The Checklist

Wants and Needs

It's the next day at school and the day is passing slowly.  All I've really been thinking about is what to do to find Dad a date.  I paid attention in drama class because, well, it's drama class!  I had a lot of pent up energy from all this planning, so the stage combat lessons were good.  Math class on the other hand... it's math class.  I don't pay attention to a regular day; today my mind was doing literally anything but thinking about whether or not the given equations were linear functions.  History, English, drama, and math passed fairly quickly and soon enough it was lunchtime. 

Lunch was the way too greasy pizza with a poor excuse for sauce and three shriveled pepperoni pieces.  I took my tray and went to find a seat.  As someone in various activities, I don't have a solid friend group.  I really like the speech and drama kids, but sometimes they can be a bit much especially with auditions coming up in a few weeks.  I always sit with the basketball team on game days or the day before a tournament, but it's the beginning of the school year, so it's not basketball season.  I never sit with the track kids because there isn't a set table for them.  They're less of a team and kinda disperse themselves among other groups.  Today, I opted to sit by myself.  I found one of the smaller tables meant only for three or four kids and happily spread out my books and backpack so I took up a good half of the table.  I set my tray down and started picking at the pears drenched in corn syrup.  I put in my earbuds and Mandy Moore took me away to "When will my Life Begin."  About halfway through the song, I noticed a figure hovering around the table.  After a few moments and they didn't leave, I spoke up.

"Umm, can I help you?" I asked, trying to get the kid's attention.  They turned to face me and revealed that they are a he, a he that made all of my internal organs drop to my feet.

"Uh yeah, sorry.  I didn't mean to bother you, but I just didn't know where to sit," he paused, "You're at my table."

It took me a few seconds to process what was happening.  The boy was standing with his tray in his hands.  He was around the same height as me, maybe an in or two shorter, and thin.  He didn't look sickly thin, but I bet I could wrap my hand around his wrist and my fingers would touch.  He had dark brown, almost black, hair that hung in bangs just above his dark blue eyes that I could swear I saw flecks of violet in.  He was dressed in all black.  Down to his black Converse, black jeans, black hoodie, black headphones around his neck, and black eyeshadow on his eyes so well done that it put James Charles to shame.  The look wasn't the most inviting aesthetic, but god damn, he's attractive.  One of prettiest boys I've ever seen and easily more beautiful than any girl I'd ever seen.

I could tell my staring was getting awkward because he shifted his eyes away and cleared his throat.  I broke my gaze and looked around the cafeteria.  Indeed, all the tables were full of kids.

I cleared my throat, "You could sit with me if you want," I scrambled to condense all of my stuff, so there was more room for him.

"You're sure? I don't want to bother you. I can go out and sit in the hallway," he squeaked.

"Of course I'm sure! Have a seat," I smiled and patted the table. The boy paused and looked doubtful, but eventually set down his tray and took a seat across from me. I grinned at him, "I haven't seen you around before. You must be new. What's your name?"

"Virgil. Virgil Foster," he answered, "And you're Roman Prince. We have study hall, science, English, and gym together."

Guilt hit me like a punch in the gut. How have I not noticed him?

"I'm sorry... I didn't recognize you," I frowned.

"It's ok. I've become a master at disappearing, and I pick up on things quickly, like really quick," Virgil replied.