Aubrey, the Star

36: detector

Aubrey

★

detector - "a device used to measure the amount of electromagnetic radiation emitted by celestial objects. Frequently, detectors are used to sense light that is not visible."

"Smiling is annoying."

Mickey slapped a hand down on the lunch table, startling me from the reverie I'd been trapped inside of. Thomas' sketching pencil skidded off the page of his sketchpad, drawing unnecessary lines. He scowled deeply at his girlfriend. Lincoln, who'd been tinkering with a broken phone that was split open with its guts exposed, stopped fiddling with the tiny tools in his hands.

When I looked up and realized Mickey had been looking at me this whole time, my face brightened.

"Why is smiling annoying?" I asked, popping a fry into my mouth to occupy myself from succumbing to another daydream. A smile erupted across my face at the reasoning behind my prior daydream and she slapped the table again.

"Guys, do you not see that she's been a grinning fool the entire lunch period?" She looked between Thomas and Lincoln for help. "I can't remember a day when you haven't walked into this cafeteria with a permanent frown on your face. Now you're smiling?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Thomas brushed the tip of a pencil against his face to scratch at the bear growing along his jaw. "Can Aubrey not be happy, babe?" he asked. I tilted my head at Mickey, a so-called bestfriend, and waited for her answer.

She chewed at her bottom lip, tapping fingers atop the table impatiently. It looked like she was busy trying to plot a great scheme. The waves in those blue eyes ebbed and flowed with curiosity.

"I just find this entire mood shift interesting given recent events."

I couldn't help but stiffen at the memory of those recent events. It had been almost two weeks since the ordeal with Harden and there were still wounds that needed healing - mentally and physically. That didn't take away from the fact that I was healing. No one should think of me as a recluse that was afraid of smiling or living life. Who is Mickey to question something like that?

"Do I not deserve to crack a few fucking smiles?" The harshness of my tone couldn't be masked. Blood began to boil inside of me and anger tried to crawl up and out of my throat. "I know what I went through, okay? No need to be a bitch about it and no reason to rehash the situation either."

Lincoln put down his screwdriver and shook my shoulder playfully with a hand.

"She shouldn't have gone there, Aubrey." He looked narrowly at Mickey and a chill crossed the table. Our friend looked away scornfully. "We want you to be happy. Why that's a question? It shouldn't matter." Another look was sent to Mickey again.

"Okay, I stuck my foot in my mouth!" Mickey exclaimed, swallowing.

"Yeah and it went straight out of your ass," I said, snorting.

"All I'm saying is lately you've been pretty damn joyful." I opened my mouth to retort but she beat me to the punch. "You may not think people care enough to notice but I'm your friend. Why wouldn't I notice?"

"What's really the issue?" I asked, crossing my arms around my chest.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Thomas asked.

"She's completely suspect right now!"

Mickey smirked, challenging me. I nodded my head, egging her on. "The issue is my brother hasn't stopped smiling either."