Chapter Two
Stupid, Scary, Ferocious, Menacing, Pretty Stranger
As I was sitting on the run-down bus, I started to feel worried. What had I just done?! Traded in my comfy bed for a hay-stack in the country. In a village, by the way, I didn't know anything about. I sighed, and took out the tiny, blue iPod from the rucksack I'd found in my closet. I started wondering what people would think about me; I never really fit in. In elementary school, kids never talked to me, and I was too shy to talk to them. Junior high was no better, with the shallow gossip about who's going out with who. Who cared? It wasn't the gossiper's business. It didn't make anything better that I had to get glasses in 6th grade. Luckily, I'd gotten contacts before high school. High school was hell. I had no friends, people made fun of me, and got average grades. Nothing too spectacular. I daydreamed for a while, but had to keep my mind busy before reality kicked in again.
--15 minutes later—
"Flower Bud Village," said the man in front of the bus. I stuffed my iPod in my gray and light blue bag, and carried it off the bus. "Just through those hills," said the bus driver. I nodded, and tossed the heavy tote over my shoulder. "Ugh," I moaned when the bus drove away. The bag was getting pretty heavy. But, this was my good luck bag, so maybe, just maybe, my good luck would kick in. I trotted through the mountains on a little, narrow dirt road, not even big enough to fit a car, which swerved this way and that. Before long, I was breathing hard, and felt like collapsing. My watch read 4 PM. I went on my tippy-toes, and saw a few mediocre buildings. This must have been the village. I trotted on the dirt road, which led to a big purple house with some pretty purple fences. I admired them, knowing as my favorite color was purple, and decided to ask the owner, if he or she was there, where I should go. Big mistake.
--…--
"Hello…?" I called feebly, being naturally shy. "Is anyone there?" There was a big ranch, with a farm and what looked like a chicken coop. Standing in the middle of a big patch of long grass was a tall guy with purple hair and a hat on. He didn't see me, so I trotted closer, heaving my big bag. He was wearing a straw hat, and a colorful poncho. I smiled, they had some diverse people here, I guess. Under his poncho, was a dark pair of pants, and boots. He had a bandana, like me, but he wore it differently. I looked around, at his vegetables, and neat farm layout. I admired it, and I wanted a ranch just like this one. I could feel my eyes twinkling; this was going to be fun. At least I had something to build off of. But, as I was looking around, the boy turned around on me, and that's when I saw his eyes.
--…--
They were ferocious, menacing …pretty. The color was a Misty Ice, which was beautiful and menacing at the same time. I could feel my lip quiver, and I shrunk back. His eyes, they looked at me like… like someone who had just ruined his entire life. He looked at me like I had just murdered someone! But, I still couldn't get over the coldness of them. I immediately staggered back a step. I cursed myself in my head, wishing I could at least look him in the eyes. "What do you want?" he asked sternly. "Um," pull it together! "I-I was wondering w-where to go…" I stopped talking, because he seemed to observe me. "Hmph," was all he said, shaking his head back and forth slowly. "You're wasting my time. Get out." I stared at him, and if this was animated, I would have a big question mark above my head. "How long are you gonna stay there daydreamin'?" he asked, a harsh bitterness in his tone. I didn't even respond, surprised, now, and offended. I was about to say something back, something rude, which was unusual for me, when he cut me off. "You're a nuisance! Get outta here!" I locked my jaw, but hopped quickly over the fence. Stupid, purple haired, poncho and hat wearing meanie! That was one person I probably couldn't count on to help me through this… I wondered if everyone in this town was as rude as him. The adrenaline rush had given me another spoonful of energy, so carrying my bag wasn't nearly as hard, now. I was fairly pissed off. Yet, I felt drawn to this guy, whoever he was. He seemed misunderstood, or something. Maybe he needed a psychiatrist, if they even had one in this town. And then an idea struck me. I would help Mr. Emo!! Because, I'd been there. I'd been through that.