PHIL

Chapter 1

I noticed his eyes first. They were the color of warm chocolate. The color of leaves in autumn. They made you want to stare at them all day. And smile. Just stare at him and smile all day.

He was just a lovely person altogether. He had rosy cheeks and nice brown hair like his eyes. I usually didn't see his hair that often, as it was usually covered by a large flower crown.

I think that represents him emotionally, in a way. He's bright and innocent on the outside. He's flowers and compliments. He's puppies and kindness.

But inside.

He's dark storms and nighttime. He's negativity and depression.

Outside he's the sun, inside he's the moon. Outside he's flowers, inside he's a storm.

But soon

he'll blossom.

I wasn't sure how to react when I heard we were getting a new kid. Happy I guess. Usually new kids weren't the most cool people ever. I should know. I moved here from Manchester. I wouldn't say that I'm the most popular person here. But, new kids were always kinda interesting when they first get here because nobody knows anything about them. I'm usually the only person kind enough to befriend them. That is, if my tattoos and piercings didn't scare them away already.

But anyway.

Apparently he was getting here at third period. And he was in most of my classes. That's great. Five minutes of him walking into class and introducing himself is five minutes less of math class. Now all I needed is the other 40 minutes of the class gone.

Then it hit me.

What if I asked the teacher if I could fill him in on what he missed before he transferred here? That way I could have an excuse not to pay attention in class. Plus, the stuff we learned earlier in the year are easy.

First period science was a pain. I daydreamt of flowers the entire time. That's science, right?

Second period gym made me hate every aspect of my body. But hey, I'm usually picked last, so that's more waiting and less running for me.

Then third period maths came. I marched up to the teacher's desk and explained to her how I wished to help the new student. She said it was a good thing for me to do, plus a "good way to review and perhaps look into teaching as I grow up." I ignored that bit. It pains me enough to think about my future.

I was daydreaming about a new song I'd thought up of. We were five minutes into the lesson when the new kid came in. Or one minute. Time passes slowly in maths.

I noticed his eyes first.