Broken Memory ✓

3. Math Solving for the Void

 My alarm goes off at five in the morning, the annoying buzzing already making me wish I didn't have to wake up. Exhaustion overtakes me from lack of sleep and the rare bike ride, and I wonder how I can skip school today. But I know it's nearly impossible.

I end up throwing the first thing I can find on, quickly brushing my hair, then walking out of my room and to the kitchen. Dad is strangely awake, although he doesn't yet have a job that requires him to wake up this early. He sits at the kitchen table, his head down, and I wonder if he's asleep there.

"Dad?" I wonder aloud. No response. He's asleep. I approach him and tap on his shoulder, his response being his head moving.

"Hm?" he murmurs, lifting his head up.

"You okay?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you fall asleep here?"

"Oh," he rubs his eyes, sighing. "Just got caught up in stuff." He stands up, walking to the bedroom. "Night."

I shrug his behavior off, turning my attention to breakfast. Cereal will suffice. I grab a cereal box from the cupboard and pour myself a bowl. About half an hour left until the bus comes. Too early.

The morning goes quickly, going through the monotony of every school morning. Wake up. Get dressed. Breakfast. Go outside and wait for the bus. Every single week day.

The bus rolls around the corner, stopping in front of my house. I enter the bus and pick an empty seat, feeling nervous as a few kids glance at me. I meet eyes with one and instantly recognize him; the tall guy from earlier. He smirks and looks away.

I look away, suddenly feeling my nerves heighten even more. My confident demeanor has changed drastically from last evening, taken by a 'new nervous kid' form. I focus my attention on the scenery, trying to keep my mind occupied with something simpler. Those abandoned buildings.

What happened? I mean... There's so many vacant buildings. None torn down, just... Sitting there, never put up for sale. The only thing signaling they're even abandoned is the broken or boarded up windows.

The bus comes to a stop several minutes later and the door opens, kids standing up to exit. I stand up and walk where there's an open space between people in the aisle. Warm air greets me, a slight breeze also noticeable. The sun slowly rises in the horizon, creating a sky full of deep pinks and reds paired with vibrant oranges. I break my attention away from the sky and head inside of the small school.

The kids all head in a certain direction, leaving me to assume we're supposed to go somewhere specific. I follow the crowd, clutching my phone in one hand, and find myself in the cafeteria. Kids sit at tables with their friends and I sit down at a vacant one, feeling my heart beat quickly in my chest.

I plug my earbuds into my phone, finding solace in music, and put an earbud in one ear. The cafeteria is still fairly quiet, filled with only light chatter and nothing more. It's nice, considering my last school was a madhouse, overrun by hundreds of kids in the hallways and small rooms at once.

I scan the room as more people enter and look at each individual person. It seems everyone has their friend group by now and it makes me feel even more alone here.

A guy enters into the cafeteria and people glance at him. I notice them shoot him a dirty look or just ignore him. It's more noticeable considering how little people are here. I examine the guy as he sits down at an empty table and instantly recognize him. It's the guy from earlier, the one who was being beaten in the antique shop.

So I guess he really is hated.

I want to help him, lend him a hand, protect him. Or maybe I just want a friend and he doesn't seem to have any. I don't know anymore. I'm too scared to approach him, though. He doesn't seem to even want company by the way he carries himself; earbuds in, head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone.