Wanderlust {On Hold}

#1 Suffering

“We get to do whatever we want, whenever we want, no people, rules, or chains to stop us. We are..Wanderlust” The guy said with a bizarre pose as a finale to his speech. And to make it even weirder, he stretched out his hand towards me and asked the most silliest question I’ve ever heard “What do you say, Astrid? Do you want to join the madness?”

    It was a very dull, precipitate and sodden day. As the rain raged on outside, the teacher continued explaining with her usual impassive, almost lifeless, demeanor. But, it wasn’t just that that could be heard, but the buzz and gossip of those around me, the ones who supposedly went with me through 3 years of hell. ..She should really go somewhere where she belongs…Like, the trash...I know right? She’s so disgusting, I’m afraid of accidently catching it..They assume I can’t hear them, but I’m not deaf. Those excruciating and tormenting words could undoubtedly easily be heard by someone a million miles away.

    “Astrid..Please answer the next question” The teacher said pointing at me with her finger. I slowly stand up as I saw heads turning, eyes focus on me “World War 2 occurred in-“ ..Heh, know it all..She’s such a show-off.. I come to a halt, but then proceed to say “I don’t know..” And at that cue, the class starts laughing “Miss. Blackwell, I hope this isn’t some kind of joke-“ The teacher begins before I cut her off “No, I really don’t know..” I said sitting back in my wooden seat.

     After that episode, class seemed to pass by normally, and I somehow managed to survive getting out there.  And, it was now the long-awaited recess; the blissful and heavenly twenty minutes break all students hope for, except for me. Unlike everyone else, recess is just another way of others to persecute me.

    As I advanced towards my locker and opened it, I was interrupted by the “popular” girls or so they seem to call themselves, but, in truth, they’re just a bunch of people you should avoid talking to “Astrid! Hey!” said Wendy Roosevelt enfolding me in a ‘hug’ “So! I was wondering if you had some money I could borrow?”  Wendy asked revealing her teeth in a bright smile “I don’t..” I replied to her in a monotonous tone before walking away “Excuse me?” She said stopping me “I’m sure Hanks and Peter have something to say about that” She said as the two brawny jocks appeared.  I rolled my eyes as I gave her my 10 dollar bill before the bell rang and rescued me.

    The rest of the school went by as usual, and I was now eating lunch in the safety of my house “How was school?” My mom asked smiling cheerful  I couldn’t let her down “Yeah, it was alright” I said giving my mom a thumbs up “Oh! That’s great, honey! I’m so proud of you!” She said ruffling my black hair as she went back to the kitchen “Mom, I’m gonna go do my homework, alright?” I said placing my dishes in the sink “Ok, good luck!” She said merrily and ecstatically.

  I ran upstairs and speedily closed the door before sliding down against it, wiping the moisture that has now found its way out of my eyes “It’s okay..It’s okay..It’s okay” I said hoping to compose and collect myself but to no avail the tears kept rolling down my cheeks one after the other. After a while, the tears faded into everlasting hics and sobs but it eventually ended and I was now on my bed doing tomorrow’s homework as if nothing happened a few minutes ago.

    The alarm clock inevitably pierced my ears, causing me to wake up from my deep slumber. I meandered to the bathroom and glanced at the mirror hanging on the wall “Wow..I look much worse” I said scrutinizing my now droopy red eyes and hanging bags under them from yesterday’s occurrence. I gradually brushed my black hair which blended with the color of the night sky then I soon used makeup to hide the appalling and repugnant bags.

    I was surrounded by the school’s walls in no more than 10 minutes after I finished dressing up and eating breakfast. I ran to my classroom, only to be welcomed intolerably by what was on the board “Astrid is a scumbag who doesn’t deserve to be alive” I read as I started laughing to myself. I erased what was on the board then proceeded to my seat. I already have gotten used to it, I mean, this just proves how low they are and not me, they feel like they need to bring someone down for the pure sake of them being on a higher standard than the others.

    The rest of the day was a year in each minute, each one slowly killing me, like a thousand knives cutting me. But, the feeling left when I was comforted by the fact that I didn’t run into them during recess. But, what was next…did not. I entered the classroom to find the lights dimmed out and the curtains closed, this was unquestionably one of their plans, I need to stay alert at all costs- “Surprise, Astrid!” Everyone said before spraying me with cold water out of water bottles all at once. I slammed the door open and ran as fast as I can in desperation. Where should I go? Who should I go too? Why? Why? Why?

    As if it was calling me, I ended up on the school’s rooftop. I knew it too well…from movies to video games. This was the place where depression led most people, and even though, I told myself that I wouldn’t…I couldn’t resist temptation and enticement. This was it…the place I had constantly and continuously asked for. This was the place where everything would end, where everyone would just disappear and vanish out of my sight and never appear.

    Just one more step, and any anguish and suffering would finally set me free. I lifted my arms up just similar to how a bird would lift its wings before liftoff. I can now relate to how Icarus felt before being liberated. I closed my eyes imagining the enlightenment I would soon feel- “Hey! Whatcha doing?” It seemed I had yet another obstacle to overcome before jumping “What do you want?” I asked grumpily and crabbily “I know your kind! They seem to play the role of the victim in many movies, right?” The voice said playfully “Play the role?!” I said turning my head towards the source of the sound, only to see a guy with bright amber eyes that seemed to drown me in their odd and unusual color flashing a grin at me “What? Did you change your mind?” He said raising his eyebrows as if testing me “No…I haven’t at all” I said giving him my back “What are you doing here anyway?” I asked taking a glimpse at him as he searched for a reasonable answer to my question “I guess I’m here to give you a chance” He said taking a step out of the shadows and closer to where I was standing “I’m listening..” I said wanting to listen to what he had to say “I know what you’re going through, after all, you’re an interesting person to watch” He said and seeing as I was about to interrupt him, he continued “You see, Astrid, I’m in a small crew, or gang, if you want, that is..in your words, free!” He said spinning around then stopping to look at my reaction, which right now, I didn’t really know how it seemed “We get to do whatever we want, whenever we want, no people, rules, or chains to stop us. We are..Wanderlust” The guy said with a bizarre pose as a finale to his speech. And to make it even weirder, he stretched out his hand towards me and asked the most silliest question  I’ve ever heard “What do you say, Astrid? Do you want to join the madness?”

A/N: Wellllllll, what do you think? Did I do a good job? Should I continue it? If sooo, comment and vote! It helps! And do give me your feedback, and I'm sorry for any terrible grammar issues!