Out of the Rabbit Hole

Chapter 3

Wow. I can't believe he's back here.

He's much taller than I imagined him to grow to and his green eyes are piercing. He's still cute and eye-catching as ever. He walks to an open seat, which happens to be right in front of me. I get a strong whiff of male cologne. I don't know what brand it is but its sweet.

I remember when he told everyone that he was leaving this place due to his mother dying earlier that month in sixth grade. We were all pretty bumped that he would be going soon, me especially. I had been planning for some time to ask him out but I never had the courage to. Ever since he complimented me, I've liked him. Of course six years and reality can diminish those feelings. He was always friendly and would speak to me out of the blue when his friends weren't with him. Maybe it was just me, but I felt like he genuinely liked me. I'm sure it was just false hope.

However, there was this one time in fifth grade, when I was sent to the nurse after getting thrown to the ground for wearing make up, Simon really talked with me. He told me about the time he scraped his knee on the pavement and cried for two hours over it. It was pretty dramatic he said, with all the blood. I told him some things, like my favorite color, what my parents are like, and who my crush from High School Musical was.

It was Troy of course, and his was Sharpay.

Class ends in a few minutes after learning about the history of the first steamboat for the past two hours, so we all do our own thing.The girls who were talking about me before start whispering about Simon.The teacher left the room to get the copies of our homework from the copy-room, and reminds us to behave while he's gone. One of them decides to speak to when he leaves.

"Hey new kid!" I peer over my book to look at what Simon will do. He was on his phone before so he jolts up to see the person behind the voice.

"Hey." He flashes a smile and waves to them in response.

Personable as ever.

They laugh and nudge each other.

"Yeah, hey. We just wanted to tell you that you're welcome to sit with us at lunch."

"Oh really?! Thanks I guess." He smiles again.

I wish it could be that easy for me to talk to people, but it's not. It's like trying to have a conversation with a dog; I don't say much but understand everything.

"Oh by the way, that person behind you," They look back to me, but I divert my eyes to my book, acting like I'm not listening,"is a freak job, so don't get to close or you may catch it's irreversible disease." The break out in laughter.

Must they make me feel small everyday?

"Irreversible?"

He's questioning this disease I apparently have?

"Hehe yeah, sure." Says one of the girls.

"I don't think so. What I think is irreversible is that nasty, dried up piece of waste you guys call a heart. See, the amount of shit you wear on your face will not hide your ugliness, not for miles." They are speechless.

For once, they do not had a good comeback. I'm baffled myself that he stood up to me, but I don't understand why he would. I highly doubt he would remember me. Besides, when he knew me I was still a guy. The only time I dressed up as a girl for the public to see was that time in third grade and at my Aunt Bertha's Bridal Shower.

The bell rings, so I quickly get up to avoid conflict with anyone. Someone calls me to wait but I keep walking faster and faster, until I bump into something. I open my eyes to see papers flying everywhere and my homeroom teacher standing with a shocked expression. I frantically pick up the papers I knocked out his hands. He helps to and so does another pair of hands. I turn my head to see Simon gathering a pile of papers.