Trust

Part 1

Was I lonely? At times, yes. I was not popular by any means and I had a good amount of acquaintances, but no one that I really felt close enough to call my friend. You were kind of the same. You kept to yourself like I did, and you intrigued me. It started in the most cliché way one can imagine, but it didn't end that way.

I got up to grab the bathroom pass before anyone else could. I was quick to leave Mrs. Burke's class, I was never a fan of history or her to be honest. I went to the bathroom, but I knew I didn't have to go. I just needed to get away from the Cold War for a few minutes. Though the bathroom does not let you escape the selfies, the gossip, or that one girl who loves to talk about her and her boyfriend in the bedroom. High school is a lot.

I sat in the stall reading the few words written on the back of the door in sharpie. A thottie never gets cold. Please flush :) no one wants to see that. I LOVE YOU! Pretty much sums up high school. "His mom found the massive box of condoms he hides under his bed, so embarrassing." I was tired of hearing about sex. Weird coming from a seventeen-year-old, right? Well, I just didn't care for it. Are virgins supposed to care about sex? Anyway, I washed my hands, not once glancing at myself in the mirror. What's the point when I know what I look like already?

I took the scenic route back to class, even though every hallway looked the same, a sea of green lockers, highlighted by fluorescent orbs in the ceiling. As I rounded the corner I wasn't expecting anything or anyone, but I was caught off guard. The guy's head was down, he was playing music through his earphones and hit my left side. "Oh jeez, I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention." He took off his earphones, the music clear. It was you. Your eyes met mine; one blue and one brown. "It's fine, don't worry about it," I said. You looked at me for a moment and I didn't know which eye to look at, both were so beautiful. "You're okay?" you finally asked. I nodded, a fake smile on my face. I hope you realized I wasn't trying to be an asshole, I just didn't like to talk to people much. I tried to walk away, but you spoke. "Hey, I think we had English together last year." I turned around to face you, I somewhat remembered him. "What's your name again?" he asked as if you needed confirmation that I was the girl you were thinking of. "Uh, Cynthia," my voice was soft and so innocent then. "I'm Tom." I had noticed you stood up straighter. I was confused as to why you were talking to me, so I turned and walked back to class. It was not until I had walked several steps that I had heard your feet hig the ground while you walked away.

Part of me wishes that was our only encounter, that nothing after that would have happened, but you showed me friendship. You taught me how to be normal.

It was not until a week later that I had seen your face again. I caught you looking at me while I was at my locker one morning. The day after that, I caught you again, but this time you approached me. "Hey, Cynthia, right?" I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention, but no one was. "Yep."

"Yea, we met last week, remember?" You looked nervous and I couldn't figure out why. "I think so," I responded as I grabbed the books I needed for class. "I'm Tom, in case you can't remember." I looked at you again, focused on your blue eye. "I remember." I turned to go to class, but you followed. "Hey, I've seen you around a few times and you're always by yourself. I don't have many friends either-" I stopped you, "who said I didn't have any friends?" You hesitated, breaking eye contact. "Oh, sorry. I just assumed." I stopped walking completely, "that's your first mistake, never assume. Never assume anything about anybody if you don't know their story," I walked a few feet ahead and into my class.

You came to my locker again the next morning. "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be an ass. I'm sorry I assumed." I didn't say anything. "I was just wondering if you would want to hangout. I don't know about you, but I really don't know anyone. I've never cared to know anyone here, but you seem different." I gave you an intense side eye then. "Different?" I was slightly offended, but I wanted you to elaborate. "Like good different, not bad different," you were quick to answer. You seemed scared of me then, I never expected our roles to change.

"Okay, Tom, what do you want exactly?" I asked you, still puzzled. You looked at me for longer than what was comfortable, your eyebrows furrowed. "A friend."

It took time, but you became my friend, my only friend. I told you things that no one else knew. God, my parents loved you too. They always asked why I wasn't dating you. You seemed so perfect. Senior year of high school, I figured if I hadn't made any friends before, there was no way I would then. You were my best friend and I loved you. I never expected you to betray me the way that you did. I never expected you to become apart of my nightmares, to become someone I hated. You did this. You ruined our friendship, but more than anything, you ruined me.