Blurred Lines

Michaels 'childhood'

TW: bullying mention
Micheal pov

When Jeremy doesn't appear at school the next day, I get worried.

"Mrs. Grause? Do you know where Jeremy is?" She looks down at me sadly and I assume the worst.

"Jeremy's, not coming back." In the moment, I panic.

"He's dead?" I whisper yell, and she shakes her head.

"No no, he just moved." She explained quickly, and my shoulders slumped and i looked down.

"Oh." Of course the one person I befriend leaves. I should've known. "Mrs. can I go to the bathroom?" She nods and I turn, only managing to keep the tears back until I'm out the door.

I make it to the bathroom blindly, having pushed up my glasses and was wiping my eyes. I sat on the floor and tried to stop crying so no one would notice, but it kept hitting me again and again.

The one friend I made left. I know he must not have wanted to but he did. Now I'm alone again, and maybe I should just do everyone a favor and stay that way.

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So I spent elementary school in the corner, hiding behind a book or, after fourth grade, headphones, never trying to make friends and trying: read; failing to fly under the radar of the bullies.

Then middle school hit, and since my parents were gone all the time I figured out how to get to the bus stop on my own. 

I leaned against the speed limit sign, which was the stop, letting my thoughts get drowned out by Bob Marley.

That is, I was, until someone tapped me on the shoulder and I jumped about a foot. I looked to the boy who'd disturbed my serenity and his mouth started moving.

I internally sighed and out my headphones around my neck as he repeated himself.

"Is this the bus stop?" I shrug, keeping my expression neutral.

"I dunno. I'm sixth grade too." I'm just glad school's back in session and I don't have to go to that dreaded gym/daycare my parents insist I attend during the summers.

"You look familiar." he muses, and I say cooly,

"I shouldn't. I just moved here." He doesn't buy it, then says,

"No, I've seen you somewhere before, at like, a fancy party or something?" I push off the pole and get a good look at him. He does look familiar as well, but not dressed like this.

"Let me know if you figure it out." I say, slipping my headphones back on.

The bus arrives a few minutes later, and I scan my pass and get on, taking a seat near the front. Fortunately, the boy has other friends to sit with and leaves me alone.

I sigh, resigning myself for another cycle of being ignored and overseen other than getting beat up.

I have no right to complain though, it could be worse.