A Place to Call Mine

CONNECTEDNESS AND ISOLATION 3

After a long day of boring classes, it was finally lunchtime at school, and as Riyah entered the crowded lunchroom, she was deafened by all the loud voices. She got her lunch and looked for somewhere to sit but there was nowhere available, until in the corner of her eye she saw him, the boy from this morning. He was sitting alone at one of the old picnic tables under an oak tree. He sat there head down with an apple in one hand and in the other hand was a Jane Austen novel. His attention was completely focused on the book that he couldn't even hear the noise that surrounded him.

He wore a brown denim jacket, a Rolling Pines t-shirt, paired with grey jeans and black combat boots. He was also wearing black leather fingerless gloves, and had on bright red sunglasses. His unique look matched his motorcycle and made him look like a 90s rockn’ roll musician. Before she even knew what was happening, Riyah started walking towards him. She didn't know why she wanted to interact with this mysterious stranger. Maybe it was because he looked totally out of place that she felt sorry for him. Or maybe it was because he was the only student in the school, other than herself, that bothered to open up a book. Or maybe it was because she found herself utterly fascinated by the mystery surrounding this new face, and wanted to know what kind of person he was and why on the day that he showed up, did the sun decide to shine so brightly.

“Jane Austen, really? Aren't there better things to read” Riyah asked sarcastically.

“Not in my opinion” he replied annoyed, staring intently at his book.

“Really? Okay” Riyah said as she sat down across from him.

“Can I help you with something” he inquired, not taking his eyes off his book.

“Actually, yeah you can, So do you think that Jane wrote Pride and Prejudice as a way of consoling her broken heart, and/or as a way to tell Thomas Lefroy that she still loved him” Riyah asked beginning to eat her lunch.

“What” he said, finally raising his head to look at her.

For a second time, time froze as their eyes met once again. As she got a closer look at this new face, Riyah noticed how the sunlight illuminated his light brown eyes and made his blonde hair shine a soft golden colour. Unconsciously Riyah spat her drink out.

“Woah, are you okay” he asked as he handed her some tissues.

“Yeah, I'm fine, sorry” Riyah coughed. “It's just, how did I only just notice that you are brown...wait that came out wrong sorry”. He burst out laughing, so deeply that he almost fell off his seat.

“Don't worry, I get what you mean. I honestly thought I was the only seasoned person here” he replied still laughing. “Both”

“What” Riyah asked.

“To your question before. Both, I think Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice to comfort herself and Thomas, in a way” he answered.

“Oh, okay, interesting”.

“Also, where is the library? There is a book I am looking for” he asked.

“Woahhhh” Riyah gasped.

“What?” he said nervously.

“Sorry, it's just that nobody else here goes to the library. I don't think they even know what a library is” Riyah responded.

“Oh, okay” he gave a small chuckle. “Guess I must be becoming the school’s official nerd then” he said with a wide smile.

“Mmmm, sorry I already got that job a long time ago” Riyah laughed. She hesitated for a moment, and then asked “Are you new here, like to the school”.

“Yeah, arrived in town yesterday. But...it’s so weird, like why is everything so 1950s, and the school looks like a mental institution...or is it just me?”

“Riyah began laughing loudly; “No, you are absolutely right. And you better not get used to the sunlight, we don't get it very often, just today”.

“Wow, really; I must be good luck then” he replied smirking.

“Don't get ahead of yourself there mister” Riyah said playfully punching his arm.

“Okay, okay I won't” he said putting his hands up. “I’m Nikolas by the way, but my friends call me Niko” he added as he put his hand out to shake Riyah’s.

“I'm Riyah” she replied as she shook his hand. “And a word of advice, don't attract too much attention, it usually leads to trouble around here” she said as she began packing up her tray.

“Thanks for the advice, but I was made to shine” Nikolas replied grinning boldly. “Anyway, I have tried blending in before, but it didn't work, so why should I dim my glow”.

“True. Anyway, lets go, we have English” Riyah said placing her tray on the rack.

“What”

“Oh, didn't I tell you, I'm your buddy” Riyah said smiling and then turned to leave the lunchroom.

“Wait, seriously, wait for me” Nikolas replied smiling as he ran after her.

They arrived outside the classroom and as Riyah reached for the door handle Nikolas tapped her shoulder gently and said;

“I’ve got to go to the bathroom, but I’ll be back in a minute”.

“Okay, juts hurry up” Riyah said partially rolling her eyes. She opened the classroom door to find Mr. Kenneth setting up for today's class.

“Good afternoon Mr. Kenneth” she said joyfully as she took her seat and started to set her stuff on her table.

“Oh, good afternoon Riyah. I didn't see you there”. He finished placing books on the back tables and came to the front of the room and placed books on the front tables. “How was your holiday” he asked.

Riyah hesitated for a moment before answering. “It was...fine, I guess” she replied, staring at her feet. “It could have been better” she continued.

“Hmm”. Mr. Kenneth noticed that she had become quiet and lost a little bit of the joy that she came in with, so he decided to see if he could cheer her up. “So, to have been or not to been, that is the question ey” Mr. Kenneth said monologuing.

Riyah raised her head and started to laugh at Mr. Kenneth's funny posture. He was holding an apple in his right hand and was dramatically facing away from it, as if he was the male lead in a play. Once Mr. Kenneth noticed the change in Riyah’s mood, he began to smile a little.

“Oh yeah, Riyah I meant to give this to you before the holidays, here you are” Mr. Kenneth said handing her a pamphlet.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It is for a creative writing school in the city. I think you would be a great fit for their program” he replied walking back to his desk.

*The bell rings*

As other students began to enter the classroom, Riyah put the pamphlet in her bag and got ready for class.

“Good afternoon everyone, I have an announcement to make. Today we have a new student joining the school and this will be their first class; so, I hope you will make them feel welcome, yes?” Mr. Kenneth explained.

Nobody, absolutely nobody (except Riyah) paid attention to Mr. Kenneth, and he was left there talking to himself.

“Okay, lets get started shall we” he sighed.

As he turned to write today’s topic on the board, the door began to open, and Nikolas walked in. Due to the fact that new people hardly ever appeared in the class, the creak of the door got everyone’s attention.

“Hey party people, what’s up” Nikolas said casually as he walked to the front of the room.

Everyone looked at him, contemplating, thinking...

“Everyone, this is the new student. Why don't you introduce yourself”. Mr. Kenneth said signaling Nikolas to stand in front of his desk.

“No problemo” “I'm Nikolas Alan-Carter, and yes, I am the son of the Head Doctor in New Havens Medical, if you were wondering which I know you were” he said proudly. “I'm sixteen, seventeen in March, and originally from Bronston, Alowe” he added.

As he finished his self-introduction, whispers erupted in the room, and Riyah felt her stomach drop. She had warned him not to stand out too much, and now he was about to face the consequences. Isaiah stood up and walked towards Nikolas.

Oh no Danger Danger Danger

But to Riyah’s surprise, Isaiah warmly wrapped his arms around Nikolas's shoulders and playfully ruffled his hair.

“Welcome Niky boy. I saw your motorcycle this morning, sweet ride bro” Isaiah said with a smile on his face.

Was he having a stroke, since when did he smile in a non-menacing way.

“Thanks...bro” Nikolas replied half-smiling.

“Okay, okay Isaiah, why don't we let Nikolas settling in, yeah?” Mr. Kenneth said intervening.

“Yeah true Mr. K, he can seat next to me” Isaiah said as he took Nikolas’ bag from his hand and led him to the back of the classroom.

“Actually Isaiah, Nikolas is sitting there” Mr. Kenneth said motioning towards the seat beside Riyah.

“Really, beside the nerd” Isaiah said laughing.

The smile on Nikolas’ face instantly disappeared and was replaced with a scowl, and without hesitation Nikolas took his bag from Isaiah’s hand. He walked over to his seat, sat down, and turned to face Isaiah.

“Sorry bro, I'm a nerd too” he said smiling brightly. “And Rei here is my buddy, so I can't leave her all alone” he added as he put his arm around her shoulder. “Right?”

“Huh, right?” Riyah said sheepishly with her head positioned down, because she was trying not to look at anyone.

Isaiah returned to his seat and Mr. Kenneth began the lesson. “And mister Alan-Carter, please remember to wear the proper uniform tomorrow”.

“Yes sir” Nikolas replied jokingly saluting him.

Throughout the class, Riyah found it extremely difficult to focus, as the stares had returned and were burning even more than before. Trouble was coming and it was coming fast. She looked over at Nikolas and he had a wide smile on his face, and a glitter in his eyes. He was completely unaware of the war he had just started, but she knew it was going to be a tough battle. They were in danger, because in a place like New Havens Highschool, being new had a massive effect; And Nikolas’ arrival was sure to cause a ripple in this seemingly settled pool.