PART THREE: ERIK
I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever felt so confused. One second, Leo and I are doing great and then all of a sudden, he disappears. He hasn't responded to a single one of my messages or calls since the week before Christmas and I have literally no idea why. Beyond confused and incredibly worried about him, the remainder of winter break seems to drag on and on and I'm practically hitting my head against the wall waiting for school to start back up.
When the eighth of January finally rolls around, I am at the bus stop nearly a half hour early—cheeks stinging from the bitter air—planning to arrive at TDS a good bit before classes start so I can try and catch Leo. When he doesn't show up, my heart sinks down into my stomach. It's weird, I've never worried about another person like this before. I mean, while Aiden is by far the most important person in my life, I am at least able to use logic when something goes wrong with him, you know? When it comes to Leo, I just get overtaken with all this anxiety and irrationality and it's maddening.
Later that day I'm picking at my lunch when I notice Leo out of the corner of my eye take a tray of food and walk out of the cafeteria towards the library. Exhilarated and mystified, I run after him, startling him like crazy by grabbing his shoulder. He drops the tray of food on the floor and spins around, furiously.
"Hey!" I say, feeling a lump in my throat like I'm about to cry.
He narrows his eyes, still catching his breath from my startling him so badly. "What?!"
I take a step back. "What do you mean 'what?' I'm happy to see you, I've been really worried."
"Awesome. Well, now you've seen me."
He turns to leave but I grab his shoulder again so he'll turn back around.
"What the hell?" I say, my frustration surely beginning to become apparent in my Sign and facial expression. "What's your problem?"
"Right now? You are!"
After saying this, this he looks me up and down and the anger in his eyes slowly begins to fade and what I can only describe as a depressed hopelessness seems to take its place.
"Sorry." He says. "I just want to be alone, ok?"
"Why?" I persist. "What happened? Why did you stop talking to me?"
Leo's lip quivers a little and some the anger returns to his eyes. "I don't want to talk about it, ok? Later. Just, leave me alone, Erik, ok?"
He starts off again and though I reach out to touch his shoulder, he angrily jerks it away and keeps walking—leaving his tray of food upturned on the tile floor.
YOU ARE READING
Alterity
Teen Fiction15-year-old Erik Morris is beginning his freshman year of high school at The Ducharme School: a specialty school, following being held back the previous year due to struggles with learning disabilities. Despite initially feeling entirely alone, Erik...
