troglodytic

1

i walk in a hall that feels so dark yet it has many lights. it feels so lonely yet nearly 200 students are roaming the hallway.

i still talk to him sometimes. by him i mean michael. he's still somewhere and although it hurts that i won't hear his response, nothing could be more painful than what I did to him. i can never forgive myself for what happened.

trudging into first period this morning was a lot harder for some reason. paying attention is not really an option when all i can think about is how i let a beautiful soul slip through my fingers.

"lucas, would you like to share with the class what I just said?" mrs.langdon asked sharply.

"i-i um"

"thats what i thought. i'll see you after school to get you caught up on what you missed. Now class open your books to.."

detention can't be much worse than walking home right away. don't get me wrong, i prefer to be alone but the walk to where i live means i'll have to pass by other people and the chances of somebody recognizing me is very high.

michael and i used to walk home together everyday. it sounds pathetic but i miss when i would have that comforting, safe, and secure feeling when i was around him. teasingly, he would always pick on me about little things like my height or how awkward i was. but this was michael's way of showing affection, his way of loving. if anyone said the slightest insult or laid a single finger on me, he would take care of that problem in an instant.

soon enough the bell starts to ring, signaling the end of class and i decide to wait until everybody floods out of the petite classroom. i could feel my cheeks flushing when i realize that i'm not the only one left in the room.

"um...I think you dropped this,"
the strawberry haired girl said, handing over a guitar pick with the letters 'M' and 'L' engraved into them.

"thank you." I say, in a breathy, barely audible, tone. she obviously has no idea what the letters stand for..or does she? nobody  knew about anything that went on last year. with the exception of myself of course.

we both continue out the door, as if nothing happened. an observation i make is how a terrified looking girl stands talking to a tough looking guy wearing the schools football varsity jacket. i'm assuming they are a couple and then i hear five words escape the guys mouth: "no one needs to knows"

"no one has to know, alright?" michael's words flicker back into my mind, like the flames of a candle.

no one has to know.

A/N

(i apologize for such a short chapter)

-tayah