Who Are You? - A Matthew Espinosa Fanfiction

Possible New Story?

This was just an idea I had, so tell me if it would be something you might read! Should I continue with it after I finish this story? Give me some feedback guys! Love ya!😘

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You know how schools do stupid surveys that are optional for students to take? Yeah, the ones where the parents can choose to sign the permission form or pass on the pointless questioning. Well, my mother is that one parent who believes that having me participate in EVERY SINGLE survey will somehow benefit my academic career and overall outlook on life. The surveys have yet to help out in either department, yet she still signs me up for any survey the school needs students my age for. It's rather irritating, but since it is a parental decision, I don't have much control over the outcome. That is why, on a Saturday morning, I am stuck in a class classroom at my school, getting asked yet another pointless question by an adult that either A) doesn't care, or B) cares way too much about the question. Sadly, I'm stuck with the adult described in option B.

"Hello everyone! My name's Marissa and and I'll be leading this survey today," the adult says, excitedly. "Now, I only have one rule: answer the question honestly, because it's an important question. Oh, I know we're all going to have loads of fun today!"

I try not to laugh at how out of touch this woman obviously is with teenagers. She's trying so hard to get everyone excited about being here, when you would have to be blind to not see that no one wants to be here. Except for maybe Marissa. We haven't even been here for five minutes and half the kids have already zoned out. One girl was even smart enough to wear sunglasses, so I'm almost positive she's asleep. I'm jealous of that girl right now. I sigh and turn my attention back to perky Marissa.

"You lovely kids have been chosen because the school feels that you all will provide unique perspectives. You are all so blessed to be a part of this!"

The girl with the sunglasses scoffs, making me have to pretend to have a coughing fit to hide the fact that I almost started laughing.

Marissa stops a moment to send a look to Sunglasses girl, but she continues her positivity route. "Okay, let's get started. The question is...How do you define beauty? That's a lovely question! Do I have any volunteers to go first?"

Everyone looks around the circle, pleading with our eyes to have someone else go first. I just want someone to go, because the sooner someone volunteers to go first, the sooner this gets over and the sooner I can go home. I'm about to raise my hand when the girl sitting by Sunglasses Girl volunteers.

"Hi, my name is Carly and I feel like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But I feel like beauty is something that takes your breath away when you see it," the girl finishes with a smile.

We start to make our way around the circle and I spend plenty of time staring up at the clock. I'm still listening to the answers, but they're all stupid and superficial answers to the question. People are giving examples of things they find beautiful, but Marissa is excepting all the answers, congratulating people for sharing. I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes multiple times. Pretty soon, it's my turn to share, and Marissa looks at me expectantly.

"I'm Shawn."

"Okay, Shawn, how do you define beauty?"

I bite my tongue and stop myself from giving some smart ass comment like "however the dictionary defines it is fine by me". Sadly, I know that's not an exceptable answer.

"Well," I begin. "I guess beauty doesn't necessarily mean anything. Obviously there are multiple ways to say beautiful. Synonyms like pretty, gorgeous, and cute, but that's probably not the answer you're looking for. Beauty is just something people say as a compliment, but there is no such thing as beautiful, because beautiful is a forever changing opinion."

I am met with silence. I have rendered the peppy Marissa speechless. But, she quickly manages to snap herself out of her shock.

"Well, um, thank you, Shawn for that rather interesting insight. Moving on! How about you?" she says, directing the question at Sunglasses Girl.

The girl scoffs. "The name is Lacey. While I find Shawn's answer the most acceptable, I still don't agree with it one hundred percent. Probably because pretty much everyone has stated that beauty is something that you see. Well, if that's beauty then I guess I can't answer this question since I've been blind since I was seven. I guess I just don't know what beauty is if the main characteristic is being able to see things. How's that for honestly, Marissa?"

Lacey has left the room in a stunned silence for a second time in five minutes. Everyone is waiting for a response from Marissa, but she is speechless for real this time. Looking around, everyone seems frozen. Well, everyone except for Lacey. She pulls her cane out of her backpack.

"Now if that's all, I have better things to do with my life than be here. So I don't need the obvious looks of pity or the sympathy you're all wanting to give, and I would honestly prefer if you all left me and my cynical self alone because I like the darkness and my non-beautiful life."

She walks out with the cane guiding her. Everyone stares after her, everyone except me. I'm out of my chair and running out the door, chasing after this mysterious girl. There's something about her that I'm drawn to. Maybe it's her attitude because while I'm not the poster child for positivity, I'm sure if you look up pessimistic, her picture would be the definition. I feel like she needs to find out there's more to life than what she thinks. She deserves to find a definition to beautiful and I'm going to help her. She needs to discover what beauty really is, and I guess I do too.

I finally catch up to her in the hallway. "Hey, Lacey!"

She turns when she hears her name. "You're Shawn, aren't you?"

I nod, shocked she knows that considering we'd never met before today. But I realize that she can't see me nodding and immediately feel stupid. "Yeah, that's impressive."

"What is?" she questions, cocking her head to the side.

"Remembering my name even though we haven't met. Plus your rendering everyone speechless was pretty badass."

This gets a smile out of her. "Well, I have had years of practice in recognizing people based off of their voices. It's also not my fault that those people in there couldn't handle someone saying something with a tiny amount of depth."

"Did you believe what you said? About not knowing what beauty is?"

"If I remember correctly, you said you didn't think beauty existed either, so how is that any different? But yeah, I guess I believe what I said, why?"

I look at her, realizing that she's caught me. I did say that, but I'm willing to change my answer, I can only hope that she's willing to change hers.

"I did say that, and I'm not negating my earlier statement. I'm simply saying that I'm open to finding out what beauty is, are you? Even if it is just opinions."

"What are you suggesting?" Lacey asks, curiosity evident in her voice.

"I'm suggesting we do a totally not lame project of finding out what beauty really is. What do you say Lacey? Are you in or out?"