ready freddie? - G.Lee

one

i step on the bus, twiddling my already impossibly tangled headphone wires between my fingers. my nail polish has already chipped. i'd been nervously picking at it all night. this was my chance to forget all the fucking mess. 'a fresh start' my mum had said as we unloaded all of our boxes into the car, extending her arm out to reach me, stroking my hair and pinching my cheeks. mum was a recovering alcoholic you see. she didn't start until my dad left us when i was 14, i don't think i'd ever known true fear until then. how the sweetest, gentlest woman in the world, the woman who used to delicately iron days of the week labels into my school socks and write me quotes from Queen songs and put them in my lunch. could transform into an aggressive monster. and all it took was a few glasses of chardonnay. about a year ago, mum met someone, and about two months ago, she started going to AA meetings. mike - her new boyfriend- suggested that we move in with him, after all, i'd just finished year 11, and it would be good for me to start college in a 'new environment'. i wasn't mad at the move, i'll be honest. my old school holds memories of hurt and pain, you have know idea how much i wanted to do a freddie maracas move, but instead of throwing rogers maracas into oblivion, i'd throw the entire school into the void.

there's no seats on the bus, fuck, looks like i'll have to stand. i pull out my college prospectus. god i must have read this thing about twenty times cover to cover. i want to know everything, i want to prepare myself.

"hey!" a voice called from behind me. tapping me on the shoulder.

i turned around, locking eyes with the face from which the voice had called.

"h-hi" i spluttered, startled by his introduction. "can i help you?" i asked.

the figure in question, was a lithe, sprightly boy, who looked about the same age as me. his eyes were a deep shade of brown, and his ginger hair was messy, yet somehow styled. like it had purposely been ruffled. hm, that's fashion i guess. on closer inspection, i could see the boy was wearing eyeliner, it suited him. and from what i could make out, he was also wearing a subtle (yet noticeable if you looked) glaze of gloss on his lips - although i didn't spend too much time analysing this, for staring at a strangers lips for any lengthy amount of time is surely enough to be put on some sort of list. his outfit was simple, yet charming, he wore black skinny jeans with rips at the knee, doc martens and a lilac jumper that looked two sizes too big (wonder who's iT iSSsS hMm?).he made it work though. the boy was attractive, not my type - but i could see how any girl or guy would happily throw themselves at him.

"oh, i'm sorry, didn't mean to startle you! i just saw you were reading a college prospectus. it's just it's the same one i go to, and i thought i'd introduce myself! i'm joe by the way." he said.

'He's American?' i thought to myself, i guess my brain didn't register the accent the first time. 'hello joe' i thought, you may be my first friend.

"oh hi! nice to meet you! i'm Delilah!" i replied, trying to be as friendly as possible. joe seemed so sweet. someone i could easily get along with.

"hiya Delilah! so, what are ya studyin'" he asked, turning his head to the side. obviously amused at his little rhyming ditty.

"english lit, philosophy and theatre!" i replied, realising how over enthusiastic i sounded, oops. anyway. "what about you?" i ask, genuinely intrigued.

"oooh! i take theatre too! i also take music and art textiles." he replied. that didn't surprise me, from his look alone i could tell he was a creative type.

"hmmm! my boyfriend takes english lit as well, maybe you'll meet him!"(ay) he proclaimed. i was sure that if joe was a dog, his ears would've pricked up.

Boyfriend. Bingo. Well that clears that one up.

gaydar never ceases to amaze me (side note as a certified bisexual my gaydar is on point)