Walking out of the locker room, I think about what I'm doing in girl's workout pants and shirt. I wouldn't have worn this if didn't have to. I mean, I've done much more provocative things. But this seems unnecessary. I'm not on a mission after all. But I guess it can't be helped. Even the smallest size for the boy's gym clothes that is mandatory to wear doesn't fit me. So Mia and Ves pulled me into the girl's bathroom and stripped me. Then, Mia left to get some clothes from the supply closet, and she brought it back and they dressed me. Ves tsked at the lack of meat on my body. "You need more fat," she says. She pokes my ribs, half of which are covered in sinewy muscle, and the other half exposed, with only skin covering it. "Whatever," I say as I pull on the shirt. It's white, and the pants are navy blue. They're tight, and they come to maybe mid-thigh. I also slip on the gym shoes they brought me. White and tiny, to fit my feet. I think these are girl's shoes too. "Y
I sit in my bed in the quiet night. The cold winter wind howls outside the window. It shakes and rattles the bare tree limbs. The cold air doesn't enter through any cracks into the apartment. I guess that's good. The apartment is actually better than most places I lived in. The lamp on my nightstand is on, casting yellow light across the blankets and bedsheets. It's grey and fluffy, whereas the sheets are red. A strange combination of color, but I wouldn't know because I've been out of the loop of everyday life, so I'm not the man to go to when it comes to anything circuitous. Like beauty or something that should be beautiful. I wouldn't know. But the bedsheets and blankets aren't what made me wake up. It's the feeling that somebody is watching. Is it in here? No. Definitely not in here that it's emanating from. Reaching over to the nightstand, I turn it off. Pulling the blankets off me, I silently pad across the carpet on the floor to the windows. Light from the white street
I walk into the cafeteria and spot my table. Walking over with Jack, I notice how somebody got a plate of food already. I don't know whether to say thank you or pepper spray them. "You're welcome," says Ves. I look over at her and she smiles sweetly. "So ridiculous," I mumble as I sit down and start to eat. "Hey, I'm just caring about your health," says Ves indignantly. "Thanks," I say. Ves grins. "Anytime, Reza," she says. I smile back at her. A small smile. "So what's new?" asks Pike. His plate is piled with tacos. "Not much. Japanese was easy, and so was Econ. Chemistry too," I say as I bite into my taco. The cheese is a bit too cold, but I eat it anyway. "Japanese? Why Japanese?" asks Pike. "There was no other opening," says Ves for me. "Oh. Cause I was going to say, weren't you in Russia?" asks Pike. "Yeah, how do you know that?" I ask as I wipe my mouth with a napkin. "Mr. Corbin told us," says Mia, "when he had to tell us the news." "Oh," I say simply
Entering school for the third time, I hold the door open for Mia, who is followed by Jack, Pike, and finally Ves. We just waited for Pike to park his car, and then walk into the school together. Nothing really to it, though it was somewhat inefficient. "So, the only thing we have together today is Bio?" asks Pike to me. I nod my head, and Pike frowns a bit. "Why did you even pick art?" asks Ves. "I didn't," I say, "theatre was completely full. So was music." "Well, I guess it sucks to be you," says Jack with a grin. I lightly punch him in the shoulder. "At least you guys get to do something that you got trained for," I say bitterly. "True," says Mia assuringly, "but art might be interesting. Now you get to try something new out." "Art is anfractuous. It is a complete lack of discipline." "That I can endorse," agrees Mia."Maybe I'll learn to draw my face," I say jokingly."Why would you want to do that?""So I can use it to hide my face of disgust!" I say. We all have
I walk out of the class, the bell not finished ringing over my head. But what is anybody going to do? Suspend me? That would just be what I want. I could hang out at the mall, and still have a great time. Most likely. I hear heavy footsteps behind me, but quicken my pace and disappear into the huge crowd of students and a few teachers. I manage to walk all the way to the entrance. Stepping outside, I wrap my scarf around my neck and make my way over to Pike's car. I approach it and try the door, but it's locked. I look around, but none of my crew is here yet. "Reza," says the dreaded voice. I roll my eyes and turn to confront this kid. He looks down at me with his grey eyes swirling in anger. The dying sunlight catches his brown-blonde hair and makes it shine golden. "We need to talk," he says firmly. "No," I say as I cross my arms and lean against the car, "we don't." "Why are you acting like this?" "Like what?" I ask. I don't look at him. I just look at the schoo
Walking into the Politics classroom, I look around to see if Dane is here. He isn't yet. But he should be soon.Heading over to the table with Ves, Pike, and Mia already there, I set my bag down."Where is he?" I ask aloud."Not here," says Jack smartly as he takes his seat. I give him a fake glare."I figured."He doesn't show up. Until the bell rings. Then he stalks in. He gives one glance but looks away as if I'm nothing to him. He sits down at a table but doesn't even try to acknowledge how I'm literally staring only at him."He's pissed," remarks Ves.I know dammit! Why won't he look at me? He's always staring at me. But now he decides to not do what he does all the time? Great. Just great.The class is about political statements, and what and how it should be delivered. At one point, we all stand up to find random people to practice with. I take it as my cue to get to Dane.Walking over to him, I raize my hand to tap his shoulder, when he stands up and walks over to Mia."Wanna
So, my life with the new school and the new kid friend of mine began. Most of the time I didn't really bite out at people, but occasionally I did. But luckily, I had my crew as well as Dane to get along with.Dane turns out to be alright. He has this sense of morality that sometimes got on my nerves, but I either found a way around them or he convinced me to heed to them. Either way, we had little fights.Today, I have art again. Walking in, I make my way to the table with Dane, as well as Abe. Abe turned out to be okay too. We talk every now and then. He turns out to be a rather quiet and honest boy.I invited him to join me instead of the repressive Stars, but he said he would think about it. His way of saying no. We aren't on the basis of hugging and holding hands, but I guess you could say that we're on likable terms. The other Stars somewhat tolerate me. They don't lash out at me but just ignore my presence.The weather changes bit by bit so that it isn't cold and bitter, and the
The address turns out to lead to a church. An old one too, by the looks of the faded white marble and the cracks crisscrossing the stone surface. The warm spring air blows some of my hair around. I really need to cut it. It's gotten longer since I got here.Funny, really. None of us are religious. Back in the program, they did make us attend sermons and communion in the chapel, but I never took it seriously. My parents were apparently Jewish, but I might as well be atheist. I only believe in myself.Stepping out of the car, we all do a quick survey of the parking lot. There are three other cars here, but nobody is in them. And the trees that surround the edge of the premises seem empty."Let's go," I say.We make our way over to the church. I notice off to the side a graveyard with tilted headstones and rock-hewn angels with dirty rain-water tear tracks. They mourn the loss of now rotting body and bone.Opening the heavy doors, I hold it open as Pike and Ves step in, surveying the ins