Bashful Sparks

Chapter one

Distant church bells chimed, the morning sun barely reaching into Barley's room, illuminating books and scattered pages that lay on the floor. Barley churned in his bed, refusing to wake up. The soft sheets weren't just warm, and conflicting with the chilled Winter air, but he had his College in person exam today. Fortunately it meant that if he passed it he could go to the college everyone wanted to go to, unfortunately however he was not ready for it, one person can only do so much studying before their body stopped cooperating with their desires. As the sun crept farther into the room, it eventually shone directly into his face, which scrunched up in response to the overwhelming and sudden bright light.

With a sigh, he agreed with the universe that if he got a headstart he could maybe slip by the exam. He threw the covers off of himself and swung his legs over to the floor, standing up. Rubbing his eyes he took his first steps of the day, soaking in the sounds and smells of his apartment building. He got dressed for the day, wearing something nicer than he usually did in hopes of it helping his score. When he went over to his kitchenette, he put water in his kettle, and prepared a cup for tea. While he waited for the water to boil he tidied up the mess of studies, papers with numbers and letters that his brain wasn't awake enough to understand, and books and poems he'd studied for weeks to surpass his peers. Just as he put the last pages into his binder, the kettle began to whistle. He turned to take it off of the heat and let it cool for a moment before he poured it, letting the steam rise then taking a sip of the warm bittersweet tea.

When he'd finished he threw on his coat and tied his scarf while he stuffed his feet into his shoes. Barley picked up his bag, which was overflowing with his schoolwork, with just enough room to fit his laptop. Now ready for the day he opened the door, chest puffed with a new confidence. He walked out and locked the door behind him, letting himself stride to the elevator. Even though he was fit enough to walk down the stairs, he lived on the fourteenth floor, and he did not want to walk down about two hundred stairs. With a ding the elevator door opened.

Inside the elevator operator, 68 year old Mr. Owens, sat on his stool. "Headin' to school already, Barley?" Owens asked in his rusty but kind tone.

"Yes, my exam is today, and I'm gonna need all the time I can get to prepare for it," he said this trying not to sound as nervous as he was, he knew it was futile though, since Owens always seemed to know how everyone felt. "I don't think I'm ready..." Barley admitted as Owens pushed the Ground Floor button.

"Goin' to see Mathew then? Or Mrs. Stanley?" Owens asked him. Mathew Cunning was Barley's friend. He always looked up to Mathew, not just in the sense that he was practically a genius however. Mathew was also a solid foot taller than Barley. Mrs. Stanley was Barley's English teacher, he was very open with her since he didn't have many other people he trusted about his troubles. She was always very helpful, both therapeutically, and in her teachings.

"Maybe both?" Barley finally said as the elevator opened the doors to the lobby, "I'll see you later Mr. Owens," he spoke behind him as he got out.

"I'll be seein' you Barley, good luck on that exam of yours, you'll ace it like the oth-" the sound of his voice was cut off by the doors closing, but Barley got the point.

As he stood in silence, the sun still wasn't all the way up yet, leaving a gleaming golden glow on the floor tiles of the lobby. He felt himself tearing up at it, not just because it was a rather beautiful glow, but because the reflection of the sun from the polished tiles was beaming right into his eyes. He squinted as he looked away. Still blinded by the light he bumped into the lobby couch, painfully flipping over it yet landing upright in the sitting position. Dazed by the sudden feat of acrobatics he hoped no one had seen his trip. As he quickly recovered he heard a quiet chuckle in the corner of the lobby.