Symphony Of A Serial Killer

Chapter 10: Denial

I'm glad Missy's okay, but the rest of my world came crumbling down as I flipped through my personal slideshow of today. From James, the whore, the beer bottle, seeing a ghost, almost being hit by a car... how am I to believe things will get any better.

Lee verified Mr. Ford's claim which also supported the whispers in the hall, and now to hear that the ghost I've been seeing has been discovered as a murder victim in my borough... why me? What's so special about me?

Here I sit, just under forty minutes until the bell rings and all I hear is two distinct conversations amongst my peers. They're going on and on about how cool it is that Missy discovered another body while others talk about how excited they are for the holidays. I'm just... done, I don't care anymore. Today never happened and I'll try my best to forget about it.

"Danté." the rail thin girl who always sat next to me whispered. No I'm not deaf and yes I know my own name, nevertheless I continued to stare at the chalkboard without even glancing her way.

"Are you really gonna play the whole, oh I didn't hear you bit? Even worse, you're staring at a chalkboard that reads 'Enjoy your Holiday Break!!!' we all know how much Danté hates the holidays, so I find it hard to believe that you're sooo captivated by those words."

Okay... yeah she made very good points, points that even I couldn't argue, but it didn't mean my stubbornness wouldn't let me try. I just need to be left alone to clear my mind, somehow dump everything that's happened and try to end my day like a normal teenager.

"I like to read." I replied, clearly there was little thought put into an actual response, perhaps the better move would have been to maintain silence. I could feel the intensity of her unapproving glare boiling the side of my head.

"Fine..." I huff in response to her demanding silence. I slowly turn my head towards her and yep, what a glare.

I don't know, but for some reason, her angry face is kind of cute. In that weird if the light hits you at the right angle sort of way. I mean she wasn't one of the popular kids... or at least she didn't hang out with the popular crowd.

People knew who she was and she had virtually no enemies. She was a nerd, but not the kind you'd pick on. Come to think of it, why she's so liked by everyone is beyond me. She's not beautiful by any means, she's not ugly either. Just... you know, average. As average as I am yet even the cheerleaders adore her. The more I think about it, the crazier it sounds, cheerleaders adoring the thin as a rail nerd with glasses.

"Okay really? I gave you my most fearsome "I'm mad!" face, and you just stare right through me!"

"Huh? I shake my head while blinking.

"Are you even listening to me, anyone hooome?" she exaggerates while waving her hand in front of my face. I quickly grab her wrist, it wasn't intentional, more of a reflex. Who enjoys having their personal space violated right? "Don't... do that." I warn while squinting at her.

"Cute!" she squeals.

I feel the top row of my teeth press firmly against the bottom as all of my classmates abruptly halted their conversations and look at us. Still holding onto her wrist, I take a quick survey of the room and I'm pissed. Again, I hate attention and despise being looked at, "Can I help you?" I bellow starkly, loud enough for everyone to hear.

As they should, they all turn back and return to their meaningless conversations, which at this point was most likely about how to be the biggest jackass over the holiday break. Never mind that, did she just call my menacing eyes cute? I swear, girls make no sense at times.

"CUTER!" she giggles while resting her chin in the palm of her free hand. "That was so cool, you're like the bad boy huh? I mean everyone just turned around like they knew better than to say anything back."

Cuter... Did she really just say cuter? I can no longer contain the impending face palm, a gentle thwack echoes as I release her wrist and rest my forehead in the palm of my hand. While shaking my head in disbelief, she lets out a gentle whimper. I look up to see the disappointment written across her face, maybe from me letting go of her?

Against my better judgment, I sigh then ask her what's wrong?

"Well Danté..." she speaks so softly it's almost a whisper. "I was thinking about asking you to see a movie with me tonight... but...."

Wait what? She's not... asking me on date? I don't interrupt as I'm slightly taken back by the idea and her bravery.

"But I already know what you're going to say, so it made me sad." she continued.

Really? She created a scenario in her head, attached an emotion to it and ran with it... resulting in her feeling sad.... I swear... girls are unbelievably complex!

"Sooooo?" she says with widen eyes so big they almost fill out her lenses.

"So what?" I casually reply. "You didn't ask a question, you made a statement." Yes I know I know, that's kind of a dick move... but hey, it's just who I am.

"Oh c'mon, really Danté!?" she pouts, folding her arms across her flat chest. I don't respond, just stare at her with a raised eyebrow. I'm going to say yes don't get me wrong, but girls need to stop playing these games where their mission is to get a reaction out of a guy.

Admittedly, I'm kind of playing a game too at the moment... but in my defense, I'm the askie in this scenario so I'm entitled.

"Ugh, fine!" she grunts while pressing her lips together. "Danté, will you go to the movies with me tonight?"

It feels good to make her work for it. I mean, nothing's gonna happen, she's definitely not my type but this is perfect, I need the distraction. I refuse to entertain this madness any longer, everything is fine and can be explained. My situation with James has always been this way so no sense in me giving it more weight than it deserves.

I was almost hit by a car but I wasn't, get over it and move on. This whole ghost business, I'm delusional - don't sleep very much, haven't in years. As far as Missy being able to see the ghost as well, then finding the body? For all I know, she actually saw a lady at the crosswalk this morning, hazel eyes aren't that uncommon.

Sucks for her that she found a dead body today, but then again it was her dumb idea to go in the first place. Let's not forget about Kevin, if I choked him out then I'm sure he deserved it. People black out all the time in the heat of the moment. And that ladies and gentlemen, is what you call debunking your own bullshit and moving on.

All of that aside, I'm bored and Mr. Ford is taking forever... come to think of it, where the hell is he? He teaches this period and is never late. That's why everyone is sitting around talking up a storm... no authority figure. You know what? Something else I'm not gonna put emphasis on. I direct my attention back to her, eyebrow still raised.

"Gosh, don't think too hard on it." she teases, though I can see her frustration building as her pouty lips start to open once more.

"Sure Caroline, why not." I reply before she gets another word out.

"You..." she softly growls while pointing her finger at me, aware of my charade. A slight smirk appears on my face. "Never mind." she replies while rolling her eyes and trying to not let her happiness shine through.

Suddenly the classroom door flings open and Ms. Yi comes walking in. She looks as though she ran. Out of breath, not quite sweating but you can see the extra shine on her forehead. I didn't mind, she was a strikingly beautiful Korean woman that most of the male student body fantasized over.

She had the entire class' undivided attention. After taking a few seconds to catch her breath, she informed us that Mr. Ford had a family emergency and would not be coming back and that we were hereby dismissed for the holiday break.

All kinds of cheers, woo hoos, and other celebratory phrases that teenagers shouldn't blurt out in front of an adult were booming vigorously and assaulting our ears. Caroline had cutely placed both hands over her ears and leaned towards me with a wide smile.

"Good, cause you had no reason to say no, I already asked around and know you don't have a girlfriend." she winked while rising from her desk, which was beyond adorable I must admit, seeing as though her hands were still covering her ears. My movie date for tonight grabbed her backpack and darted out of the classroom, "I'll text you!" she shouted while disappearing into the hall.