Were you Even Mine?

Chapter 1: Pancakes

"Wake up!"

"Huh?"

"Get up, Mike. It's time for school!"

"Okay. Be down in a minute!"

"You'd better hurry, I made pancakes!"

At the mention of pancakes, I bolt up out of bed and do my wake up routine ten times faster that usual.

My name's Michael, but everybody calls me Mike or Mikey. I'm 16, I get good grades, and I'm smooooth with the ladies.

At least, that's what I would be telling myself if the only "lady" that would ever talk to me wasn't my mom.

After I get dressed and ready for school, I follow the smell of pancakes all the way into the kitchen.

"Wow, that might be a new record." She says, chuckling.

"You say that everytime but it never becomes any more true than the last 15 times you've said it."

"Cool your jets, I was just kidding. Does school really have you in a 'mood' this morning?"

"I hadn't noticed before, but yeah, I guess it does."

"Well sit down. Maybe pancakes will cheer you up!" She says, putting the last pancake on a plate.

I rush over to the table and sit down.

"You act like food is the only thing you live for." She jokes, setting the plate on the table.

"How do you know it isn't?" I joke back, loading up my plate with as much food as it will hold.

"I raised you well, so don't go getting overweight on me!"

"I know, I know."

We sat there eating in silence for a little while, mostly because I was eating the food to fast to talk.

"Mikey, when are we going to talk about what's been bugging you lately...?"

"Mmfh fmph..." I start to say. I swallow the bite I'm chewing and try again.

"Why should we even talk about it?"

"Because it's the third girlfriend you've had this month!"

"That is not a valid reason, mom." I respond.

Recently, I've been feeling extra lonely in school, so I've been going on dating sites and trying to meet people. All of them end up falling through and not working out, but I still try nonetheless.

"I don't see why you can't just go to school and be in a relationship with someone there!" She says, getting a little angry. I should know not to make her mad, but I don't stop myself.

"Because everyone hates me there, mom."

That single statement made her just freeze and look at me.

"Honey, I'm sure that they don't-"

"Yes they do. They prove it every single time I walk into school. I'm not treated like everyone else."

I get the best grades in the school, but that doesn't mean there aren't drawbacks. As a result, I've turned into a silent kid. I started getting bullied when I first started pursuing college.

After that day, nobody talked to me.

They may not have been aggressive toward me, but you could just tell. You could see the distaste in their eyes, you can just tell that they're looking down on you.

"Mikey-"

"Mom, don't. I'm headed to school. Have a good day." I grab my backpack and walk out the door.

I'm glad that I put on a warm coat because as soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by frigid air. I normally walk to school, since my mom is usually at work. When she's not, she'll sometimes drive me.

It's not like it's a very long walk. It gives me time to reflect on my day. I also love just looking around my neighborhood.

But there's no time for that. If I don't hurry, I'll be late. And trust me, being late in that school sucks.

Well, everything about that school sucks.

...Or does it?