Infection

Chapter 1: The Meeting

"MICHAEL!!" I groaned as my mom yelled from downstairs.

"YEAH?!" I sleepily yelled in response. She alerted me then to the fact that I was going to be late for school. Late for the first day of senior year? Not a good plan.

I quickly got around and made my way downstairs, sliding into the kitchen on my black converse. I adjusted my dark grey Snapback with a space scene on the front as I grabbed a piece of fruit.

I kissed my mom on the cheek and gave my goodbyes, running out the door. I halted on the porch and grabbed my hoverboard, adjusting it's power setting to maximum, since I was late.

"Sorry I'm la-" I began as I ran into my English classroom, but was quickly stopped when I saw a blonde-haired, neon-violet eyed, tall, thin girl standing next to my teacher's desk. She wore thick glasses and loose clothes. Her hair was twisted up into a unattractive bun ontop of her head. All the students turned away and stared at me, and I glared at the floor as I took my middle-row seat.

"Anyway, please continue Miss Fluore." Mr. Brind encouraged, sending me a death glare while doing so. The girl awkwardly shuffled her feet and locked her gaze with the wall in the back of the classroom.

"My name is Taraxos Fluore. I am new to this school, and I am sure I will enjoy the company of my fellow classmates, and the educational teachers." She stated, bowing her head slightly, then walking to her seat that is right behind my own. Great. I have to sit in front of the nerdy kid. Some of the girls snickered as she passed, mocking her interesting taste of appearance. I rolled my eyes at their immature behavior.

~~~

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING" the school bell screamed, alerting the students that class was over and our next class will begin soon.

I stood and gathered my books, lost in my own thoughts when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Taraxos staring back at me with an unreadable emotion plastered on her face.

"Hello. I am Taraxos. What is your name?" She finally said. Great, she'll make me late for my next class if she talks to long. Not that I mind, I'm surely not a star-student who's never had an absent day in their life.

"Taraxos... Unique name," I began, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'm Michael." I stuck my hand out to shake, but she simply stared at it for a minute. Finally, she removed her hand from her side and placed it gently in my own, shaking it. I was surprised she had such a strong grip for such a small girl.

"Pleasure to meet you, Michael." She replied, her soft voice sounding like music in my ears, much to my surprise. "My next class is gymnasium. What is yours?" She asked, staring innocently into my brown eyes while letting go of my hand and returning it to her side. I'll admit, I was slightly disappointed to feel her warm skin leave my palm, but I ignored it.

"I have gym next, too." I responded, following her as she exited the classroom. "Do you know where it is?" I questioned, turning around in the hallway to meet her gaze. She shook her head 'no' and trotted toward me.

"Follow me then."

~~~

I walked out of the boy's locker wearing a dark blue T-shirt and matching sports shorts. My gaze immediately landed on beautiful girl with long, blonde, soft waves cascading down her back. She saw me and ran over. At first I didn't recognize her, but when she got closer I realized who she was. Her glasses were off, and her eyes burned brightly, looking like a purple star shining against her pale skin. She wore a fitted, ocean-blue sports shirt and matching shorts, shaping her perfectly curved body. I would've thought she was a photoshopped movie star if she wasn't right in front of my eyes.

"Michael!" She beamed, skipping over to me. I quickly shut my mouth and genuinely smiled.

"Hey Taraxos," I replied, still smiling. "What's u-" I began, but was interrupted by the gym teacher screeching at the group of students.

"ATTENTION! Today I'm going to ha-" And that's when I stopped listening.

~~~

"MOM! I'M HOME!" I yelled as I parked my hoverboard and walked inside my house. It was now five o'clock since I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things my mom texted me to get.

"We have company, dear." She responded as she walked into the hallway I was standing in. Company? Who would she've possibly invited for dinner?

"Our new neighbors that moved in last week." She stated, as if answering my unspoken question. A young boy with brown hair and green eyes that looked about middle-school age came out from the dining room area and waved to me.

"Hi, I'm Aaron. And this..." He pointed to an identical-looking boy now standing next to him. "Is my brother, Austin."

I politely waved and smiled. "Nice to meet you, boys." Then I saw her. But she looked different than at school. She was wearing a light blue dress and her hair was curled slightly. She wasn't wearing glasses, and she had low, blue heels on. She walked out of the dining room and stood behind the boys. She beamed when she saw me.

"Michael! I didn't know you lived here." She greeted, pushing past her, what I'm assuming, brothers and walking towards me.

"Yeah, I do. Didn't know you newly live next door." I chuckled, and she giggled slightly in return.

"Yeah!" She responded. As the hallway cleared out and everyone filed back into the dining room, she inched closer to me and smiled even brighter. "I'm so happy to see you again. I know I only met you today, but all the other students either ignored me or were rude. You're the only friend I made."

My heart melted slightly at her words, and for some strange reason I wanted to hurt whoever was mean to this genuine girl.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." She looked at the ground sadly as I spoke. "I'm happy to be your friend, though." As I said that, her head shot up and she stared me down, as if to see if I was joking. Then her face contorted rather beautifully into a bright smile.

"Really?"

"I don't know who wouldn't."

And that's when I realized I may have had a small, small crush on this new girl.