The Weirdos

24

Jasper ended up on a treadmill, sighing boredly as he was put at a slow walk.
"How long do I have to do this?"
"It's just for a few hours today. Tomorrow we can pick up the pace."
Books said from where he was bench pressing a good hundred pounds.
"Why can't we pick up the pace now? I'm a fast runner."
Jasper whined. Books rolled his eyes.
"Because I said so. If you want to keep complaining, I'll have you at this pace all week."
"This seriously sucks."
"Yeah? Well get used to things seriously sucking."
Jasper groaned and Books set the weights up on the bar.
"Here. I'll put some music on for you. What do you listen to?"
Jasper smirked.
"Probably nothing you'd be in to."
Books raised a brow.
"Try me."
"Ok. Bring Me the Horizon. Pierce the Veil. Asking Alexandria. Sleeping With Sirens. I Prevail. Of Mice and Men. Falling in Reverse.
Should I go on?"
Books made a confused face.
"What music is that?"
"It's called screamo? I think. I've never looked into the proper name to the genre. Like the name suggests, they scream in the songs."
Books made another face.
"That can't be pleasing to the ear."
"Well, I like it."
Jasper said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And you asked, so... Are you gonna play it or write it off without giving it a chance?"
Books sighed and started typing on a little screen. Jasper stared at the device in his hand and wondered if any of the other kids had phones. Did Skins? Books put the device into a little slot on the treadmill and Under Denver by Asking Alexandria started playing. Jasper smiled and looked at Books.
"Thanks."
"Sure thing. I put it on shuffle for their newest album. You keep at it and don't touch anything. I have something else to do that... Isn't this."
Jasper sighed as Books left him. He was good at being on his own, most days; but he wasn't sure if today was going to be one of them. His mind started replaying the last time he saw his parents. He felt his heart sink into his belly and a tightness in his chest that threatened to suffocate him. It was his fault. If he had just stayed there, maybe the beast that killed them would've just taken him and left them alone. Maybe they'd still be alive. He wished things hadn't ended the way they did. He didn't get to tell his parents that he loved them and that he could forgive them for being scared of him. Before Jasper knew it, there was wetness on his cheeks and his hands shook, so he crossed his arms over his chest. He wanted to run. Run away from his thoughts, his feelings. He wanted to run away from it all. He wanted to run and run and run until he was numb from his head all the way down to his toes. But, he was stuck at this stupid walking pace and left to deal with the things in his head. He couldn't even focus on the music as he let out pitiful hiccuping sobs. He was all alone here. No family. Just unfamiliar and strange people. He didn't feel at home. He didn't feel at peace. He felt broken and gray, stuck in a deep hole with the light slowly fading. But he would never let the others know. He would put on a brave front for them. They didn't need to know what was really going on beneath the surface of his skin. He didn't know them well enough to be vulnerable around them.