I awoke the next day, just utterly pumped for the day that was to come. I stretched upwards and tried to wipe the sleep from my face. Unsuccessful. Oh well, I thought, today is a new day of awesome fun, and nothing could happen to change that. Speaking of change… I stood and changed out my super attractive footie pajamas and into a more teenage friendly outfit of my usual green shirt and shorts. As I looked in the mirror, I tried to flatten my hair. Also very unsuccessful. I frowned at my reflection and shrugged, not really caring at this point. I grabbed my bag, and went outside to start my ranching life.
Upon my arrival two days ago (Sunday), I was given a few seeds by the Mayor's direction from the local farm/crop harvesters, which I had planted yesterday before school started. Thus, I needed to water what I think were strawberries and cabbage. Since I wasn't a real farmer yet, obviously my crops were not very big and this job did not take very long at all. I'm sure, I thought again, this will really take a more time when I truly have something to do. I took my watering can back inside, grabbed a nice tasty apple, and started on my way to day two.
As I was walking, I started to notice things I hadn't noticed the previous day when Luke had been pointing them out to me, like different wildlife, flowers, trees, and so on. It was pretty nice. Who knew that nature could apparently be so beautiful, when my whole life had been spent in big cities and towering buildings and I could not truly appreciate it. Seeing one story houses was actually refreshing. Being able to wave to people and not worry about getting shot at; that was also very refreshing. All in all, I could tell how much this town was growing on me, and I could really not be happier. As I rounded the corner to the school entrance, I paused, looking up at it again. Yesterday, it had seemed so foreboding, yet today it was a little exhilarating to go. It was just crazy the difference a day made. I started to walk inside, when my hair was tugged in the back.
"Luke, that is not very nice," I frowned, knowing fully who it was before I even turned around (as I was in possession of the psychic ability). He didn't answer so I actually did turn around, and was almost face to face with the Mystery Boy from yesterday (almost, mainly being as I was so short).
"I am not Luke," he said stiffly and very obviously, causing me to laugh at how awkward my mishap had been. He then frowned at this, making me feel very bad. I semi-smiled to try and loosen the tension. No avail…
"So, was there anything particular you wanted to discuss, sir? Or do you just so happen to enjoy these random chats of ours," I laughed again, sure that I was making myself sound very stupid.
He furrowed his eyebrows and handed me a packet of papers that seemed to appear out of nowhere. "I work in the library as often as I can, and there we have student records. You mentioned you were new here, so I took the liberty of starting a new folder for you which will thus be located there. It has your interests, hobbies, birthday, dislikes, and so on. Usually I write up everyone else's but….," he looked at me and slightly sighed. "Since you are new, I know nothing about you."
I took the papers and glance at the questions, which were about as cliché as they got. "Are you sure you just didn't want to get to know me better?" I grinned.
He frowned. "I'm sure if that were the case, which it is not, there would be a much better way to do that. Unless that is what you people do these days, irrelevant questioning…" He let that trail off, making me feel awkward for the slight teasing.
"So, bring these to you when I'm done with it, yes?" He nodded. "Good, I doubt it will take very long. I love talking about myself," I laughed. No response. I pursed my lips, trying to contain the absolute awkwardness. I waved to him and started to go inside. As I thought about all that awkwardness, I pondered whether it was just me, or if he contributed to it as well. Maybe I had been a little forward (as I had small people skills), but it was partly him too. Maybe he just didn't know how to talk to people… I had to add that to list of things to accomplish with this guy.
And I still didn't know his name!
I continued walking, trying once again to navigate the hallways to get to English. I had specifically left my house early enough for some time to look for my class, but alas talk with Mystery Boy left me a little timeless. With the turn of a corner, though, I was luckily able to spot the looming numbers on the door, which I was very grateful for because I really could not afford to be late for another class. I walked in the door and took a seat in the middle-back area to the side, as the middle of classrooms whigged me out a little bit. As the bell rang and everyone else flowed in, I vainly searched for at least one familiar face. However, no one looked remotely familiar, which saddened me. I put my book on my desk and put me elbows on it to elevate my arms so my face could lay on them in slight dejection.
The teacher recognized my new student status, but luckily did not force the tortuous ordeal of having to stand in the front and talk about yourself. She handed me a reading list of the classics, which I was happy to note I had pretty much read already in one life or another. Bronte, Austen, Shakespeare, Orwell, Dante, Fitzgerald… All books were on my "50 books to read before you die" bookmark at my house, which was a relief. Thusly, I relaxed in my seat and attentively listened to the debate on the pros of female protagonists in modern books. In the middle of the debate, I took out the papers Mystery Boy had handed me and analyzed the questionnaire.
Name. That would be a toughie.
Birthday. Wow these were challenging to answer.
Likes. I frowned, refusing to answer the overly generic questions. These were so dull! If I was keeping a questionnaire on someone, the questions would be so much more exciting! And so, with a little chuckle, I started writing in questions and answers I thought would be much more informative.
The bell rang suddenly, taking me out of my thoughts and creative writing process. I frowned again, but finished my last answer. Satisfied, I put it in my bag and vowed to find Mystery Boy to give it to. I walked out of my class and was just about to head in the direction I was fairly sure the library was, when I was pulled back my a strong force. However, this time, I knew for sure who it was.
"Luke! You can't just go doing that to people!" I said with a laugh as I turned behind me to see him as he gave me a devilish grin.
"I just wanted to make sure you saw me before you left in a hurry again," he said innocently. "Not my fault you always walk like you're on a mission. "
"It's called the mission of life," I laughed as we walked to the group, who all somehow managed to remember my name. As we chatted for the 15 minutes of break, I slightly glanced around to try and look for Mystery Boy, but I didn't see him, no matter how much I looked. When the bell rang again, I looked at my schedule, surprised I even had my next class, but pleased I was able to reach my goal of going to the library. Luckily, it was easy to find it, so I didn't have another late to class fiasco. I walked into the door and almost gasped.
Not only was it big, but the library seemed to be well stocked, a luxury I was not expecting of Waffle Town High, shockingly enough. Complete with ornate wood tables and flower arrangements, it was very pretty and pleasing to the eye. I walked up to whom I assumed was the librarian, a young girl of what looked to be 22. She smiled sweetly when I asked if I could sit anywhere and nodded politely. Taking that positively, I put my bag down at a fancy table with an arrangement of lilies and went to the bookshelves for a book, as I didn't really have any work to do yet. I searched the shelves for a book and was just about to reach for it…-
"You know, I didn't take you as the Shelley kind of girl."
I jumped slightly and turned around, annoyed. "Do you ever like, you know, talk to people face to face without trying to scare them before?"
He looked at me confused. "What are you talking about? I am just regularly talking to you. You just are making it seem like I am some very mysterious guy who goes around stalking people."
I opened my mouth, shocked at the accuracy of his comment, and hurriedly closed it again. "Well then just…. Don't sneak up on people then. It's very, shady." I grabbed my book (which was in fact "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley), and went to go sit at my table, not very sure if he was following or not. I stopped at the desk first and checked it out, wondering if he would follow still. And true to my predictions, as I sat down, I could feel someone sit down next to me too.
"Did you really call me shady?" he asked incredulously as I started flipping to the first page. I pretended to read, part out of actually reading and part of really wishing to annoy him, which was very successful. He pushed my book on the table and repeated the question.
"Yes, yes I did. What's it to you Mystery Boy?" I asked, and froze, realizing I had accidently let my name for him slip. However, he didn't seem to notice.
"I, for one, am not shady. I am in fact the exact opposite of shady. I am quite a distinguished person, of whom the characteristic of 'shadiness' is a preposterous idea," he sniffed stiffly. I raised my eyebrows, unsure of how to continue this, and suddenly remembered the questionnaire. I hurriedly pulled it out and promptly handed it to him with a grin.
"I slightly modified it," I laughed after a couple seconds of him analyzing it with horror.
"What is this?" he asked sternly in that same horrified expression.
"Well… You said this was to get to know me. However, those questions were inadequate ways of knowing me, so I added a little bit of fa-"
"You added quite a lot of facts!" he almost shouted, earning many shushes from the surrounding crowd. He pursed his lips and continued. "I mean, I knew that you were Elizabeth Pilgrim and all, but why should I care that you like ducks over all other animals, or that you prefer Phasebook over Squeaker, or better yet that you know 43 digits of pi?"
"Hey hey hey," I started, "that is an excellent conversation starter. Do not diss the math nerdiness. Just because Sir Shady-"
"I AM NOT SHADY!" he hissed as quietly as I think he could manage. He heaved deeply and smoothed his vest. "I am not shady," he repeated.
"Yes, I believe that part was established already," I said, trying to contain my grin at how funny he was when he got angry. I noted mentally that when Mystery Boy was irritated, his hair in the front would bounce a little.
"I know my hair bounces," he said with irritation as I realized in horror that I had said that out loud. "And why do you keep calling me 'Mystery Boy?'"
"Um, well that would be because you've never actually told me your name. Not that it was a big deal or anything," I said hurriedly, "but you just never got around to it."
He cocked his head and held out his hand. "Gill Hamilton, pleased to meet you. Or, more… pleased to actually have the decency to introduce myself." He half smiled and continued. "You must forgive me. I am not usually so informal. I suppose our meetings have been a little unorthodox though."
I laughed delicately and shook the held out hand. "And I apologize for the paper fiasco. I was trying to be funny but," I paused, "I suppose our humors are just a little bit different, that's all!"
He nodded as we sat there awkwardly. Luckily we were literally saved the bell, for who knows all the crazy shenanigans that could have happened in all that awkwardness. He got up and grabbed my bag for me before I could pick it up, causing me to slightly blush. We got to the door and looked at each other.
"Until another time," he stated as stiffly as he walked away. I stood there for a couple seconds as he got farther and farther away from me, transfixed by some means I myself could not comprehend. He, Gill, was very different from the boys I was used to in the city, and that made these meetings, as well as him, all that more interesting.