All. I. AM. - Tom Schaar

Chapter 5

I starred at the giant brick building - also known as hell - and shuddered. Yup, it's Monday, which means school. I watched the people around my age and older walk up the stairs and in through the front entrance. They are just strolling into the school as if it's no big deal and I'm just standing in the middle of the schools property, looking like a complete loser. A lot of people walked past my frozen figure, occasionally knocking against my shoulder and giving me strange glances.

I knew that once the bell rang I would have to make my way up those horrible stairs. So, with that thought, I began my walk, ignoring the voices in my head that were telling me to turn around and run.

By the time I got to my locker the bell had already rang, meaning I was late to class, yet again. I collected all the things I needed from my locker and closed it, making my way down the deserted hallway. I didn't rush to class and instead took my time, already knowing I'd get a detention. I was five minutes late when I walked into class, by-passing the teacher to get to my desk. I slid into my chair, dropping my plan black Vans backpack on the poorly tiled floor.

I could feel the teachers cold stare as I dropped my books on the desk and got a pencil from my bag. I looked up, making eye contact. I had already forgotten her name, but didn't care.

"Where were you?" She asked, her voice dangerously calm.

I gave her a blank stare, "Obviously not here."

"I realized you weren't here!" She snapped, the vein in her neck looking as if it was going to burst any second.

"Then why ask?" I replied sweetly, catching everybody's - but the girls - wide grins and smirks out of the corner of my eye.

"I've had enough!" She hissed through her clenched teeth, her hands clenching into fists at her side.

I sighed, standing up from my desk, and grabbed my bag off the floor. "I'll save you the trouble of sending me, personally, to the office. I'll go myself!"

I dumped my books into my bag and looked over at Tom, who was trying very hard not to laugh. I couldn't help but notice how good he looked in his simple dark grey t-shirt and dark jeans. His black Red Bull snapback was placed on top of his head, keeping his long blond curls out of his face. He wore a pair of black Vans, like usual.

i swung my back pack over my shoulder, smiled at him, and left. The door swung closed behind me as I once again entered the deserted hallways. Instead of going to the office like i was suppose to, I went to my locker, dumping my books and grabbing my skateboard. I closed my locker and jogged down the hallway, dropping my board to the tiled floor and hopping on it.

*

I had ditched school and came to the beach. A few groups of people - mostly teens - were scattered around, some in the water and some sitting in the sand. They were all laughing, having fun, and making memories while I sat alone on the deserted side of the beach, being miserable as i cried into my knees.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, dripping onto the sand and my light, slightly ripped jeans. I starred at the burn marks on my arms, silently wishing they would disappear, but I knew they never would. I let out a sob at the memory, wanting nothing more than for it to be erased from my brain.