Touched Bare

Worry-wart.

Skating lets me breathe. I'm good at it too. Not in a way that I can do a million tricks but in a way that I can not fall of my board every 3 pushes. When I get home my moms gonna be pissed. Its almost 7. Which means I missed dinner. 

I don't know whats wrong with me. I used to shove the fact that I don't have a phrase to the back of my mind but, lately it's all I can think about. Johnni has Lewis and my mom has my dad. I have no one. I looked up the no phrase thing and sometimes it means your soulmate died but I'm 16? I've never had a phrase? What if he's not born yet? Ew. I'm not gonna date and marry some little kid. I'm not a pedophile. Wait, aren't only guys pedophiles? I don't know. I don't care. I'm just gonna find some other kid in my school with no phrase and date them. Right? Phrases can appear and change?  What if I'm the only one in my school without a phrase. I can't just say 'hi everyone, I'm Denver, I don't have a phrase. I'm a freak!' Yea that'll work. It'll destroy my reputation. 

I change directions and head home. The suns almost set and my parents are already gonna kill me because I basically snuck out. I let out a heavy sigh and take a corner to sharp. I don't remember actually falling only being on the ground. At this point I have to much on my mind so I just start bawling. The tears seep from my eyes and fall on to my jeans. I just let them. When I'm gasping for air and wiping at my face with my skinned palms I feel someone put their arms under mine and lift me up. I tense immediately thinking the worst. Great, no phrase, pissed off parents and now I'm getting kidnapped. But instead I get planted on my feet. 

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." It's a lower voice so I'm assuming a guy. I turn around and try to wipe the tears off my face more effectively. 

"It's fine. I'm fine. Sorry for um... this." I gesture at the bloody pavement and the skateboard laying a foot or two away. He smiles at me and raises his eyebrows.

"That's alright. I'm Milo." He offers his hand but I awkwardly hold up my bleeding palms and chuckle.

"I'm Denver. Are you new around here?" I've never seen him before and I knew pretty much everyone. He shrugs.

"Kinda.. I just moved in. Down there." He points down the road which my house is on. 

"I live down there too. I'll walk you home to repay your favor." I grab my board wincing as the grip scraps my raw hands. Milo looks uneasy and starts walking. "So.. what grade?" I ask him glancing at him. He is kinda pretty. 

"Junior, you?" He looks as if he already know the answer.

"Me too." I speed up. He's taller than me and walks really fast. I point to the upcoming house "That ones mine." I tell him but keep walking. He slows down as we get to the house next to mine. 

"Mine." He points and smiles. 

"Thank you. For helping me. I'd hug you but like..." He nods and waves me off as I turn back down the street. Next challenge. My pissed off parents.