Leon walked down the halls of the school on his own, like everyday. He was shoved and throw around like a ragdoll in the busy halls. He wasn't feeling any particular way, though he did hurt from Gary Olsen's last stab at trying to shove him into a locker. Gary Olsen was among the few thousands of "bullies" around the school who cared more about making sure Leon was in pain more than their own education. Leon didn't understand it. He kept walking to his favorite class, History of Mythology. It was more of an elective, but no one really cared much about any of the classes so it didn't really matter what they called them. Leon loved mythology more than any kid in Casanova High. He was probably over passionate about it but he didn't care. The class was his one break from all the torture of the school day. High school was as bad as he imagined, and as bad as his mother explained. Apparently she hadn't struggled as much as he was. In the present, he just didn't care. Nothing felt good or bad. Some would say he was depressed; but, if asked, he would shoot back at you "What's it to ya?!" and walk away, shoulders slouched. Leon walked into the classroom in utter silence. He often felt like a ghost, surrounded by the living. His classmates and even the teachers didn't acknowledge him most of the time except for his History of Mythology teacher, Mr. Latiffe. Mr. Latiffe seemed like the only person who talked to the odd teenager. Mr. Latiffe, well, he really didn't mind talking to him. School work was always more fun with him, Leon thought at least. His skin didn't crawl at the idea of homework for that class either. "Mr. Martin! Nice to see you in class today, how was the school day?" Mr. Latiffe smiled at him from his desk in the front of the classroom. Leon smiled a very real smile back at his favorite teacher. "Hello Mr. Latiffe, it's nice to see you. It's been an alright day." he says, walking up to the desk. "That's what you say everyday Leon." he shoots back, giving him a sly smirk. "Very true, sir, but you understand the reasoning by that, I'm sure." Leon says, sitting down at his seat right in front of the teacher's desk. His teacher smiled to himself. Leon began taking out his book, folders, and other essentials needed for his favorite class. He began looking over the myth of Thor and Loki, the Asgardian brothers. In the middle of the first semester, this was what they were studying. Leon was extremely interested in the story of Loki, the adopted brother of Thor Odinson. The frost giant and rightful king of Jotunheim was his favorite. The rest of the class really focused on Thor, but Leon identified with the outcast, loner, rejected and ignored. Loki wasn't pampered and loved on like Thor was. Loki was the same as him. Leon began writing down different names of gods of Asgard before he felt a pat on the back. He hadn't noticed Mr. Latiffe had come around behind him and was watching him write. "Meet me outside, please." he said before leaving the classroom. Leon got up from his chair and walked out as well. The bell was close to ringing, he didn't know what Mr. Latiffe wanted to talk about outside of the classroom. When Leon left the classroom he noticed the halls were close to empty. It was odd because normally the students would avoid being in the classroom until the last second. Leon took note of it for when he got the time to write it down in his journal. Mr. Latiffe was leaning against the wall next to the door when Leon walked into the hall. He was confused at first, then Mr. Latiffe spoke, "Leon, I need to speak with you about something. What is happening at home? How is your relationship with your mom? Are you okay?" Leon was taken aback. There was a flurry of questions coming at him at high speeds and Leon didn't know how to respond. He didn't prepare for this. He figured it was about something he had done or wrote just a second ago. But no, he was asking personal questions, questions about his mom, and what Leon feared most, he asked if he was okay. "Um, Mr. Latiffe, what makes you ask?" Leon asked, hesitating on what to say next. He didn't know if he wanted to answer, to spill his emotions onto some teacher he would see ever again by the end of the year, or if he just wanted to stay quiet, to brush his teacher off like everyone else who ever tried getting close to him. He really didn't know, but he didn't get any time to decide before Mr. Latiffe spoke again. "I care about you Leon. I want to know how you are. If you are uncomfortable sharing, just say and I will back off and start class, but if you have anything you want to share with me I am more than happy to listen. But, I just noticed the time; I'll give you the rest of the class time to decide. The bell is about to ring and I don't want to keep the rest of the students waiting. I'll give you time to focus on the decision, you won't have to worry about getting anything done, I know how you are in this class." Leon nodded to his teacher and retreated inside the classroom with Mr. Latiffe in tow. Class went on as usual. The class was going over the history of Valkyries but Leon had studied those himself weeks ago. Leon dozed off overthinking about his decision on what he wanted to tell Mr. Latiffe. He hadn't made any progress before then. Class was still going on when he woke up and he resumed his thoughts. He trusted, respected, and really enjoyed Mr. Latiffe but most of the time there was no emotional information shared between them; mostly because having any sort of friendship with your student would be against quite a few rules, mostly regarding test taking and grading issues; which Leon understood. Leon still wasn't sure if he would ever open up to anyone in high school, he barely opened up to his own mother. He was on the wire of what to do. He needed more time, if only he hadn't taken that nap, but he overworked his mind and it was so hard to come back from an overworked mind. Never would he understand why he couldn't just be open to everyone else. He couldn't just function emotionally like other individuals could. His mother didn't understand either. She often said she never had this problem in her lifetime. Plus, she never made any effort to understand him. She was more focused on learning about her newest boyfriend (blah). Leon made his final decision in the last few minutes of class. He had nothing left to lose, he wouldn't ever see Mr. Latiffe after the year ended. Plus, it would be nice to share personal feelings with someone for the first time. Though Leon was extremely anxious about it, he had already made his decision. Can't turn back now. Two minutes passed before the bell had rung and people were storming out of the classroom, trying to hurry to their next class. Leon sat still, wondering if his decision was a bad one. What if Mr. Latiffe accidentally told the principal and got in trouble for being friends with a student? What if Mr. Latiffe tried to contact his mother about how he talked about her, or how he was feeling? What if he contacted the counselor about his feelings and tried to get him to open up more to someone he didn't trust? All these questions were racing through his minds at speeds he didn't know were possible for himself. Mr. Latiffe cleared his throat to get Leon's attention. "Leon, before you tell me what you decided, I want to let you know that I understand if you choose to keep to yourself about your personal life." Mr. Latiffe said, fidgeting with the pencil in his hand. Leon looked up from his desk. Leon shook his head decisively, "I will share. I trust you as a teacher, and a person in general. Whatever you'd like to know, you can ask. I can't guarantee an answer. But I'll try." Mr. Latiffe bowed his head in acceptance. "Do you remember the first few questions I asked before class?" he asked. "Yes." Leon said. "Okay, start there then. At your own time of course." he added. Leon was nervous, he would gladly admit that, but he felt he made a good decision. "Well, I don't feel, necessarily, "okay"." he said with air quotes. Mr. Latiffe gave him a face of concern, but stayed quiet, letting Leon keep going. Leon was glad Mr. Latiffe wasn't asking questions yet. He wasn't ready to answer a whole other flurry of questions. "I don't feel anything most of the time, there are only specific things that trigger feeling in me. And, as for the second question, nothing is really happening, just a normal divorced mother with her son. I do chores like any other kid, I stay in my room a lot like any other teenager. I'm normal, except for the fact that I don't feel much." Leon continued. Mr. Latiffe shook his head in silence. "As for my relationship with my mother, it is fairly distant." Leon said. As Leon finished, the first bell had rung, signaling he had two minutes to get to class. He was already packed up, so, Leon got up and walked to the door. He turned to face Mr. Latiffe "Sir, I need to get to my next class, it's been... nice, talking to you, but I must leave before I am late." Mr. Latiffe understood and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Leon left the room. He had to be honest, he didn't expect much from the quiet kid, and he wasn't disappointed.
