Strange Thoughts

Part One-Chapter Two- Aleya

I finish my assignment, looking up at my tutor. He gives me a half smile and comes by my desk to check my work. He nods after every problem, checking them off with a number two pencil.

I stare down at the oak wood desk. I used to always feel awkward while people checked my work. I wondered what they were thinking. Wow she's good at this, she's average, or she definitely needs more work.

I don't have to worry anymore. I close my eyes for a split second and climb into my tutor Matt's mind. Words start blurring in my head. I clear my mind of distractions, and read the thoughts.

Nice, nice, oh, we'll have to work more on that. If only her math was as good as her creative writing. I wish she was more interested in being a politician or lawyer. Her special, "skill" would give her an amazing advantage. 17 out of 20. That's decent. Why is she staring at me? I hope that doesn't happen to me again, that one time a student had a crush on me was horrible.

I quickly crawl out of his mind, not wanting to hear anymore of that story. I have to admit though, I can see why a student had a crush on him.

Matt has dirty blonde, slightly curled hair, a very defined jawline, and striking blue eyes. He loves to paint, though he will probably never admit it to me, as he had apparently admitted that to the girl who had a crush on him. He loves teaching children, he feels like he's making a difference in the world by doing so.

It's hard to imagine not knowing that much about a person, even one who only talks to you about homework, algebra, and who founded Jamestown. Most people wouldn't know anything like that about him, they'd have to poke and pry, but it wouldn't work. Matt is like a wall, not one made out of plastic or even stone, but one out of hard iron.

One thing that worries me, is that Matt knows my secret. I have this fear that if he spilled to anyone, some creepy guy will kidnap me and make me perform in the circus. I know it's far fetched, but trust me, I've read minds of guys like that out on the streets. They could be walking with fancy suits and ties on, or homeless with only rags, it didn't matter how they looked, they could all be that horrible person inside.

Matt hands me back my paper, tiny red x's put through the numbers of the problems I got wrong. I look them over, and explain Matt my mistakes, and give him the correct answers. The twenty year old man smiled. He loves kids who are really serious about their work, like me. I can tell that his suspicions that I have a crush on him fade away.

Matt grabs his blue bag of supplies and leaves the room. He stops for a moment to talk to my parents, who are also heading out the door for a cocktail party with their friends. Aubrey peeks around the corner of my office room, where I get tutored five days a week.

"Aleya." she whispers. "Aleya come here, to the living room." I give her a weird look, but then I remember that today is the day that she is going to invite her crush over." I stealthy walk into the living room.

I hide behind a coffee colored tv stand, my phone in hand. My sister has hers. She sits and texts me.

Aubrey: He'll be here any second.

Me: You better hope he comes after Mom and Dad leave.

Aubrey: They're still here?!?

Me: They are out the door. You should be fine, and you should be allowed to have boys over, you're fifteen after all.

Aubrey: He's here!

I duck down behind the stand. The doorbell rings, and Aubrey runs to answer it, her pretty hair curled in ringlets, bouncing.

A tall guy walks in. He is at least a foot taller than Aubrey, and Aubrey is a good five feet 3 inches tall. He's gangly, but in a cute way, with wavy brown hair styled like Cameron Dallas.

"How are you doing, Brian?" He smiles, showing teeth as white as snow. His brown eyes crinkle when he smiles, showing that his smile is real. Aubrey starts talking more to Brian, while I delve deeper into his thoughts.

"How's school?" Aubrey asks. "It's cool." Brian says. "Mr. Mason is so funny." He starts telling a story about Mr. Mason's math class that happened today. Aubrey listens attentively, while shooting me looks. She wants a text soon.

Aubrey's really nice, and really pretty, but Lucinda Mally asked me out the other day. How am I supposed to choose? I have a good friendship with Aubrey, though Lucinda is just so pretty, and she would help out my reputation a lot. Stop being so stupid Brian, make the right choice. Choose Aubrey.

I send Aubrey a thumbs up emoji. She takes one look at it and is all of a sudden way happier. Brian takes her hand and looks her in the eye.

"Aubrey, will you be my girlfriend?" Brian looks away shyly and back again. Aubrey pretends to take a moment to think, but then smiles, and looks him right in the eye.

"Of course I will!" Brian takes her hand and twirls her around. I can't help snooping back into his thoughts, I want to know exactly what he thinks about this wonderful girl that is my sister.

She's nice, but I have to get to the main task here. I need to find what I'm looking for. I need to find it, or else bad things will happen to me. The girl doesn't matter, although it'll be fun to get to know her. I wish I didn't have to dump her in the end, but I don't have another choice.

My current state of happiness becomes a state of horror, as I watch Brian's eyes wander away from Aubrey. He looks like he's taking in every detail, scoping the room. Although it could be very useful, I don't want to look at anymore of his thoughts. They are too much for me to handle.

Aubrey is so happy, she's beaming and blushing. I try not to let my eyes water in my hiding spot, knowing that Brian's happiness is completely fake. Is his name even Brian? I definitely don't know.

I creep up back to my room and take out my computer. I open up a new document and put one name down, Brian, what was it? Brian Flanders.

I close the computer and lay face down on my bed, pulling the covers over my upper back. I can't help feeling like a giant pair of eyes is watching my every move. It doesn't matter what I do, the eyes can see everything.

I lay there for a while, not knowing when the hour ends and the next starts, not knowing anything until Aubrey comes up to my room, and barges in.

"Thank you so much, Aleya! Thank you! I actually want to hug you now which I don't want to do a lot, no offense. " I roll my eyes, and try to cover up my true feelings of sadness.

I nod a simple you're welcome, and Aubrey retreats out the door, holding herself up in her room to do a boatload of homework she got at school. I know she's probably procrastinating, lip syncing with her headphones on to a Julia Michaels song.

I chuckle under my breath, and sit down to read.