my parents or some clothing."

He took my gift like it was a treasure and he had to protect it. He stared at the bag for the longest time, and I finally sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. I pushed him on, and he finally took the paper out, revealing the gift. He took out the sketchbook with eyes of wonder.