Lies by C.K. Mickelson

Author:C.K. Mickelson [Mickelson, C.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-13T06:00:00+00:00

16

Mystery Man

On Monday, Austen is back in school. I see him as I enter the building. He’s laughing and joking with a group of kids like nothing happened.

Rage engulfs me. I storm past him, shooting him with my angriest look. I don’t know how else to vent my frustrations. I know he saw me, but he doesn’t bother following me like I expect him to.

“Ha ha ha, what’s up with her?” I hear one of his friends chuckle. I’m too far away now to hear anything else.

My morning classes drag on and on. Why did Austen miss so many days of school without any explanation, other than he was grounded? That makes zero sense. Was that creepy old place his house? Who was the disheveled man at the door? And what was up with not texting me back for like a week until that stupid message he sent at two in the morning?!

Alice was right. I hate to admit that, and I never will out loud. But, she’s absolutely right. I have to mind my own business. I have too much to deal with in my own life right now. I can’t be dealing with this boy’s drama. At this moment, in my second period math class, I decide I'm officially done caring about Austen. I hope Godard kicks him out of the play. Brian Segundo and I are gonna rock it.

Lunch rolls around, and I see Brian sitting with his friends. They look like a very nerdy bunch, but a very nice bunch. I hover over my usual lone lunch spot with my tray for a few seconds. Then I make a bold move towards Brian and his friends.

“Hey Brian, how’s it going? Nice job you’re doing on the play…” I say smiling.

“Oh thanks, you too.” Brian responds sincerely. He and his friends essentially stop eating and sit looking at me like I have something else to ask or say.

“Ok, well I guess I’ll see you at play practice.” I say, and start heading back to my lone table in the corner.

“Yep... see you ‘round.” Brian calls after me. He’s so polite, yet so stupid. Or gay, like I thought. Why didn’t he invite me to eat with them?

I plop down on the bench and peel open my banana. I take a huge bite to fend off the anxiety I’m experiencing. I begin scrolling through pictures on my phone of the happier times in Europe with my parents. I have to remember who I am , and where I came from.

“Everything ok?” I hear a familiar voice. Austen is standing adjacent to my table. I quickly swallow my huge mouthful of banana. He doesn’t talk to me for an entire week and the moment he does, I’m sitting here like a monkey gnawing on a banana? I feel even more annoyed.

“Yeah, fine. You?” I mutter without bothering to look up from my phone.

“You looked mad this morning. Did something happen?”

I click off my phone, cross my arms, and stare at him square in the eyes.

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