II.
When class ended and Rebecca finally allowed the class to leave, it was Lucas and Olivia who had left together first. This wasn't the first time they'd left side by side but it was the first time their hands interlocked. Together they bid their classmates farewell and slipped out the classroom door while Mary eyed every movement before she too fled the classroom.
Through the halls, Mary escaped to the rooftops with tear brimmed eyes - the roof, a frequent escape to the bookish introvert. It was a wide and spacious area, with high fences wrapped around the edges and a far off view of the barren landscape beyond.
At the moment, however, she had no time to enjoy the scenery. Her body felt drained and she collapsed down in defeat against the railings. She knew how foolish her feelings truly were, it wasn't as though she had ever verbalized her feelings to Lucas. How was he to know? And even if he did return her feelings, what then? Would she truly be happy in his arms? And yet, that image that appeared in her mind at that thought overwhelmed her and she began to weep. She slammed her textbooks to the ground in frustration and cried aloud, her voice caught by the wind and blown away like the sands of the desert beyond. Softly and slowly, she began to regain her composure. She wasn't used to acting so...typical. Crying over boy? Her? How ludicrous. She even tore her text book with her tantrum. As she began to examine the damage of her book, a sudden noise from behind caught her off guard.
There was someone else on the roof with her.
For a moment she felt violated, the area was forbidden to students, her own presence was against school regulations (it was because of her academic standing and reputation that she was able to get away with it). But the man that stood opposite of her did not even look like student let alone a teacher.
The man that stood across the roof was a man in his late 20's. He attire comprised of dark leather jacket and dark blue jeans, his shadowy features and elongated fringe hid his expression at this distance making him appear as a shadow. When he finally stopped his stride, he reached into his shirt and pulled something free. From the distance between them, it appeared to be an elaborate examined it thoughtfully as Mary approached him from behind.
"Who are you?" Mary demanded, gently yet still unable to contain her frustration by his presence.
The man's attention was firmly attained, finally revealing his handsome face and alarmed expression. Before she could take a closer look at his accessory, he had quickly slipped it back into his shirt where it came. He gave no interest in the coversation.
"Nobody." he replied defensively, he dropped his head down and let his fringe mask his face again. As he rushed away toward the second staircase she called for him. Why he stopped he was not sure, but there was something about her voice that he found compelling.
"I can feel anger from you. And a deep loneliness." She said, taking one careful step
toward the stranger, feeling a connection deep in his eyes. It was unlike what she had felt with Lucas, this was not love. It was a different kind of connection. "You're just like me."
Still, he did not speak but no effort to flee.
" Why are people so unwilling to admit their loneliness to others?" She asked.
By now, the stranger before her could no longer maintain his silence. He chuckled, amused, and tucked his hands cooly into his pocket.
"Are you a student her-"
"Why are you so unwilling to admit it?" She insisted.
The amusement faded as he thought for a moment, "I guess I'm ashamed of it."
"Are you? Maybe that's normal. Lately, I've been starting to suspect that loneliness is actually a power. With loneliness comes freedom. " She said proudly,
"Is that so?" He remarked, "In my experience, I find that loneliness just makes for some really angry people."
"You're entitled to your opinion even if I disagree. Loneliness has made me strong. Even if that means I can't truly live..."
She clutched her text books tightly to her rose-tinted dress, her bulky bangle pressing firmly against the torn cover.
"I can relate..." He admitted, "To not feeling alive." he stepped beside her and looked out to the sunset on the horizon.
She could feel that connection again. Not love, that love was shattered along with her heard. But even with a heart of shattered glass, Mary Grey couldn't help but smile at the mysterious stranger whose heart connected with hers with a brief few words.
"Do you know what today is?" She asked, causing him to look down at her with intrigue, "Today, for you and I, is the first day of the rest of our lives. A day of new beginnings." She smiled hopefully and leaned into his ear, bringing her lips close and whispered softly.
He stared blankly as she stepped away, their eyes never separating, before they did and Mary fled to the stairs she had climbed only minutes earlier. The man chased after her, but she paused and spoke again.
"I knew it...you're the same as me." She reiterated, before continuing her decline down the stairs.
"Wait!" The man called out.
Mary stopped, and turned up to face him again, "If you come back can I see you again?"
He did not answer and she left without another word.
"The day of a new beginning…" he repeated, her voice resonating deep within him.