My C String is Out of Tune

3

I wanted to walk to school today but Andy wanted to take the bus. Taking the bus is literally pointless since we live less than 5 minutes from the school and the bus stop where we'd get on is in a different neighborhood that is farther away from the school. But we took the bus anyway since neither of us wanted to be by ourselves and Andy is really stubborn.

He sat next to me and just kept on with asking me about my sexuality. I stopped responding after the third time he asked.

"Are you sure you aren't gay?" He poked my cheek. "Like, you look gay."

"What does that even mean?" I questioned. "How do I look gay?"

He kept poking my cheek. "I don't know. You just look like you're gay."

"Well, Im not. Okay?" I turned my head to look out the window and he stopped poking my cheek. I thought he was done but then he poked my sides and stomach.

"Stop it" I smacked his hand away.

"I'm gonna tell mom." He threatened but I just shrugged. "Okay so you aren't gay."

"Correct."

"So, what? You're Bi or something? Cuz you sure as hell aren't straight." He retorted. I was shocked. I did not expect my twelve year old brother to...I don't know...cuss? Is 'Hell' really considered a cuss word? I have no idea.

"I am straight as someone's bones." I responded.

"So, even like a spine? Like her spine?" He asked, pointing to a girl on the bus with us.

"What? Uhm... I guess.... sure."

"Cool, cool. That's Jane by the way. She has scoliosis." He laughed at his own wittiness.

I have to admit, he's smart for that. I had to stop a proud smile from forming on my face. But then I wondered...

"Andy, are you gay?"

"No. I'm straighter than the pole your mama dances on."

Again I was shocked at this child's knowledge of cunning comebacks. "Andy. You realize that now we have the same mom, right?" I chuckled.

"You know what, I'm starting to realize that, yeah." He slapped himself across the face. Not hard though. "But no, I'm not gay."

"Alright. If you say so."

The rest of the bus ride was quick and mostly silent except for my irritated sighing because Andy had returned to poking different parts of my body. Mostly my sides which really tickled and I had to hold back my fit of laughter.

   We got off the bus at the school and Andy knew exactly where to go and I, of course, had no idea. I contemplated asking Andy where to go but I had enough of him for one day.

   I saw a girl who looked like she was about my age. She was small, Asian and her backpack had donuts on it which I thought was cute.     (A/N: sound familiar? lol) I pulled out my schedule and went up to her.

   "Hey, um....I'm Teo and I'm new here. Can you show me where Mr. Socc's room is?"

   She jumped from my slight loudness and how fast I talked. "Uh...what?" She was still clearly a little shaken from being startled.

   "Sorry. I'm Teo Duran and I'm new here. Can you show me where Mr. Socc's room is?" I asked slower this time.

   "I'm sure I can. But what's the magic word?"

   Wait, is she playing?

  "Um.... 'please'?" I answered uncertain of what she was doing.

   "Actually, the magic word was 'Abracadabra' but I'll still show you." She smiled at her own joke. I'll admit her smile was very cute.

   "Alright, thanks. So... what's your name?" I asked and she looked at me as if she didn't know whether to trust me with the sacred information that is her first name.

   "I'm Lyla Park. However, I can be Lyla Duran if you'd like." She giggled but then immediately covered her mouth as if she realized she shouldn't have said that out loud.

   "Huh?" I was clueless of what she meant. In hindsight, yes, I realize that I'm slow but in that moment I was just purely confused. "What do you mean?"

   "Uh, nothing. Here we are." She stopped in front of a door with the sign above saying "Socc" on it. "Oh right, we have the same home room."

   We walked in and I sat down in an empty seat next to her and we talked until first period started. I made a pretty girl my first friend on the first day at my new school.