Dad's at work and I'm not sure where mom is or if she's even coming home. This is what has become normal in our house. Dad is always at work and mom is always out getting drunk and neither of them ever talks about it. They don't talk to Autumn and I in general anymore. I try not to think about it too much because if I do it either makes me mad or sad and I can't decide which is worse. I decide to eat the other half of my sandwich for dinner. It's not much and it's kind of cold, but I eat it anyway.
After I finish eating I go straight to my room, not even bothering to stop by Autumn's room to talk. I grab my guitar, sit on my bed and start strumming a random tune. I've only been playing for a few months and I'm not that great yet, but it's a good way to clear my head and relax and right now I really need to clear my head. Emma is the one who got it for me as a Christmas present, I'm happy I kept it after she left instead of throwing it away like I did with almost everything else she gave me. I start playing Sweater Weather it's one of the first songs I learned on the guitar, it was her favorite song.
-
Autumn and I walk to school mostly in silence, which is strange for us because we usually have so much to say to each other. I've been feeling kind of down since last night, not that I'd ever tell her that. Lately I've been trying not to bother her with my problems, she has enough to deal with and I don't want to add onto it and stress her out even more. I really just need to get my mind off of things. I need a distraction.
We go our separate ways when we enter the school building, only mumbling a quick "bye" to each other as we walk away. I get to my locker and start getting the books I need for the day when someone approaches me. I look up and am immediately met with a pair of green eyes, its Noah.
"Hey, August." He says awkwardly, obviously feeling uncomfortable around me. Maybe I was a bit rude to him yesterday, I'm not usually like that.
"Hi." Is all I say back. Mainly because I really don't understand why he is talking to me right now.
"I... uh... think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday." He scratches the back of his neck nervously. "Look, I'm sorry if I did something to offend you."
I just stand there in shock after he says that. Really? I'm rude to him and he is the one who apologizes. He must be from Canada or something because he is way too polite. For once he's not smiling though, he's still rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding eye contact. I'd find it adorable in another world.
"Yeah, it's cool." I don't know what to say now, I've never been good at this type of thing. I'm bad at most social interactions and it makes people think I'm rude when really I'm just socially awkward.
"I had the craziest dream last night!" Jack says walking up to us, obviously not noticing the awkwardness in the air. I let out a breath of relief, I've never been so happy to be interrupted before.
"Well, I'll see you in English then." Noah says, giving me a small wave as he walks away.
"What was that about?" Jack asks me, looking very confused.
"Don't worry about it. Now, tell me about this dream."
-
I walk into English and take my usual seat next to Violet. Noah walks in a minute or two after I do. He smiles at me as he walks past my desk and I give him a small smile in return, I guess we're friends now. I'm actually paying attention today as Mrs Johnson speaks passionately about the book we are currently reading, I'm listening so intently that it feels like it's only five minutes before the bell rings. I begin to gather my things and pack my bag.
"I have to go meet Mason, I'll catch up with you later." Violet says and I nod. She smiles and walks out the door.
"Hey." I turn around and see Noah standing behind me, his bag is slung over one shoulder again.
"Hi." I say finally closing my bag.
"Do you maybe want to walk together to lunch?" He asks nervously, he must really think I don't like him because he's so nervous around me. I decide to give him some reassurance. I mean, I'm not a complete monster. I might be bad with words, but I can definitely read body language.
"Sure." I say attempting to give him a comforting smile, but it comes out forced. From the face he makes I can tell he notices it too, but we walk together regardless.
We walk in silence for a while and I start to feel uncomfortable with the silence. I should try to make small talk, but whenever I try to make small talk with people it always comes out really forced and weird. I could ask about his life, but I wasn't listening to anything he said in lunch yesterday. I'll just wing it.
"So..."
"You know..."
We both say at the same time. That was the most embarrassing thing I've ever experienced. I feel like running into a dark cave and never coming out again. I knew agreeing to be friends with him was a bad idea.
"You go." He insists, his cheeks are red. I'm glad to see it's actually a relief that I'm not the only one who was embarrassed by that.
"No, it's okay. It wasn't that important."
"Okay well, I was going to say that you're basically the only guy I've really talked to since I got here yesterday. It's basically only been girls talking to me. I'm fresh meat, I guess."
I'm used to being the one all the girls want to talk to, not to sound cocky or anything. It's not like he's that attractive anyway, his hair is a mess, his eyes are too green, his smile is too perfect, it's just weird. Plus, he's shorter than me and that gives me somewhat of an ego boost. I actually feel annoyed at the fact that someone else is getting the attention now. I'll never admit that though.
"Anyway, it's nice to have a male friend in this school now." He adds.
"Yeah, but you should probably stay away from the girls at this school."
"Why." He asks with a confused expression on his face. His head is tilted slightly and his eyebrows are furrowed.
"They're sluts. I mean, I've slept with almost half of the girls in our grade." I say with a nonchalant shrug. If Autumn or Violet were here they'd probably give me a speech about slut shaming, but right now I don't care. I'd basically say anything right now to keep him away from these girls.
"Oh." He says frowning, he's avoiding eye contact now and staring at the ground. He looks really upset. He probably has a crush on Stephanie or something and now he's upset because I've slept with her. I'm disappointed in myself for making him upset again, but a small piece of me is happy I discouraged him from pursuing her.
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This chapter is kind of bad, idk. Tell me what you think please. xx
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It Always Rains In August
Novela JuvenilSeventeen-year-old August Wilson is a player, that's what his twin sister always says. He had his heart broken by his ex girlfriend so he shut his feelings off. But what happens when August becomes fascinated by the new boy in school, Noah Miller? ...
