5

The rest of the day was rather forgettable. All my classes were very straightforward and nothing bad really happened. By the time the 8th hour came around, I was ready to leave, but I still had Digital Media class left, my favorite one.

I had to drive to another school to take the class, but I didn’t care because no one from my school took that class since they thought it was “weird.” When I got there I instantly felt better. I walked into the cozy room full of computers and took my seat at my gaming chair.

I started working on my writing project in which I wrote about a person named Mark who wanted to belong in his new job but he couldn’t be himself in order to fit in. I was on page ninety-three and was really close to reaching the climax which was about Mark who finally snaps and realizes that he needs to stop acting this way, or he would be miserable.

As I write, I feel someone walk in the room. I ignored it at first and kept writing. I then felt a touch on the shoulder and I turned to see who it was. It's Marcelo.

“Can I sit here?” Marcelo says.

I nod and I keep working. I notice that he’s still looking at me so I look back at him.

“You’re in my math class right?” He says as if he didn’t already know.

“Yeah.” I say.

“That class is so easy, I finished everything in ten minutes.”

“I know. I saw everyone cheering you on.” I say and I go back to writing.

He seemed to catch the clue since he goes quiet. I continue to write about my character and I get lost in the immersion.

“Mark gets to his apartment after a long day of work. His energy is gone and has no thoughts or emotions. He lays down on his couch, turns on the TV and starts watching his show. He opens the box of chinese food he got and starts eating it slowly. Mark starts to zone out wondering if all of this was worth it. He then-”

I stopped typing. It didn’t feel right. I couldn’t quite figure out what it was. The climax had to be something bigger than this. He had to speak out about how he felt instead of being in his apartment living in misery.

I feel someone staring at me. I look to my right. Marcelo is just staring at my screen.

“That’s really good.” He says.

“Can you just let me work? Why don’t you go away.”

He takes a moment to think.

“That’s not how this works.” He says.

“What does that even mean?”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment. He keeps looking at my writing.

“Dude, do you mind?” I am annoyed.

“Okay, I’ll back off. By the way I think Mark should be less harsh on himself.”

I give him a weird look. How did he know the context? It doesn’t make sense. He goes back to his computer and starts watching videos on Youtube. I try to go back to writing but I have too many questions to ask.

“Are you new to the school?” I ask.

“No, I’ve been here all four years. We have had the same schedule all these years.” He says.

“Okay that’s not true. I would’ve noticed you.”

“I doubt it. I was really quiet the previous years.”

“Then how does everyone know you and like you?”

“I don’t know, people just like me.”

“Yeah cause you act just like everyone else.”

“I don’t. That's what you see and think.”

“So you hate the school too?”

“No.”

“How? Aren’t you tired of getting called Juan? Aren’t you tired of taking the jokes? The ignorance.”

“No. I just straight up tell them to stop. It's that easy.”

I shrug. “Yeah right.”

“It is. I don’t know why you just let it happen.”

I close my fists and my face gets warm. “Its easy for you. I mean look at you.”

“That doesn't mean anything. People treat you like that because you let them.”

The room gets so silent that you can almost hear other classrooms. I try to say something but I have nothing. Marcelo gets up his chair.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

When he leaves, a louder silence comes in. He doesn’t get it. He only gets respect because he’s good looking. If I said that it would be over for me.

My Digital Media teacher walks in.

“We’re you talking to someone?” He asks.

“Yeah I was talking to Marcelo.”

He gives me a confused look and opens his mouth but chooses not to say anything so he leaves.

I think about what Marcelo said and I start getting flashbacks from when I lived in Mexico.

It was a sunny day with not a single cloud to be seen. It was perfect to be out for recess. I was with Fernando, Gustavo, and Alonso. We were on the playground playing tag. As we chased each other I noticed a boy by himself sitting down. It was Eduardo, a friend of mine. I stopped running and stared at him. Fernando notices and stops running.

“What happened?” Fernando asks.

“Nothing .” I say.

“I don’t know why you’re friends with him. He’s weird. ”

“How is he weird?”

“Just look at him.”

Fernando keeps running but I keep staring at Eduardo. As I approach him, he gives me a shy look and fake smiles.

“Did you see the Age of Ultron trailer?” I ask.

“Yeah. It looks awesome. I can’t believe Ironman and Hulk are going to fight.”

“Yeah but Hulk is definitely being controlled.”

“Obviously. By Scarlett Witch.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know.”

There’s a small pause.

“Want to play with us?”

“Definitely not.”

“Why not?”

“They’re idiots. That’s why. I don’t know why you have to pretend to like them.”

“I do like them.”

“If you say so. You know they aren’t your friends right? They make fun of you behind your back.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Actually I do know. And you know it too. I can’t believe you choose them over your friend since prek-k.”

“That’s not true Eduardo.”

“When was the last time we hung out? Or talk?”

I stay quiet.

“I’ll see you around.”

Eduardo gets up and leaves. He can do whatever he wants. That’s why people don’t want him around. I get back up and go back to playing tag with my friends.

Flash forward to now. My teacher kept repeating my name but I was thinking too hard I didn’t realize.

“It’s time to go.” He says.

“Sorry.” I say as I get up from my chair.

I leave the school and start heading towards my car. I sit down and circle around Marcelo. What was his deal? I wished he had left me alone but now he knows too much. All I can do is pray and hope that he doesn’t tell anyone.