Sunflower

7 - The New Kid

Micah

Oftentimes more than not, my body is grounded on earth, while my mind is spinning in an entirely different universe. Looking down I can see the top of my head, my body sitting in the desk, and my eyes fixed on whoever is teaching the class I'm in. I try so hard to pay attention, to keep my mind chained to my neck, but it always finds a key. Even after I've thrown them all away.

Some days I prefer to float away, and some days I don't. Some days I realize my consciousness has drifted into a separate body, and some days it takes the loud, piercing cry of the bell to awaken me. Today is one of those days.

I am lying in a patch of sunflowers, loneliness wrapping around my body like a woolen blanket. The bright, yellow flowers stand taller than skyscrapers, enclosing me in a prison of my own thoughts. They look down upon me; each petal an eye that gapes at my lifeless body. I'm trapped.

Until I hear the door of the classroom swing open violently, almost as if it were being knocked down. I can feel the quiet daydream slip out from underneath me, but the desolate feeling of emptiness stays behind.

In the doorframe stands a boy almost my height with pale skin. His eyes fixate on the teacher, who is staring at him angrily.

"What do you think you're doing?" Mr. Philips asks the boy. Along with the other kids, I stare at him. I haven't seen him around before.

A slight smirk tugs at his lips, one that is so faint it almost can't be seen. Almost.

"Going to class?" The boy says, clearly unbothered by the teacher's annoyance. Mr. Philips stares at the boy in awe.

"Class is halfway over," he growls.

The boy seems amused. Some students laugh at his stupidity, some snicker at him. I stay silent, as I usually do.

"I'm new, I got lost." You could almost feel the insincerity of his voice.

Mr. Philips rolls his eyes. He turns his back away from the boy.

"Are you Theo Zima?"

The boy, who's name is supposedly Theo, snickers. "No, I'm the other new kid that's transferring into this period."

Mr. Philips's cheeks grow red with rage. He points to the desk right of mine.

"Go take a seat, and don't let me catch you causing any trouble."

I can't help but grin as Theo walked to my desk. Anyone who starts off bad with Mr. Philips will have a hell of a year.

Before taking his new seat, he flashes me a faint smirk. My heart seems to leap out of my chest at the small gesture. No one ever acknowledges me, even when it is needed. I'm just the shy, quiet kid who is balancing on the edge of invisibility. I've grown so accustomed to being ignored, his little act of "kindness", or whatever it was, almost startles me. I stare at him for a few long seconds, not knowing what to do, before his head turns to face the front of the class.

Mr. Philips continues his lesson.

"Today, you will be starting your first semester project. It's worth 35% of your grade."

"Now, before you start freaking out, you will be working in groups of two."

I look around. It's been 2 months into the first semester, but I still know absolutely no one in this class. My chest starts to ache, and butterflies begin to hatch within my rib cage. I feel their delicate wings brush against my bones, sending icy chills racing down my spine.

Theo turns to me and smiles a toothy, yet devious, grin. His soft green eyes glisten underneath the fluorescent classroom lights.

"I guess that makes us partners," he says, a sliver of poison hidden behind each word he speaks. There is something off about him, I can see it in his eyes. I only stare at him, the ability to comprehend words and form sentences leaving me in its dust.