Here and Lost

Chapter two

I headed to English and sat as usual in the back. As the class piles in I sit staring at a wall. When everyone is seated someone catches my eye and everything around me stops. I see a boy, he looks like me. Just trying to get through the day. I can't help but stare at him, tall and lanky with black hair and beautiful eyes.
Melody? Melody Walter? Is there a Melody Walter?" The teacher interrupts my thoughts.
"Oh.. Uh.. Sorry. Here."
I continue to stare at this boy. I don't know who he is but he is all I can think of. The class starts and I stare at him the whole time. Every time he looks back at me I look away like nothing happened. I can't help but study him, the way he moves, the way taps his foot on the ground. I'm noticing every little detail about him until the class ends. I grab my bag, ignore all the stares and walk out the door and head home.
I walk into my front door. My mom is sleeping like always and my little brother is watching t.v. My mom works a night shift at a furniture store so she's always sleeping during the day. I don't see her much but that doesn't bother me. I do my homework and go to bed. When I get to school the next day I can't wait until my English class. I walk in avoiding the glares I get from all of the snobs. When class starts the teacher tells us we will have a project to start the year. She lets us choose our partners. Perfect. Who will be partners with me. As I go up to the teacher to tell her I can't find anyone there is a tap on my shoulder.
"Um... Hi, I'm Alex. I was wondering if you wanted to be my partner?" The beautiful boy asks me. All I can do is stare but I find a way to nod yes. I gained my confidence and asked him questions. He's lived here, in this small Wisconsin town his whole life. He has no friends. And his mom died when he was 7. This is what I know about Alex. And he knows that I move almost every year. My dad left before I was born. And my mom works a night shift at a furniture store. We were too busy talking to get any work done. But I can't think straight anyway.
I start to walk home and the familiar voice of Alex comes from behind me. He turns me around and looks me in the eyes.
"Melody, we should hangout sometime." He says with a small shake in his voice.
"Yeah. That sounds cool." I reply
" I'm free today. If that's okay with you?"
"Oh of course, wanna come to my place?" I ask.
"Yes! That sounds awesome. I'm just gonna follow you then."
"Yep that's not creepy" I say between laughs.
We walk through my front door and my brother has to be his obnoxious self.
"Ooo Melody got a boyfriend."
"Andrew would you shut the fuck up?"
He sticks his tongue out, which is his version of flipping me off. We go to our room and talk about music for about an hour. Music is important to me so I thought it was perfect that we shared the same music taste. Then we get into my past. How I've been bullied my whole life. He can relate, I found someone who can relate to me. A friend. I have a friend. He leans in, then stops himself,
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry. Just... Um... I should go."
"No Alex, please stay." I whine.
"No no it's getting late I need to get home."
"Well, okay. Goodnight."
He gives me a tight hug and walks out. The first time I have ever felt so special about a simple hug. I try going to sleep but I can't stop smiling about everything that has happened today. I pull up my covers, turn off my light, and go to sleep.
*******
I wake up to a knock at my window. I'm frightened for a second, but I build up the courage to look. Alex is outside of my window and appears to be crying.