Touched Bare

Untold and Untouched.

I finish tying my white converse and glance at myself in the mirror. I look rough. I'm wearing a yellow hoodie with some ripped jeans, it's not the outfit that's bad. I have dark under eye bags from staying up researching not having a phrase. I pull my hoodie over my wrists and sling my backpack over my shoulder. 

"Mom. Can I take the car?" I reach for the keys and notice my dad still home.  They're all sitting at the table. Jamie, my mom, and my dad, I grab the keys. "No. No. I'm not talking about this. Get in the car Jamie." His eyes dart from my mom to me and back to my mom. She nods and Jamie scoots his chair back loudly. I head to the car after him but my mom pulls me into a hug. 

"He's out the sweetheart. Okay?" She releases me and I only nod as I head out the door. I take Jamie to his middle school in silence. When we arrive at his school he places his hand on the door handle and looks back at me.

"Your not a freak, sorry. Maybe he's just like stupid and like can't talk. Ya know?" He slams the door behind him and I watch him head through the front doors. Dumb ass. I head to my high school.

I walk in the door gripping the hem of my sweatshirt. My friends see me walk in and wander over to greet me. I see Lewis and Johnni hanging on each other, as always. I wave at Lewis as the bell rings. He jogs through the crowed hallway traffic and walks me to my first period rambling on about how he leveled up in his video games. I just nod and every once in a while I say "uh huh?" and he just keeps talking. When we get to my first class, math, he hugs me and with spring in his step I watch him get swallowed by the crowd of people descending into the school. 

I walk into Mr.S's class and sit in my unassigned assigned seat. Mr.S walks in and greets us like normal. He dyed his hair bight green over the weekend. Every 2 weeks he dyes it. He hands out our assignments and wishes us luck. 36 minutes later the bell rings and we all zip out bags and on the way out grab the homework. I move through the school like a zombie. I go through the school day without thinking. Just doing the movements. Just going through the motions. When the final bell rings I just sit in my seat. My 8th period teacher, Mrs.Harrison, watches me for a few minutes and then taps my desk. 

"Staying a while?" She asks. I look up at her and sigh heavily. 

"Sorry, I just don't wanna go home." She nods and crouches next to my seat.

"Yea, I understand. If you every wanna talk you know I'm-"

"Always here for you" We finish in unison. She smiles and lays a hand on my shoulder. I nod and pat her hand.

"Alright, alright, I'm going. Thank you Mrs.Harrison." I grab my backpack and head towards the door. 

"See you tomorrow Denni." With that I head out the side door towards the parking lot. I lock myself in my car and back out of the parking space. I start the 15 minute drive home. It's only 3:30 by the time I get home so I begin my homework and finish by 4. I try calling Johnni. Voicemail. I glance out my window at Milo's house. I didn't see him at school today. I didn't even look. He was hot. Tomorrow. I convince myself. Tomorrow I'll look for him.