Quandary

Resentment

I jolted up in my bed as morning approached. My forehead slammed against the top of my desk lamp. Dammit, I kept forgetting to move that. I fell down from the soft depths of my bed and grabbed my clothes. I picked up a towel from the familiar rack in my bathroom, and hopped into the shower. I pushed shampoo and conditioner into my knotted hair and repeated coding sequences from my computer science class back to myself. Once I had applied deodorant and fully clothed myself, I leaped down the stairs of my house. I could hear the soft breaths of my parents from their quiet room. I walked down the same old sidewalk, inhaling the sharp air. I slumped my backpack over my shoulders and silently waited by the same old bus stop. I scanned the ground for its usual crevices and cracks. I could see a dry worm crawling about, overwhelmed by its surroundings. That familiar dull feeling sunk in once again. I sighed at the realization of my same old routine. A breeze passed by everyone as I stood in silence. It was as monotone as ever. Then, suddenly, I felt it all chip away. A hand grabbed onto my shoulder. A wafting scent of strawberries lifted into my nose. I turned around in a flash. Was she real or fake?

"Morning Don."

She was real. I could tell. She didn't try to greet me in an overly advertent way.

"Hi- uh-"

I stumbled over my words. I forgot she would be here. Of course she would be here, she lived three houses over from mine! I stared at her attire. She was wearing another button-up shirt over a loose t-shirt. I watched her hair flutter behind her as another breeze brushed past us.

"Morning." I stammered.

We stood together in silence, waiting for the bus to come. It felt strange to even have said the few words that we exchanged. Everyone was always so quiet, it was like we were breaking some kind of unspoken rule. Hailey and I were the only ones to not be stuck in our phones. My eyes darted over to the crinkling of some object in her hands. It was a tiny chocolate, encased in red wrapping. She plopped the tiny sweet into her mouth and then looked over to me.

"You want one?" She said as she munched into the small treat.

I never really enjoyed sweets that much. I reluctantly grabbed the candy from her hand anyways. I slipped the wrapper into my pocket and sank my teeth into the chocolate. Hailey always broke the cycle that followed me, even when I didn't notice it. It was not every day that I would be eating chocolate with another person at half-past six in the morning. The bus clattered down the street and skidded down before our stop. The rusted doors creaked open before our eyes. I walked onto the bus and sat in my usual desolate seat. Except this time, something had changed. Hailey followed after me and dropped next to me. My mouth hung open as I stared at her casually sitting next to me.

"Something wrong?" She questioned as she stroked her soft blonde hair.

I flashed on a grin.

"Nope."

The bus ride was joyful and wonderous. I listened as Hailey talked about what she planned to do during the day. She talked about many things from Braxton, hairstyles, to even movies. Hearing her converse with me again was surreal. I felt joy knowing that she wanted to talk to me about all these things. Had I really made Hailey comfortable enough that she could just talk to me normally? Was I what one would call a friend? Was friendship usually attained this fast? The bus' wheels halted to a stop in the lot before our school.

"I'll see you later!" She said cheerfully.

I watched her walk off the bus and traverse into the world of school. The rest of the day went on like normal. Barry talked about his usual games and anime and I powered through the copious amounts of work my classes gave me. The fake Hailey was nowhere to be seen. As the final bell rang, I began packing away my utensils and books. I was in my English class. I didn't have guitar lessons today, so maybe I could finally get around to getting that game- He walked into the room. He took step after step towards me, advancing to my cowardly position. His rolled-up sleeves revealed his bulky arms. It was Braxton. He placed a hand on my desk, and leaned towards me in a menacing manner.