Flower Boy

2.1 | WHITE CLOUDS

                                                      PART II   |   OF GREY SKIES AND CONTENT MINDS

                                                      "Clouds fill the sky, but light still shines through."

                                                                                    ( 2.1 )  s i m o n

SPRING IS COMING TO AN END, and I am ready to give up on looking for my stupid sketchbook. There's no point in looking for it anymore as I have already spent the last month and a half scavenging throughout the whole school with no avail. People gave me looks like I am idiosyncratic in the worst way possible while I try peeking into other people's locker to find at least a trace of what's mine.

I walk down the hallway, dragging my feet across the concrete floor. No one bothers to even glance at me, and maybe it is for the best. I look like a sloppy mess of a person, which I am right now, and I might as well be dead and people would still not see the difference.

But my dread is suddenly cut short when I see something from the corner of my eyes, spotting a rather familiar black and worn out book cover. A tall boy holds it as he places something else into his locker, unaware that I'm standing right behind him.

Reaching out to tap his shoulder, he turns to me as I almost touched his shirt sleeve. He looks unamused at first but a little spark of surprise lights up in his eyes soon after. He is nearly two inches taller than me, that's when I start to question my actions.

"Can I help you?" his voice shocks me for a split second, words were struggling to form from my mouth. Anxiety blurs my thoughts and numbs my hands, I've always hated talking to strangers. I don't know whether it's the crippling fear of rejection or the fear of embarrassment, but the feeling of your lungs being tied together as you speak can really make a person undeniably uncomfortable.

"Um, yeah. That, uh my book...your locker." I don't seem to know how to speak anymore, things become worse as he gives me a puzzled look, not understanding what I tried to say. It took a few seconds before he spun to his back, sliding my sketchbook out between two textbooks.

"Do you mean this?" he holds it up as he asks me with the same but less puzzled expression. I nod, keeping my mouth shut so I wouldn't embarrass myself.

I mouth a inaudible 'thanks' before trying to leave, but his hand stops me from turning away.

"Wait, did you draw those?" he asks, I nod again whilst avoiding eye contact.

"They're really pretty, a lot of flowers but, wait but not that it's-" he starts to retract his words, making me smile a little. He gives himself a light face-palm, covering one side of his face. 

"T-Thanks, it's okay, don't be flustered." I wave my hands to stop him from his sheepish smile, it feels weird to be so awkward and comfortable at the same time.

"Right, right. So, um, I'm Judith. Nice to meet you?" He flashes me an small awkward smile, extending his hand slightly for a handshake.

"Oh, I'm Simon." I shake his hand stiffly, not knowing how to react.

"This feels a bit too formal for high school, Judith." I mumble casually as he smiles to my response.

"You can call me Jude, it's simpler." 

"Right, Jude, this is a bit too formal for high school."

"Maybe but I think you can let go of my hand now."

I pull my hand away with my face burning with heat. I am quite the i***t when it comes to first impressions. I guess I'll add him to the group of people that find me weird now.

For once, I feel relieved to hear to school bell ring. I would finally have a reason to escape this situation I'm in.

"Guess I'll see you around?" Judith closes his locker as he speaks, while I got ready to leave for class.

I nod before power-walking away from him, disappearing into the crowd. He was nice enough to not ignore me, but I didn't like the tense air I was stuck in. 

At least now I have my sketchbook back.

And maybe a new friend.