Flames

Did You Know Some Humans Don't Hate Me?

I woke up the next morning, my lip still sore. I got up, went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I had a slight bruise on the side of my face, and my lip had scabbed over a bit. if I smiled, it would probably start bleeding again. Good thing I don't smile often. I went back to my room and got changed for school into jeans and a black Fall Out Boy shirt. I put on a black hoodie, slightly large for me, but could hold a lighter in my sleeves without suspicion. The hood hung to my mid- back, and I grabbed my mostly empty backpack as I went down the stairs to make breakfast.

I turned on the stove, and I could feel the heat from the open flames. I slid a pan over the flames, quenching the heat slightly. I opened the fridge and placed three slices of bacon on the pan. I grabbed the milk, and went over the stove to grab a bowl and cereal. I poured the cereal and milk in the bowl, the bacon was for my mom, the noise usually woke her up.

I grabbed a spoon and sat down at the table. This was my morning routine, every morning, my mom would usually joke "When you leave for college who will make me my bacon in the morning?" she stopped now that I'm in middle school, but my dad used to make the bacon (literally) it would wake me up too. I finished my cereal as my mom came out of the other room.

"Good morning." She said to me, still half asleep.

"Morning." I got up and brought my bowl to the sink, turned the sink on, and cleaned my bowl. She took the tongs and a plate, and put the now fully cooked bacon on her plate.

"Its supposed to rain again today, brush your hair and teeth and then I'll give you a ride to school."

"No mom, I'll walk."

"Okay, but brush your hair and teeth."

"People don't talk to me anyway."

"Now please."

"Fine."

I brushed my hair and teeth, then started the walk to school. I had walked for a while when I heard a set of footsteps behind me, running. I quickly turned around, it was a freshman, blond, and surprisingly good looking. He was wearing khaki shorts and a blue nike swoosh tee shirt, a black backpack full of books and writing utensils sticking out of the pockets. I turned back around and walked faster than before. I couldn't run, he would for sure notice me if he hadn't already. I was stuck.

He started slowing down as he neared me. "Hello." He said smiling. I turned to him and just stared at him, blank look on my face. I turned back to the sidewalk and walked again. He just kept on smiling, like he didn't care I had just did that. He kept up with me, "Do you go to the high school down this street?"

"Yes, and if you did, you would know to stay away if you want a social life."

"Well I don't even know your name, so how would I know?" He replied, smiling. It was unnerving how much he smiled.

"You don't need to know my name. Most of them don't even know it themselves."

"Well my name is Scott Halloway. Moved here from Washington."

"Wonderful." I said sarcastically, he must of not noticed, because he kept on smiling.

"So, will I ever know your name?" He asked me, turning his head to look at me.

"Maybe, its an ugly name though."

"How can it be?"

"Trust me."

"Okay then. What should I call you if I don't know your name?"

"Never again."

"What?"

"Don't talk to me ever again."

"Why?"

"I'm trying to help you." We neared the high school, and I slowed down. "You keep on going, pretend you never saw me."

"Why are you so scared?" He asked, losing his smile, seeming genuinely concerned.

"You see this on my lip?" I pointed to it for verification.

"Yes."

"The people who did this to me, will do it to you, and I don't want other people to get hurt because of my need for companionship."

"You have a need for companionship?" He was smiling again.

"Just go!"

"I will if you let me talk to you again." Would he ever leave?

"Really?"

"Yes really."

"Will you leave?"

"Yep. Do you want my phone number, or do I need to take yours?" Go away. I reluctantly held out my hand and he pulled a pen out of his full backpack. He wrote his phone number, (Its (563)663-7419 if you wanted to know) on my hand. "Goodbye miss Never Again." He walked fast up the sidewalk, still smiling, like he had accomplished something.

I went behind some bushes by the sidewalk and waited 5 minutes. I slowly walked to the school. That usually doesn't happen. I hung my head low, looking at my feet as they walked me through the crowded doors.

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I got out of school and started down the sidewalk home. There were people again, waiting for me to come close. I just walked towards them. I was scared for my life.

"Hey, freak? Did that hurt yesterday? It sure seemed so." I just kept on walking as they teased me. " I asked you a fucking question." He grabbed me by my hair, and I replied, "Not as much to get me to leave, so go away." He dropped me to the ground, and they started kicking my back, spine, and guts. They continued for a few minutes, then spit on me, shaking.

"See you tomarrow bitch."

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Just because he gave you his number doesn't mean you have to text him. I was laying in my bed at home, bored out of my mind. Holding my iphone above my head, looking at the contacts. It was my mom, 911, and Scott so far. I could text him, but why would I? It didn't make sense. I turned over and fell asleep, hoping he wouldn't notice that I ignored him.