In Another Universe

Monday 8:10 Mystery Of Love

Charlie was early to school that morning. Evie had woke him by falling off her chair and scarring him for life, so he didn't feel like going back to bed. His morning routine didn't take more time than usual so he just made his way to school instead of waiting his flat, alone, staring at the walls. None of the possibilities was ideal. I mean, who wants to be early to school? Evie was already at uni, and he didn't have much else to do. He figured he could at the very least work in the classroom, which would prevent him to have to think about the fact that he didn't want to be alone.

Moreover, his mother tried to call him. Two times, which is more than she usually cares to do. He thought about calling her back but the text she sent afterwards told him that it wasn't necessary. An invitation to church with her and a warning to be good and holy. He ignored it. Maybe he shouldn't have, maybe he should have been more supportive, but he didn't feel like he had the energy, not today.

Once his bike locked in the parking, he made his way to his locker where he picked up his physics textbook and notebook before heading up to his class. In the corridor, he came across the bulletin board where the sign-in list for the school play caught his eye. He quickly went over it, and in the middle of numerous names, quite ironically right below Lea McAdams was Isaac Saddler.

Isaac Saddler... now he had a last name. Finally.

Charlie hurried in the empty classroom, sat down and took out his phone. Once again, he tried to find Isaac's instagram, with more information this time. But none of the four results that popped up was the one he was looking for, at least they didn't seem to be. So he turned to Facebook where the results were just as fruitful. With a sigh, he put his phone and looked around the classroom for an idea. The curtains that were probably green at some point, the badly erased whiteboard, the wonky tables, nothing was really inspiring. He stared at his phone again before typing the name on Google. The first thing that showed up in the results that the familiar red icon of YouTube.

He put his phone against his backpack on the table before pulling out earphones. He clicked on the first thumbnail, a picture of Isaac holding a guitar, which made him smile softly. "Mystery of Love, Sufjan Stevens|Cover". The music started as Isaac tickled the cords, focused on his movements. While the introduction of the song was unfolding, Charlie looked at what seemed to be Isaac's bedroom in the background. A string of fairy lights on a white wall made visible a blurry set of pictures pinned on the wall, and a few small sheets of paper covered in words, which Charlie assumed to be quotes. He even caught a glimpse of a teddy bear on the bed behind him. But he stopped paying any kind of attention to the background, or even his own surroundings, when Isaac started to sing.

"Oh, to see without my eyes

The first time that you kissed me

Boundless by the time I cried

I built your walls around me."

Charlie couldn't help but smile hearing Isaac's soft voice to the lyrics of the song. It made sense, in a way, that someone with such an enchanting voice would be into singing, and would be amazing at it. He smiled tenderly at the screen, without paying attention, while Isaac continued, concentrated on his guitar. When he finished the song, he laughed at the camera and waved, asking for the usual like and subscribe.

Charlie was about click onto the next video when he heard someone sit next to him. He quickly locked his phone and put it down before taking out his earphones and pretend like he wasn't doing anything.

"What were you watching?" Sophia asked, taking out her textbook.

"Nothing... Nothing interesting." He said with a shrug.

She gave him a suspicious side eye but decided it wasn't worth fighting for.

"Thanks. For the school play reunion," she said.

"Oh you're very welcome."

"Don't get on your high horses, man. It was just a reunion and you owed me."

She shook her head and he laughed as other students started coming into the room. He then started to nervously play with hsi earphones' cord.

"Is there... going to be another reunion?" he asked.

"Because you care now?" She looked at him to assess whether he was joking. But he seemed serious, or at least, that wasn't a joke. "Yeah... Next week. Depends which team you enrolled in, but they all have stuff to start next week."

"Great... I'll be there then."

She appeared surprised. To be honest, Charlie somewhat surprised himself too. Was he willing to go through with the school play because he was too shy to actually talk to someone? Guess so. Or maybe he would somehow convince himself that there was another reason for this new found interest in drama. And music.