blue.

Chapter One

"Ben! Ben! BEN!"
"What?! Don't scream in my ear, dude."
"Did you know there's gonna be a new girl in town? Maybe this is your lucky day!"
"Says who? And it's not like I'm looking for a girlfriend, Gregg," I tell my best friend, who keeps freaking out.
"Says Derek! He knows everything that happens in town."
"Man, fuck Derek. He hates my guts, he's probably setting this up to make me feel like shit."
"But I don't think he knew I was going to tell you."
"He always knows."
Gregg's phone starts ringing, and he looks at me.
"It's my mom, I'm pretty sure she wants me home. See ya at school tomorrow, dude!" He sprints out of my house and slams the door. God, I tell him so many times to NOT slam it.
Gregg is always at my house. And I mean, always. It's not uncommon, really. We're best friends, it makes sense. But, he doesn't really have anyone, except me, and his asshole of a boyfriend, Derek.
I sit on the couch, and turn on the TV. I can't help but think of what Gregg said, about the new girl. I mean, it can't really be true, right?
Derek always wants to start shit with me. He's jealous that Gregg spends most of his time at my house. He tries in every way to tear our friendship apart. So he has to be lying, doesn't he?
"Benjamin, I'm home!"
"Hey mom," I said, "how was work?"
"Same as always, just not as stressful."
"That's good."
"I won't be making dinner tonight, so I guess you'll have to eat some soup or something."
"Okay, I guess."
I walk into the kitchen, and she's already there. I get a can of soup out of the cabinet and open it.
"So, are you excited for your last year of school?"
"I mean, not really," I pour the soup into a pot and turn on one of the burners.
"Why not? I thought you liked school."
"Well, I'll be having Mrs. Williamson this year, which won't be fun. She hates my guts," I stir the soup a little bit with a spoon, "but other than that, I guess it'll be okay. I can't wait for art classes."
"Well, it's good you're excited for something school-related," she kisses my cheek. "Well, I'm gonna head off to bed, it's been a long day. Goodnight, honey."
"Night, mom."
She goes upstairs into her bedroom, while I pour the soup into a bowl, and getting a spoon.
Art is the only thing I'm really good at. My art teacher, Mr. Clemons, is my favorite teacher. That class is the only one I look forward to at school.
I don't do sketches, use colored pencils or markers. I only paint. I usually paint portraits of people, and landscapes. I use only one color to paint, blue.
It's the one color I can't see. It looks gray when I use it. I've never seen the color before.
Mr. Clemons likes that I use only shades of that color, because it symbolizes my true love, I guess.
Since Derek knows that I only use blue, that's the one thing he uses to irritate the hell out of me. And he makes sure to have me know if a new girl is in town, because I apparently "want to know because I'm desperate to find a soulmate." That's not the case at all. I've never particularly searched for a person with blue eyes. I don't really pay attention to people's eyes. I'm not trying to rush into a relationship. I really don't want that.
I finish my soup, and I head upstairs to go to bed. I change into my pajamas and take off my glasses. Before I fall asleep, I catch myself thinking about the girl again. "Go to sleep, idiot." I tell myself.
I doze off, still thinking about her.