I kept the thought to myself, obviously. Plus, she's far too skinny to constitute as a decent meal, I prefer meaty proportions even if I am a vegetarian.
"We're gonna have to mop the floor before they come." Lucinda states toeing sweat puddles. Too late, the copper doors give in, two separate crowds dressed in black outfits enter in synchronised fashion vastly different to Drama's common disorient manner.
The air thins further as new lungs steal our oxygen appearing much more composed that we are sprawled onto the floor in hopes of cooling off quicker.
Ms Smith leads the dancers brighter than an emergency beacon in a fluro pink tracksuit, rubbing her palms together eagerly, "Hiya team, we ready for the grueling weeks to come?" Drama students groan half irritated, half pained.
I lie on the floor chanelling my inner Snow Patrol dude from the Chasing Cars film clip. If I lay here... "You gonna get up anytime soon?" Jayden asks, the foreshortened angle and lack of blood flow in my brain causing me to laugh without reason.
"Not happening." I answer deadpan moreso to the ceiling than him. Adding, "Oi, mind your sweat." as spittles droplets from his wet locks spray my arms. "Come on, Spooky—up you get." No.
"Nuh-uh, I'm migrating to Antarctica where students aren't forced to suffer such cruel and unusual punishments." All the while I talk he heaves me upward with great difficulty at first then one swift movement later I stand tall, head spinning but surprised mainly by Jayden's unexpected spur of strength.
"Woah, look at you, colour me impressed Jay." My legs wobble like a newborn's whilst I cup his shoulder appreciatively.
He maintains his grip on my right underarm our chests heaving at irregular intervals, "Thanks Spook, but it was a two person job." He nods to Rhea on my left who I hadn't noticed till now, mirroring his exact stance. I freeze.
Her skin glows through a layer of moisture. "You Alright there? It was no bother helpin'." If only her accent was purely Irish I'd swoon faster than I already am against my will.
"Sorry I weigh so much you gotta drag my ass up." Here and now, is be a good time to die.
What?! Why?!
Why do I keep joking about my insecurities?
She'll think I'm weird now and keep away from me as if I'm the plague.
"You're not heavy, Jayden here is just weak from the exercises, looks about ready to snap like a twig." She jokes chuckling.
Did... did she just insult Jayden and smile at me in one sentence? I must be dead, this is one of those dreams you're granted before reaching the pearly gates, right?
"Humour, har-har." Jayden retorts parroting Robbin Williams' character from Mork and Mindy. They release me together, "Heh, we're in some deep shazbot." I whisper similar to the drunk version of me, nausea swimming my stomach.
Double clap, Ms Smith clears her clogged throat, "All right, mingle mingle people. Sit on and around the stage while we explain the game plan for the next six weeks because once they commence," she let's these words linger peering over all our heads, "we won't see each other until the day of Performance Night." Which is the week before Saint Blackmore's graduation.
God, I can't wait to ditch my homophobic school and finally become the person I always wanted to be.
To get a permanent tattoo.
To pend time with girls I might form a relationship with.
No ridicule, no dirty stares.
The great thing about coming out is the initial weightlessness you feel, changing everyone's perspective about yourself.
What they don't tell you is how different everyone starts to act around you.
People start avoiding your path like homosexuality is contagious (sometimes I wish it were so I can infect all those prejudice to the LGBTQ community) and tread around you as if walking on emotional eggshells.
That was the one thing I really loathed.
The mass mess of students find their friendship groups eventually fulfilling the numerous voids empty of a student.
Jayden and I sit in a pair on the carpeted periwinkle stairs, some dancers and musicians populate the two rows behind us fitting their feet among the narrow gaps between us.
"All right," She does one of those loud palm slaps startling everyone, "As you know there are three areas Enrapture students can participate in, the first being Dance troupe," she beams at her whooping students, "the second, Music ensemble..." she gestures backward to a sleeping Mr Canon who was supposedly a pianist prodigy at the age of six.
I hadn't seen him when they entered, come to think of it he hasn't spoken since we started. Is he even breathing? "...and of course, the Drama team." she allows a moments pause to recognise us, some wave royally or bow their heads.
"Now, our schedule is packed to the rafters with exciting activities meant to broaden your senses beyond the capacity of your chosen art and it so happens... test your skill range... loads of fun... Zzzzzz."
Ok, Ms Smith didn't say that last bit, it came from Jayden who rests his semi dry temple on my shoulder. I lost focus early on retaining the words, 'can quench your thirst', God am I thirsty, and, 'eat it all up'. Now she's just being a twat.
Something, something, "Daniel!" Ms Smith scares him awake again, "What are your opinions on this adjustment?"
Wait, what adjustment? I sorta regret not paying attention just now. If my limbs weren't throbbing to match the dull headache pounding my skull or convulsing as I sit immobile, I would try to listen.
Her voice fills the silent void again, "Yes, no, maybe?" She suggests flipping her hand up and down reminding me of fish on dry land.
Trying to keep awake I whisper to myself, "Yes no, maybe." Thinking about the theme song for Malcolm in the Middle which dominated my childhood.
YOU ARE READING
Chapstick Boi
Teen FictionMeet Spooky or more commonly known as, 'the over involved Lesbian', 'Spooky scary skeletons' and 'JJ'. Doesn't matter what you call her, she's still gay. You've heard all those stories surrounding closeted gays who suffer in silence, hiding their se...
