Today was the first day back to school, but I still hadn’t seen Mel since that day outside Tim’s. I cruised through most of the lessons, sleeping at the back of science, daydreaming while staring out the window in maths, and thinking about Melanie in history. English was an exception; it was pretty much the only subject I cared about, and well, the only “fun” subject, but that was mostly because of Miss Auburn, Tim’s niece. She was like Tim a lot, especially on the whole equality thing, in particular mixed marriages and relationships. Often she would burst into lectures and class discussions on the issue, quoting Martin Luther King Junior, and marching around the room while we mostly nodded and listened. Before, I never really listened deeply and thought about what she said, but after meeting Mel, I really feel society and the way things are right now are just really…stupid (for want of a better word). If a white loves a black, just let them be! I really hope; I wish, that Mr King’s dreams are gonna come true soon.
After school, I knew I couldn’t stay away any longer. I asked around and found my way to the “black” school, although everyone I asked gave me curious, sometimes threatening looks, as if telling me not to go there. I didn’t care. I arrived a few minutes before they ended. It’s weird, I always thought it was going to be some old, trashed school, with graffiti and cigarettes everywhere, and fights breaking out daily, but it was better than that. In fact, it was pretty much the same as ours, only with a few spots where the paint was peeling off, and with “Lakeside High School” sprawled across the gates instead of “Westville High School”.
I waited outside, tapping my feet and picturing Melanie, with her long luscious hair flowing down her shoulders, her cute little laugh and her eyes, gemstones upon her ebony face. Her surprised, shocked and a little bit pissed off face, her amazing lips seeming to mouth…
“Are you crazy? What are you doing here? Quick, go before someone sees you!”
Wait. This wasn’t my imagination. She was actually running towards me, screaming, signalling me to get away. Then my eyes changed their focus and I noticed the massive stampede of students around and behind her. I bolted around the corner of the street, and soon after she walked round mad (but her eyes were laughing),
“Are you mad? They don’t like your lot around here. Say that if you won’t treat them like people, then you shouldn’t expect the same back. Essentially that means any whites around here get bashed.”
I replied, as smoothly as I could, “Well, I just needed to see you again.”
She seemed to cal m down, letting out a wide grin, “That’s nice of you, but if we’re going to meet, we’ll have to find somewhere; it definitely can’t be here.”
Suddenly, I had a brilliant idea. “Wait, I think I know a guy who can help us”
YOU ARE READING
In Black and White
Short StoryIt's the 1960s in America, a time of racial segregation and heavy racism. A white boy falls for a black girl, and everything seems to be perfect... By the way, this is my first story :3
