The Wanderer: Finding the Lost Boy

O N E

I always walked around our school during lunch not really having a destination in mind. Some people called me the Wanderer, but hey I don't mind.

There were some rumours going around school as to why I am always walking around during lunch break and why I skip administration.

'He is a spy, and he works for MI6.'

'He is the son of a millionaire and is allowed to skip class.'

'He is part of a drug ring and he's always busy distributing drugs and money.'

...and my personal favourite....

'He's just bored.' 

The last is my favorite because quite frankly true, though sometimes I do get pulled into some stuff involving drug, I wander around because I am bored.

Currently I was going down all the halls during break, teachers were in the staff room and students were either in the courtyard or in the cafeteria. I didn't really have friends, but I did have some people I hung out with now and again.

Most people avoided me because they thought I was mentally ill, or because they thought I might kill them in their sleep because I stalk them. I don't stalk anyone, I just have way to much energy. Though I am not ADHD or anything I am just hyper-energetic.

I may be somewhat of a creep, due to some of my wanderings through the school I've found quite a few students who were very 'intimate' in the janitor's closet and sometimes even behind the gym in broad daylight.

So I tend to avoid those places, thats just asking for trouble.

The junkies who hung out by a large oak tree on the edge of the school ground liked me. They saw me as one of them, not really fitting in at school like them. Or maybe it was just because I smoked a joint with them from time to time.

Now not many people know my name, they just called me Wanderer, simple. My real name was just as simple as that. My name is Connor Brennan. No middle name, no weird family inherited nickname.

I was just Connor.

I grew up in Australia and moved to Canada, then a week after my tenth birthday my mom and dad divorced and I moved with my mom to California.

I know the Sunny City or some bullshit like that, I tried making friends here. Real friends. But most people were so fake, so I made a few acquaintances and tried to keep them at a distance.

Due to the fact that I didn't have friends, another fact became clear I didn't have a girlfriend.

And no girlfriend for 7 years raised some suspicions. The suspicions that were now spraypainted on my locker.

I came to a slow halt and stared at the word.

'Faggot'

I rolled my eyes, I didn't deny it. Why should I when it is the truth?

I didn't see it a death sentence, though if it was apparently I am going to hell according to my Aunt. I haven't had a boyfriend but watching some films and having fantasies about the lead male in every role, made it pretty clear.

I didn't get bullied, the occasional graffiti on my locker was all I got. Seems like they aren't that violent here, back in Australia my cousin came out queer and he got beat up real bad, having to be hospitalized for a whole week.

I counted my lucky star and got my books just as the bell signalled the end of lunch.

But as I was about to turn away I saw someone,out the corner of my eye, sneak down the hall into the boys bathroom. I was pretty sure that this part of the school grounds were empty, did I miss something?

I put away my books into my backpack and headed for the boy's room.

When I entered a boy was startled and almost slipped on a puddle on the tiles, he quickly steadied himself by grabbing the basin infront of him. He was not really tall but he had some muscle, not much but it was there. He had a pair of broken glasses in his hand and a black eye, clearly he was punched in the face.

"Are you okay kid?" I asked him, he seemed to registed my words but didn't respond right away.

He finally nodded his head slowly, "Yes, uhm I am fine."

I could smell the nervousness on him, he looked lost. His hair was a mess, his tie was undone and his shirt wasn't tucked in.

"Did someone hurt you, your eye looks pretty bad..." I pointed to his face and he frowned.

His face went blank, "I'm fine, just fell on the stairs." He wad silent for a while but then he picked up his blazer from the floor. "I have to go." Then he walked past me and left. 

I walked over to thw mirror and stared at myself. My blue eyes stared back at me, and my hair was perfectly combed. I rolled my eyes at myself.

"This wasn't weird at all..." I chuckled and left for my next class.