Randomness and Awesomeness!!!

The First light

Story by Beavertail10

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I don't understand people; never have. This is probably the reason I find myself walking around the park, during school hours. Usually, even in the dense, heavy air within the enclosed walls of the concrete box I have for a school, I don't find it all that difficult to be alone. However, it's been hard lately; too many things have been bothersome. Even here; even now; I'm being bothered by this stupid fly that's been buzzing around my head for a while now, and I haven't been able to get rid of it. I've tried to swat it away, squish it between my fingers, and just ignore it all together. But the fly just won't leave me alone. The world is definitely trying to provoke me, but, for some reason, out of all the people on this planet it could have picked on, it chose me. Sighing, I decide to go back to school, and leave the buzzing creature behind. I need to make sure I catch the bus anyways, or else I'll be stranded here. I start walking towards the cramped path through the woods that leads to a clearing across my school. Even though I have to, I don't want to take the bus, because I know I'm going to have to sit with her again. Ever since she came to this school, I haven't been left alone. Ever since we first met on the bus she's been that leech that just won't let go.

When she first approached me, I was flipping through my songs, not able to choose one, when her silky blond hair blocked my view from my phone. She was bending over the seat from behind me, her upside down face directly in front of mine.

"So, what's your story, pretty boy?"

I just ignored her, and looked out the window. The first thing that I noticed looking outside was a tree. Although, it wasn't just any tree, this one looked like it was stripped of its liveliness. It looked like the trees that you would see at the end of fall, but winter had passed already, and because of that it could be considered dead. It was slowly withering away out of existence, its life hanging by a thread. The girl looked out the window curiously to see what I was observing.

"You know, one day, that tree is going to have beautiful flowers that bloom from it?" She commented.

I scoffed, "Yeah right."

I didn't believe her then, and I still don't. The filthy thing should just be cut down. It has no hope. However, she just smiled at me, saying, "It's true, you just have to believe in it."

I lightly shook my head at her, and luckily, she retracted back to her seat. I thought that was the end of it, but sadly, she abandoned her seat to join me on mine. The only reason I moved out of the way was because I didn't want to be too close to her.

"From now on I'm going to be your bus buddy," she proclaimed cheerfully.

I looked away from her, going back to flipping through my songs. "I don't need a bus buddy." I said in a bored tone.

"Oh, come on! Everyone has to have a bus buddy, or else the ride gets boring. Don't you ever get tired of being alone?" She asked.

I didn't answer her, and she didn't try to pry. The rest of the bus ride was silent, and I thought she would get bored of me, and finally leave me be, but that evening's bus ride she sat with me again. She would try to engage a conversation by asking me questions, and I ended up ignored every single question she asked. Since it was hard to hold a conversation by herself she would look around awkwardly, but then try again. Yet, no matter how much of a lost cause I was, she would have that big smile on her face, in hope that I would maybe just answer one of her questions. She was becoming a bigger disturbance than anticipated. However, about a week later, she started to come to school with bags under her eyes. Her smile was no longer on her face, and her eyes weren't as bright. She continuously looked around nervously like a ghost was going to jump out at her at any moment. Despite all that though, she would still talk animatedly. But recently she's even stopped doing that. She would get on the bus, and forcefully pushed herself through the seat and me to get beside the window. She even started to rest her head on my shoulder due to, what I would assume to be, tiredness. The first time she did this I froze, and almost jumped out of the seat. I didn't know how to react to her odd behavior so I just ignored it I let her be. I have thought about asking her, but it's none of my business. So whenever she fell asleep on me I would shake her lightly to tell her when we were at school. She would be hesitant to get out of the bus, but when she finally got off, she would look around like a madman, then run into the building. I keep thinking it's just because she's tired, but that doesn't explain everything else.

I break out of my thoughts once I hear the bell ring. If only I got here a couple of minutes earlier I wouldn't be caught in the hallway rush. I don't want to be in the middle of the hall right now, it get's too crowded; so, I walk over to a shaded corner, a good distance away from the lockers, and lean against the wall. Once again, I busy myself with flipping through my songs. There must be one that I'm actually willing to listening to.

Finally, the hall clears up a bit, and I hurriedly to grab my stuff. Flipping through my songs as I walk, I carry my backpack out of the school. However, before I can go towards the buses, her voice echoes across the school yard. I stop abruptly, and turn towards it.

"Please, just leave me alone!" She's cornered by four guys.

"Oh come on sweet cheeks, all we want is a little fun." All the boys laugh at their stupid comment.

They started to grab at her. Her pleas and her cries for help became louder, but nobody helped her. They all just scurried past, afraid of intervening.

I go to turn around, to keep walking towards the bus like everyone else, but Elena's voice rings through my ears, her voice reaching into the deepest part of my mind. I have to leave, but I can't tear my eyes from the scene that's unfolding. My head's filling itself with a dull buzzing that is becoming louder by the minute. Why are people so cruel? Why doesn't anybody do anything? Why am I not doing anything? But why do I have to be the one to do something? Can't someone stronger do it? A teacher, perhaps? Actually, I should know better. Just like that day, no one is going to help. No one was there for my sister, and I, so how is this any different. People turn their backs to save their own skins, but isn't that what I did too? Leave my sister to die at the hands of a drunk man because I just wasn't strong enough? If I couldn't help my sister then, how can I help Elena now? I'm not some protector; just a lonely kid, that has no friends. I have no one. I'm alone. Even my parents hate me because of the incident with my sister. They still blame me for her death, and rather it was me that died. Maybe they're right. She should have survived. I'm a useless being that can't do shit because he let's the fear get the best of him. If this is the type of world I live in, then I want no part in it. In this world there are two groups of people, them, and me. I don't need them, and they don't need me. I turn, and start to walk away, but with every step the buzzing in my ears get's louder.

"Stop!" Elena screams.

Her screams make my feet go heavy, and I stop dead in my tracks. My feet no longer wanted to move forward, but I can't stay here, her screams are so painful to hear. I willed myself to move forward, but my body wasn't listening. The fear of intervening in the world is a big one, but the fear of leaving behind the only friend I've had in a long time is a greater one. I can't make the same mistake that I made long ago. I may not understand people, but I do know what it feels like to be alone. She was the first one who has reached out to me since that dark day. For that I will help her, not for anyone else's sake, just Elena's. I walk towards them, determined to just get Elena, and leave. I push past the boys, and grab Elena's wrist. I just tug her along behind me with a fast pace.

"Hey! Get back here!" The boys bellow.

I rush to the bus, dragging Elena behind me. The bus driver looked irked that we were late, but allowed us on before continuing its exit of the parking lot. I walk down the aisle, ignoring all the stares, and look back at Elena to see her face streaked with tears, but she smiles weakly at me all the same. I push her, slightly harder than I meant to, into the seat so she could have the window.

"Thank you, Colden." I look at her, but she's looking out the window. We sit in an uncomfortable silence until she jumps up, practically pushing her face against the window.

"Colden look!" She exclaimed.

I look where she was pointing, and see the dead tree, but there was something different about it, now. It had a single blossom on the end of one of its branches.

"I told you so!" She's so excited for the little thing.

But the only thing that's going through my mind is "How did she know?" How could she have so much faith in that plant? How did she know that her confidence wasn't misplaced? I don't understand her, or anyone else for that matter, but it doesn't mean that I'm not ready to learn.

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The End!!!!!

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