“It’s over between us.” I crossed my arms, showing finality in my decision. Neon, my boyfriend…let’s make that ex-boyfriend, whom I caught sucking faces with the school’s head cheerleader, Trish. Worst of all, they were doing it in front of my locker; of all places, right?!
“Baby, you’re just overreacting. Look at me.” He grabbed my shoulders and pulled my face so I could see his superficially sincere eyes.
He doesn’t know how I hate liars who are too obvious when they’re lying.
“UGH!!!” His moan echoed throughout the hall, after I forced squashed his balls above my knee.
“I’d love to listen to what you have to say but I’ve got some bitter weeping and moving-on stuff to accomplish.” I tossed my hair and let my heels make noise on the floor. There is nothing like the sound of victory when walking out.
Little did I know that doing so is like diving to a pit full of scorpions.
I spent the next semester with a weekly dose of death threats and guys following me around; sometimes, groups of them, even the whole class in one of my subjects would look at me when I enter the room, as if I had an octopus waving its tentacles on my head.
Things went out of control, to the point where teachers started giving me F’s just because I didn’t follow instructions, like the correct margin and writing my first name before my last name, janitors pour water on the floor I am still walking on and even the school guards occasionally block my way out with their batons or gun in hand.
Neon never spoke to me since I broke up with him (neither did I), strolling with Trish around the school campus. Their social group would always whisper to each other when they see me walking by. Neon wouldn’t say anything-he would just stare at me until I find a corner to turn to and feel the weird current of electricity rub off my back.
It’s like an epidemic, a quarter of the school treats me like an alien, but I can’t let this bother me at all. Our school psychologist, Dr. Burke, seemed to care the least, asking me to transfer to another school or another town because my schoolmates’ actions are quite unrecognizable and a bit frightening. Well, not for him, but for me as he had said when we had the annual check up, which turned to a serious confronting session.
Dr. Burke even showed me a few of the hundred notes found lying around our campus, each stating: Lily Rione; just that, my name written on a lot of papers.
Lame.
I walked up the stairs of our old library, almost a century old. It’s a surprise as to how the wooden floors hold our weight, not even collapsing under our feet or furniture.
“Aisle 38….fifteen more aisles to go.” I mumbled to myself, returning the book on the highest shelf. It’s a weird hobby to spend my free time looking for an interesting book to read.
Librarians would raise a brow upon seeing me since they never expect a person of my kind here. Most people would mistake me as a dumb, slutty pampered socialite.
Duh? Because I don’t look like a geek.
No glasses or techie appendages. I have reddish-brown hair, 80% brown, no freckles, 110 pounds, 5 ½ feet tall. My style? Short shorts, mini-skirts, sundresses, sleeveless tops, heels, sneakers, boots, doll shoes-lip gloss, face powder, and as long as I wash my hair and comb it everyday, I have no issues.
In our school, everybody has issues. Most have something to do with me.
Nobody is to be trusted here, as far as I have noticed. Their eyes alone will tell. The only person I talk to and approach is Dr. Burke. In everybody’s eyes, I am either invisible or eye candy, most especially for Neon and Trisha’s congregation.
The three o’clock bell struck. Time to go to Dr. Burke’s room. He asked a favor from me earlier; he said he had a niece transferring to our school and he wants to introduce me.
“Hey.” I greeted Dr. Burke, instead of the traditional Good afternoon, doctor. We’re a little more casual. After all, I think I’m the only normal person who would be here almost every day. His office is the coolest. He has a home theater system and World of War craft in his laptop which he lets me play occasionally.
“River! Over here.” He called from the couch.
His niece’s footprints heavily dragged themselves on the marble floor.
I looked up at her, almost a feet taller than me. She looks like a guy!
“His name’s River, my niece.”
River nodded at me, face as blank as an android but oh my God, if she’s a guy, I would just…wait, did Dr. Burke just say ‘HIS name is River’?
“I thought she’s a she?”Honestly speaking, River looks more of a guy to me than a girl-if he is a girl, wouldn’t he have some sort of severe abnormality that would leave him with this hunky body?
“As you…uh…could see, River’s a guy….my n-niece?” he stammered, as if I just said something out of the ordinary.
“It’s called a nephew! A guy’s a nephew, a girl’s a niece. Good Lord.” A bit relieved, I felt glad not to be crushing on the same species.
“Nice to meet you River.” I held out my hand, smiling to make sure I’m as cute as a petal.
He looked at it, and sat on the other couch across the fireplace.
Dr. Burke and I exchanged glances. He shook his head and motioned me to listen closely.
“He ignores everybody talking to him, I think there’s either a problem with his hearing or if he’s mute, or he just doesn’t comprehend. Either way, I need somebody I trust to stay with him in this school. Please do this favor for me.”
My jaw dropped at everything he just said. I am going to be a babysitter, to cut it short? “Days ago, you were advising me to move to somewhere else and now, you’re asking me to-like…take care of him when I, myself am in trouble? Everybody’s just too kind to not pounce on me all at the same time!”
“Listen, your social life is already at risk, don’t keep your thoughts to yourself. It’s better to have somebody to talk to once in a while.”
“Hello? You want me to talk with him?” I lowered my voice. “You told me he can’t hear, or talk or comprehend. It’s like taking to a mail box! I can talk to you anyway. What difference does it make?”
“He’s more of your age. He’s nineteen.” Dr. Burke’s sand-colored moustache twitched.
“I’m seventeen. Three years younger than he ever is.” This argument could go on and on. There is no way he could make me watch over this big bozo.
I looked at River, still mystified by his presence, especially by the way his eyes dig into mine, as if he’s reading my thoughts. It’s a surprise as to how he can still have a sense of style when it comes to clothing, despite his incapacity to comprehend.
“Fine, but don’t blame me if something bad happens and I’m unable to save his life, okay?” I finally gave in.
“Hakuna Matata.” Dr Burke’s chubby face lit up, like somebody just gave him a box of candy.
“Hey, River, don’t give me any problems.”
River just stared at me for a brief second, then, walked out the door.
“I should be paid for this.” I mumbled on my way out.
As soon as I stepped out, all of the girls were staring-not at me, but at the delectable, grey-scarfed guy in the white shirt and black jeans, wearing sneakers-who doesn’t look like a retard.
“Girls, this is River. He’s with me.” I announced, and made my way through the awe-stricken girls. River followed, surprisingly unaffected by the hundred pairs of eyes following him to the school grounds.
“You are causing a commotion. I can’t believe everybody in here is looking at you.”
Everybody will get over him after two weeks anyway, so I don’t need to get used to this.
I was obviously wrong. Three weeks have passed and everybody in school still looks at him like he just stepped out of a spaceship.
“Why do people love to stare at you so much? You’re not even bothered the least.” For the billionth time, I asked while we sat at the cafeteria. “Plus, look at this.” I emptied a bag full of letters on the table, more than a little frustrated at all the space of it took up. “I found these in my locker. They’re all for you.”
Though he can’t respond, he could read at least. I once tried to teach him how to open his mouth and say ‘aaahh’ but no go, he just looks at me as if I’m the abnormal one. The weird thing is, I noticed the way his eyes seem to change color-a light blue if he’s bored, bright blue if he’s thinking of something and a deep ocean blue with a green area I can never see in the same place when he’s just blank. Most of the time, it’s light beige. Those were the only three emotions I could see. He never smiled. I can’t imagine how he could not move his facial muscles, maybe they’re paralyzed.
Hmmm...makes sense.
“Hey. You’re paralyzed, aren’t you, you know? Right here.” I pointed to my cheeks. River just tilted his head and shifted his glance over my shoulder.
I felt a warm breath over my skin.
“Neon?” I exclaimed when I saw his face only centimeters near me.
“Is this your new catch?” He breathed heavily and glared at River.
I scoffed. “You jealous? He’s my friend. Now, run off before pompom princess sees you here.”
Neon ignored my remark, and continued to glare at River.
“I’m talking to you, Neon.” I tapped his shoulder.
GASP
He suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Let go, two-timer.” I yelled at him, a little hurt by his tight grip.
River stared back at him, eye color changing into a fathomless black.
“We need to talk.” He walked out of the cafeteria, dragging me with him.
“God, Neon! You’re hurting me. If you want to talk, write a note, email me or something, but don’t force me to come with you when I don’t want to!” In a no-win tug of war, I tried to retrieve my arm, hurting more and more as I did.
Finally, he stopped walking and freed me.
“You ugly jerk.” A big, big part of me wanted to slap him but I have morals, so I just made my way back to the cafeteria.
River stood at the doorway, looking at my reddened wrist. His eyes have turned into a bright blue hue.
“I’m okay. Neon’s just stupid.”
Neon and I only dated for a month and he’s acting like I’m his property. I can’t talk with any guy because he threatened to have them killed, not that I was scared-I just know what he could do and killing doesn’t seem impossible for him.
“Let’s go.” I rubbed my wrist and picked my green bag from my chair, leaving the letters on the table. It’s River’s responsibility to read them.
“If you ever get a girlfriend, make sure that you are completely out of sight when you want to cheat on her.”
Sometimes, I think I’m just talking to myself but I know he’s listening.
Every after school, River and I pass by Dr. Burke’s so I could drop him off-the other way around, huh?
At morning, before classes start, I pick him up.
Well, that’s how it is, in exchange for free snacks with Dr. Burke.
“Bye.” I knocked twice on the door and walked away.
“River, where are you going?” I heard Dr. Burke from the hallway.
As I turned around, my feet strangled themselves and made me lose my balance.
Swiftly, I grabbed on to a column for dear life, hearing the contents of my bag fall on the next floor, some rolled down the long staircase. Lucky for me, I’m just hanging thirty feet above the ground
River stood in front of me and pulled me back to the floor. What kind of architect or designer would place wooden frames three inches below the knee instead of walls or balustrades that will prevent people from falling?
“Thank you.” I had a hard time catching my breath, wondering which of my limbs would be split in half if River didn’t come.
“What the hell where you doing, kid?” Dr. Burke rushed and crossed his arms like I owed him an explanation.
“I almost fell?” What else can I say?
River had his arms crossed as well, leaning his head on another column with eyes focused on me.
I hate it when he does that, it’s intimidating.
If I’m not mistaken, he knew I was going to fall.
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