The Boy In The Photo

[NATHANIEL]

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my own reflection, making minor adjustments to my uniform and hair. It was the first day of school, and I didn’t really want to go. 

Summer camp ended two weeks ago. Photos from the bonfire night were spreading like wildfire. Friends and strangers are texting and sending me messages on my social media. Every time my phone buzzed, I could feel my stomach drop.

If it were a normal summer camp, everything would have been fine. But things had to go sideways…

I could still feel it, across the crowd, near the bonfire, my gaze on someone who shouldn’t be there. 

My hands trembled as I tightened my tie.

‘Liar.’

I turned away from the mirror, disgusted by my own reflection. I picked up my backpack from the desk, glancing at my vision board. 

Scholarship program applications, student council activities, competitions and many other goals for the year. At the corner of the board, an old Polaroid photo that was never removed.

I stared at the photo a little longer than necessary. 

It was a childhood photo of me, with another boy, arms over each other, smiling happily in front of the camera. 

I reached out to touch the boy in the photo.

You have an important school year ahead, don’t think too much. Be normal. Like how you have always done. 

I retracted my hands and turned to look in the mirror again. This time, I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and put on a light smile before getting out of the room. 

***

The first school day at Riverdale High School was full of chatter and activities. I stood by the school entrance, waiting.

Students were streaming into the school compound. Most took an extra glance at me. Those in groups started talking among themselves, sharing their phone screens and updating their friends on the hottest news over the summer break.

It wasn’t their summer break they were talking about. I knew. I tried to act nonchalant about the murmurs around me, keeping a lookout for a particular someone.

I knew what was coming. I couldn’t face it alone. I needed an anchor.  

My eyes found her, walking in with her group of friends. 

Clara Whitmore walked with confidence in the air, a light bounce on her steps and her long, silky, straight blonde hair fluttering with the slight breeze. She was smiling so brightly as she talked to her friend group. She was simply beautiful.

I smiled and raised my hand to catch her attention. She looked at me, breaking into a wider smile and waved back. She turned to her friends, said something and started jogging towards me. 

Behind her, her friends were giggling and giving me ‘ok’ signs.

“Waiting for me?” Clara asked as she came in front of me. 

“Of course.” I returned her with a small smile. 

I held my hand out, and she took it happily. Her fingers laced through mine, and we entered the school gate hand in hand. 

Conversations paused, heads turned, and eyes followed us everywhere we walked.

Summer Camp. Nate. Clara. Kiss.

Clara was totally unaffected by the attention, waving and greeting everyone like a social butterfly. With her absorbing and reacting to the attention, I just nodded and smiled politely at anyone I accidentally made eye contact with. 

Unlike her, I didn’t like the attention. 

It felt… too much. Too exposed.

Act normal, Nate. You have Clara.

“Did you see those photos, Nate?” Clara asked as we walked. “Payton and the girls were hounding me the past weekend!”

The photos. A whole pack of them on bonfire night at summer camp. Clara and I, hands interlaced together in front of a cheering camping crowd. A kiss on my cheek by Clara. All captured at multiple angles by different groups of students. 

“Yeah, I saw them. Had people hounding me, too. It was terrifying going into my DMs.”

I lied. I scrolled through the photos like I did any other message. Didn’t bother to take a good look at them. My social notifications were at 99+, and I ignored all messages coming from unknown phone numbers.

“I know you are kind of shy about this. Let me know if you ever feel uncomfortable, ok?”

I nodded. “Thanks, Clara. Love you.”

She gave me a thumbs up, and we walked towards the student lockers, bathed in the attention of the entire school. 

We arrived at a small crowd gathered in front of my locker. Students were whispering among themselves softly, seemingly waiting. 

A strange feeling crept up my spine.

I frowned and slowly made my way toward the crowd. 

Pinned on my locker door was a photo. 

A printed one. 

I froze mid-step, and my breath caught as I saw the photo. 

It was that moment. Me, staring at him across the crowd, over the bonfire.

Clara likely felt the sudden tug on her hands. She stopped too and turned to look at me. 

“You all right, Nate?”

I tried to breathe. Forced air in and out of my lungs. My hand unknowingly tightened on hers. 

Keep calm, Nate. Everything is under control. 

Clara probably got the wrong idea from my reaction and my lack of reply. She gave our interlaced hands a reassuring squeeze before pulling me lightly forward.

“Excuse me, guys.” She said as we made our way through the crowd. “Incoming.” 

“Oh, here comes the main character!” Someone in the crowd announced, drawing attention from nearby students.

We stopped in front of my locker, turning to the crowd of students. Clara’s attention was on the gathering crowd while I tried to calm my rapid breathing, sneaking peeks at the photo that was still pinned on my locker door. 

“Everyone!” Clara spoke in her cheerleader voice, loud and powerful.

The entire hallway fell silent. Students crowding in front of us looked at us with some kind of anticipation in their eyes. Further away, heads turned towards us, conversation paused, and phones lowered.

“I know everyone is talking about this, and rumours are flying everywhere.” Clara beamed as she raised our interlaced hands high up into the air. “So, I just want to make it official. Nathaniel and I are together!”

Time seemed to stop for a second before the hallway exploded, comments flying everywhere. 

“This is for real? THE cheerleader and Mr Perfect?”

“That’s a golden couple combination!”

Clara leaned toward me, whispering in my ear. 

“Can I?”

I knew what she wanted. And I eagerly needed it to divert attention. 

“Yes.” I nodded. 

Clara laughed. She pulled me into a quick kiss, a peck on the lips, before breaking it away. 

The crowd hollered, and I saw Clara's cheeks had turned a light shade of pink. 

I turned to her and returned the kiss on her blushing cheeks. 

Cameras were out. I knew more photos were to come. 

But I needed them. 

That photo pinned on my locker. Had to be drowned out by this announcement. 

‘You are a liar, Nate.’ 

I am, and I will continue living in this lie.

Clara squealed softly, blushing in a deeper shade of red and started fanning herself. 

“Nate, I… I gotta get to class!” She started bouncing up and down. “See you at lunch!” 

Before I could reply, she dashed away. 

“Ok,” I replied and waved to her disappearing view.

I answered a few questions from curious students politely. But after a while, everyone gradually dispersed, and the hallway returned to the normal bustle. 

I glanced around, making sure no one had their attention on me and turned to face my locker.

The photo was still there, pinned on my locker door.