High school. Highlight of our lives, right? Well, not mine. Everyone tries to be different in high school, by dressing the same way. And the individuals don’t matter, only what society tells us is right. Sometimes I want to hide in a corner, blast my rock music, and ignore everyone on the outside. Focus on my thoughts for once, focus on what I want. Not what others want and desire, not what they think is right, not what’s “in style” according to the newest Vogue, just my own opinions. In high school, you have to be pretty darn courageous to share all of your thoughts and opinions, dress the way you want, and be who you are. It’s tough being yourself, especially when you have a dark secret hanging on to you like monkey on your back you can’t seem to shake off.
I used to think there was no hope, but like a flower, it bloomed inside from despair. Like light, it turned off temporarily, but it took a certain switch to turn it back on. I have a purpose to look to the future, a purpose to try hard now. For a while, I couldn’t imagine I would have control over something like that. I couldn’t imagine my scars ever healing.
I was asleep my whole life, a walking ghost through the halls, noticeable enough for people to remember my name, and me, but not enough to have close friends, or be part of a group. I didn’t know what I wanted, didn’t know where my life was headed, and I was constantly lonely. Then I met him.
The dull halls are awakened with each and every step he takes. All eyes are deeply drawn to him, his tall, dark figure. His sharp facial outlines, his deep, seemingly black eyes. He’s strong, not overly buff, but muscular. Average student may not notice, but he holds himself back, doesn’t allow everyone into his life, anyone actually. He’s close, and yet isolated from others. I was too deeply examining his every move, I was caught off-guard when our team’s linebacker knocked into me, and as our bodies collided, his overpowering mine, and gravity did its part, pulling me to the ground.
I was on the floor, heard muffled laughs and giggles around, saw bony fingers from perfect figures pointing at me. My knee, numb from pain, had trouble moving. I couldn’t get up. I was a loser on the floor who couldn’t get up, without any help. In life you learn there will always be someone different from the crowd, the least expected one. There came the dark figure, sticking out a tanned hand in front of my face. Palm up, fingers open, he urged me to take it. Travis. The Travis Clay, was staring me down, not condescendingly, instead the exact opposite, wanted me to grab his hand to get up. I did, automatically. It seemed like the whole school took a simultaneous gasp.
“You okay?” he whispered into my ear.
“Yes, well no, my knee,” I pointed down. He looked down and smiled.
“I’m sure the nurse can help you with that. Let me take you there,” he grabbed my one arm, and wrapped his free arm around my waist. Another gasp of air, in the company of mixed whispers and shocked facial expressions towards us.
We walked towards the nurse, both quiet. I kept my gaze straight ahead, but from the corner of my eye, I noticed him trying to catch glimpses of me without making it obvious. I began to speak, coincidentally, he did, too.
“You first,” I insisted.
“I don’t know, never mind,” he hesitated. I just looked at him, trying to find indication, some clue or hint about what he meant to say. I didn’t have to try hard. “I find you interesting, I heard the laughs, I heard the gasps, and I saw the outraged glances, and I’m certain you saw them, too. But you didn’t react, you brushed it off, not a single emotion to be seen on your face.”
“I could say the same for you,” I responded. It was a risk I perhaps shouldn’t have taken. But the words were out, and unable to renounce them, I waited for a response.
He gave me a cold, hard stare, enough to make me cringe, but I stood my ground, trying hard pretending not to be intimidated. “There is something about you, I don’t know what, but I have this desire to figure it out.”
I stood there, lost in his eyes, words, his everything. “Meet me tonight, eight o’clock at North Park Lake.” I nodded back as we reached the nurse’s office, and just like that, he turned and walked away.
Lost, confused, and frustrated, I forgot about the pain, until I began to sit down. I let out a moan, proclaiming my pain. The nurse checked my knee. Relieved I only sprained it slightly, I walked back to class. The rest of the day, I endured countless whispers and glares behind my back. Not once after our trip to the nurse’s office did I see Travis, and I wanted nothing more than eight o’clock to come.
It was cold. Shivering in my light jacket, I cussed out every swear word I could think of, all aimed at my stupidity of not wearing a real jacket. I arrived at the park, precisely at eight o’clock. It was empty, except for a tall figure throwing pebbles into the lake. As I walked, the ground crunched. He heard me coming, saw me, and came towards me. We stood there, not sure of what we were doing, not sure of what to say. He stuck out his hand, once again palm up, fingers open, and this time, grabbing my hand himself. We walked along the lake silently. Abruptly, we came to a halt. I shivered, and he began to take off his jacket. He put it around my shoulders and smiled. I felt butterflies in my stomach, the first time in my life, and felt my cheeks heat up. At the same time, we opened our mouths to talk, yet again.
“You first,” this time, he insisted.
I hesitated, “I got butterflies in my stomach, and I don’t get that. I blushed, because of a boy, never in my life have I blushed because of someone, and here I am blushing because of you.”
Travis looked at me, our eyes gazing at each other, “I gave you my jacket, and when I’m holding your hand, I don’t feel the slightest bit cold.” He sat down, and I sat next to him, hand in hand. We began to talk. It was the most natural conversation I had in my life. Unforced and genuine, we talked until midnight. We talked about the most absurd things, including life. We laughed and watched the stars together.
As we began to leave, he took my hands and looked me straight I the eyes, “Thank you for the best night of my life.” He pulled me into him, and kissed my forehead.
That morning, he pulled up in my driveway, patiently waiting for me to come out. I got in, not a second passed, and he cupped my head in his hands, and kissed me, “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I answered breathlessly.
Then we arrived to school, we turned heads. With his around me, his lips constantly on my head, I became the newest obsession in gossip. Travis breathed a gas of popularity in me with every kiss, and I inhaled every bit, allowing myself to be the topic of everyone’s conversations. We were in love. I was in love with him, and he was in love with me. Our relationship never got boring. His wild, exciting attitude toward everything blocked every ounce of doubt I had. Putting secret notes in my locker, sneaking from behind and grabbing me at the waist with a playful kiss, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I was hopelessly devoted to him, and he knew it. At the end of the day, I found a note in my locker. Meet me in front of the back gyms, as soon as the last bell rings, you will know where to go.J
I was nervous, excited, and anxious. I walked to the back gyms as soon as the clock struck three, the last bell making its final ring at the end of the school day. I arrived, and found little flower petals leading me to a door normally only used in case of an emergency. I climbed up the stairs and walked out onto the roof of the school. I saw him sitting in the middle, hands knotted and carrying a nervous expression. I sat beside him, and waited. I saw his scar behind his ear from the recent haircut he had, I saw the bruise on his arm from the last football game, and all I could think about was how a girl like me can land a guy like him.
“Do you ever feel alone in a room full of people? Do you ever feel like there is something more you are meant to do, than be stuck in this small town?” He asked. I didn’t know how to respond. Unable to speak, I nodded.
“Do you know how it is, to feel alone with millions of scattered faces around, all of them believing they know you, and still feel like nobody gets you?” He asked.
“What are you trying to get at here, Travis? Why are you asking me this?” I said.
“Because when I am with you, I don’t feel alone anymore.” Now I knew that was Travis’s secret; he was alone in a world of parties and popularity where he was the main person. And I used to be alone in a world where I was unnoticed. Our walls broke don when we were with each other, and there was nothing holding us back. And with that we knew, we were both hopelessly devoted to one another, and unable to break the bond, he pulled me in, caressed my face, and began to kiss me with what would be the most passionate kiss we had. Yesterday we were two kids helping each other up, today we are two lover, and what tomorrow holds is still for us to find out.
High school. Highlight of our lives, right? Well, not mine. Everyone tries to be different in high school, by dressing the same way. And the individuals don’t matter, only what society tells us is right. Sometimes I want to hide in a corner, blast my rock music, and ignore everyone on the outside. Focus on my thoughts for once, focus on what I want. Not what others want and desire, not what they think is right, not what’s “in style” according to the newest Vogue, just my own opinions. In high school, you have to be pretty darn courageous to share all of your thoughts and opinions, dress the way you want, and be who you are. It’s tough being yourself, especially when you have a dark secret hanging on to you like monkey on your back you can’t seem to shake off.
I used to think there was no hope, but like a flower, it bloomed inside from despair. Like light, it turned off temporarily, but it took a certain switch to turn it back on. I have a purpose to look to the future, a purpose to try hard now. For a while, I couldn’t imagine I would have control over something like that. I couldn’t imagine my scars ever healing.
I was asleep my whole life, a walking ghost through the halls, noticeable enough for people to remember my name, and me, but not enough to have close friends, or be part of a group. I didn’t know what I wanted, didn’t know where my life was headed, and I was constantly lonely. Then I met him.
The dull halls are awakened with each and every step he takes. All eyes are deeply drawn to him, his tall, dark figure. His sharp facial outlines, his deep, seemingly black eyes. He’s strong, not overly buff, but muscular. Average student may not notice, but he holds himself back, doesn’t allow everyone into his life, anyone actually. He’s close, and yet isolated from others. I was too deeply examining his every move, I was caught off-guard when our team’s linebacker knocked into me, and as our bodies collided, his overpowering mine, and gravity did its part, pulling me to the ground.
I was on the floor, heard muffled laughs and giggles around, saw bony fingers from perfect figures pointing at me. My knee, numb from pain, had trouble moving. I couldn’t get up. I was a loser on the floor who couldn’t get up, without any help. In life you learn there will always be someone different from the crowd, the least expected one. There came the dark figure, sticking out a tanned hand in front of my face. Palm up, fingers open, he urged me to take it. Travis. The Travis Clay, was staring me down, not condescendingly, instead the exact opposite, wanted me to grab his hand to get up. I did, automatically. It seemed like the whole school took a simultaneous gasp.
“You okay?” he whispered into my ear.
“Yes, well no, my knee,” I pointed down. He looked down and smiled.
“I’m sure the nurse can help you with that. Let me take you there,” he grabbed my one arm, and wrapped his free arm around my waist. Another gasp of air, in the company of mixed whispers and shocked facial expressions towards us.
We walked towards the nurse, both quiet. I kept my gaze straight ahead, but from the corner of my eye, I noticed him trying to catch glimpses of me without making it obvious. I began to speak, coincidentally, he did, too.
“You first,” I insisted.
“I don’t know, never mind,” he hesitated. I just looked at him, trying to find indication, some clue or hint about what he meant to say. I didn’t have to try hard. “I find you interesting, I heard the laughs, I heard the gasps, and I saw the outraged glances, and I’m certain you saw them, too. But you didn’t react, you brushed it off, not a single emotion to be seen on your face.”
“I could say the same for you,” I responded. It was a risk I perhaps shouldn’t have taken. But the words were out, and unable to renounce them, I waited for a response.
He gave me a cold, hard stare, enough to make me cringe, but I stood my ground, trying hard pretending not to be intimidated. “There is something about you, I don’t know what, but I have this desire to figure it out.”
I stood there, lost in his eyes, words, his everything. “Meet me tonight, eight o’clock at North Park Lake.” I nodded back as we reached the nurse’s office, and just like that, he turned and walked away.
Lost, confused, and frustrated, I forgot about the pain, until I began to sit down. I let out a moan, proclaiming my pain. The nurse checked my knee. Relieved I only sprained it slightly, I walked back to class. The rest of the day, I endured countless whispers and glares behind my back. Not once after our trip to the nurse’s office did I see Travis, and I wanted nothing more than eight o’clock to come.
It was cold. Shivering in my light jacket, I cussed out every swear word I could think of, all aimed at my stupidity of not wearing a real jacket. I arrived at the park, precisely at eight o’clock. It was empty, except for a tall figure throwing pebbles into the lake. As I walked, the ground crunched. He heard me coming, saw me, and came towards me. We stood there, not sure of what we were doing, not sure of what to say. He stuck out his hand, once again palm up, fingers open, and this time, grabbing my hand himself. We walked along the lake silently. Abruptly, we came to a halt. I shivered, and he began to take off his jacket. He put it around my shoulders and smiled. I felt butterflies in my stomach, the first time in my life, and felt my cheeks heat up. At the same time, we opened our mouths to talk, yet again.
“You first,” this time, he insisted.
I hesitated, “I got butterflies in my stomach, and I don’t get that. I blushed, because of a boy, never in my life have I blushed because of someone, and here I am blushing because of you.”
Travis looked at me, our eyes gazing at each other, “I gave you my jacket, and when I’m holding your hand, I don’t feel the slightest bit cold.” He sat down, and I sat next to him, hand in hand. We began to talk. It was the most natural conversation I had in my life. Unforced and genuine, we talked until midnight. We talked about the most absurd things, including life. We laughed and watched the stars together.
As we began to leave, he took my hands and looked me straight I the eyes, “Thank you for the best night of my life.” He pulled me into him, and kissed my forehead.
That morning, he pulled up in my driveway, patiently waiting for me to come out. I got in, not a second passed, and he cupped my head in his hands, and kissed me, “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” I answered breathlessly.
Then we arrived to school, we turned heads. With his around me, his lips constantly on my head, I became the newest obsession in gossip. Travis breathed a gas of popularity in me with every kiss, and I inhaled every bit, allowing myself to be the topic of everyone’s conversations. We were in love. I was in love with him, and he was in love with me. Our relationship never got boring. His wild, exciting attitude toward everything blocked every ounce of doubt I had. Putting secret notes in my locker, sneaking from behind and grabbing me at the waist with a playful kiss, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I was hopelessly devoted to him, and he knew it. At the end of the day, I found a note in my locker.
Meet me in front of the back gyms, as soon as the last bell rings, you will know where to go. J
I was nervous, excited, and anxious. I walked to the back gyms as soon as the clock struck three, the last bell making its final ring at the end of the school day. I arrived, and found little flower petals leading me to a door normally only used in case of an emergency. I climbed up the stairs and walked out onto the roof of the school. I saw him sitting in the middle, hands knotted and carrying a nervous expression. I sat beside him, and waited. I saw his scar behind his ear from the recent haircut he had, I saw the bruise on his arm from the last football game, and all I could think about was how a girl like me can land a guy like him.
“Do you ever feel alone in a room full of people? Do you ever feel like there is something more you are meant to do, than be stuck in this small town?” He asked. I didn’t know how to respond. Unable to speak, I nodded.
“Do you know how it is, to feel alone with millions of scattered faces around, all of them believing they know you, and still feel like nobody gets you?” He asked.
“What are you trying to get at here, Travis? Why are you asking me this?” I said.
“Because when I am with you, I don’t feel alone anymore.” Now I knew that was Travis’s secret; he was alone in a world of parties and popularity where he was the main person. And I used to be alone in a world where I was unnoticed. Our walls broke don when we were with each other, and there was nothing holding us back. And with that we knew, we were both hopelessly devoted to one another, and unable to break the bond, he pulled me in, caressed my face, and began to kiss me with what would be the most passionate kiss we had. Yesterday we were two kids helping each other up, today we are two lover, and what tomorrow holds is still for us to find out.