April showers stormed down today. While I walked to school, the ground was muddy and damp due to spitting rain. And the air was chilly. Most people hated this type of weather. Personally, this was one of my favourites. Due to how raw it was. And I just loved the smell of freshwater when it rains.The best part is when all this gloomy weather turns into May weather, you get warm weather after the storm, The blooming of new beginnings and life.
With each step I took closing in on the school, my boot covered feet splashed up water from the puddles I couldn't step-around. I entered the school, with a soaked raincoat. I walked down the halls to my locker. Each step I took, my rubber boots made a squeaky sound. Bringing the eyes of others to my direction. I marched forward straight towards my locker, not enjoying the attention I was bringing to myself. I suffer from social anxiety, I kept my interactions with people to a minimum.
I turned the hall that my locker was at, number 2088. I undid the combination quietly and shrugged off my backpack, so I could take off my dark green rain jacket. I hung the damp jacket on the hook built within the locker. Exchanging my mucky rubber boots for my dry sneakers. I was about to close my locker, the gentle touch of someone's hand on my shoulder startled me. Making me turn around and quickly hit the person who touched me.
I heard a loud, painful groan. I looked down to see a boy in a burgundy red hoodie hunched over while his long shaggy black hair flowed down, hiding his face. He was folded over, holding his stomach. I didn't need to see his face to confirm who it was. I only knew one person with wavy, jet black hair like that. There's one person in particular who constantly wears the same old, grundy red hoodie too. He happened to be my coworker and locker buddy Zeke Jensen. His locker is literally right next to mine. Number 2089. Zeke regained his posture and looked up at me with his green eyes.
"Sorry Zeke. You should know not to come up behind me like that. I'm an easy scare and may uncontrollably hit someone." I apologize frantically. Zeke just smirked a little.
"It's all good Pats. I know not to do that but, I seem to forget that you're skittish. I haven't learnt my lesson yet apparently. You have quite the hand there." He joked.
He smiled, dimples full-on display. Yet, his green eyes didn't meet up with his smile. Usually, when he smiles, you see little crow's feet form under his eyes, and today, they didn't. Like the last few days. Or maybe even a little longer than that, he seemed tired. Maybe he's just working too hard at the restaurant. Or some family problems. I wouldn't know, so I decided to not make a big deal about it.
"Yeah, take note of that advice. Anyways, good morning to you too." I noted to him.
"Good morning to you too. Anything interesting lately?" He asked.
"Nothing really. Except for my cousin who called my parents last night to announce she's pregant! Which is amazing. You know, the one with the bright red hair?" I said excitedly.
Zeke looked a little confused and it clicked together. Remembering who I was talking about. "Oh, that cousin! The one who's engaged to um, Kaleb, right? Well, congrats to them. Tell them that from me. Before what I say gets forgotten." Zeke said aloud. The mood shifted quickly due to the last words being slightly muttered.
"Why did you say that? I'm not going to forget to tell them your message. Are you alright?" I asked Zeke.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired. Due to work and some personal stuff. Nothing to worry about too much. I meant that sometimes people forget something I say to them, that's all." Zeke answered. I would take it, not wanting to push him.
"Alright. Just so you know, no one could ever forget the amazing Zeke Jensen!" I announced to him. Trying to lift up his spirits. Zeke just smiled softly at me. Sincerer than the smile before.
"Thanks, Patricia, dearest." He chuckled. I rolled my eyes. He knows how much I hated being called that.
Then around the corner, we heard the mocking voice of Charlie Love. "Morning Freak Jensen and whatever your name is." The blue-eyed, blonde-haired boy taunted Zeke while his buddies laughed.
While giving Zeke a staredown, Zeke's face dropped. His eyes shifted away from the jocks. "Just as expected." Was all Charlie Love had said and walked away.
Charlie Love was the school's all-star Football and Basketball player. Well-loved by the people of this school. He was anything but, loving to back. The irony from his last name. I looked at Zeke and noticed a very distressed look that formed when Charlie appeared.
"Zeke, just ignore them Charlie and his pack of lost puppies. They are nothing but, a bunch of assholes, don't waste your energy on them. You're far better than them. You're freaking cool. Too cool for those losers to ever get to know."
Charlie was an ass to almost everyone, but liked to call out at Zeke most. Which is sad because Zeke and Charlie have zero background together. From what I knew anyway. This teasing began to take place in the middle of the ninth grade. According to Zeke, I wasn't around for it. I arrived at this school in the tenth grade.
It wasn't serious though. Just some childish name-calling. Usually Zeke seems to just ignore him and not waste his time on Charlie. Though if I was Zeke, I would say something to the principal since the teasing has gone unnoticed for a few years now. As of lately, Charlie's rude words were beginning to bother Zeke after all. Charlie is just wanting to target someone who appears weak and easy.
Zeke seemed amused by me insulting Charlie and his friends. I usually have a pretty filtered mouth towards foul language. "Yeah, you're right. Charlie is just an asshole. A very big one that is." With that, Zeke just seemed to snap right out of his saddening mood. Just like I said, he shrugs it off. Lately he seemed to be more upset about it.
"Well, I believe we should be getting to class, I want to try to avoid being near Charlie and his mutts." Zeke cautioned. I nodded in agreement. As we walked away from our lockers, I thought of a fun idea that may help lift Zeke's spirits. Not something he and I would personally be involved. However, it would be nice to do something out of our comfort zone.
"Hey Zeke, before I go to math, I was wondering if you wanted to watch the football game together a week Friday? And since the homecoming dance is right after? Would you like to go? Maybe change things up and try to have a little fun while being stuck in this prison? I know it's a little awkward and last minute." I huffed. Hiding that I was anxious because asking and confronting people is difficult for me to handle.
Zeke and I aren't close. We got along well, and ironically worked together, but that's it really. We haven't known each other for very long, since the tenth grade because that's when I moved into this little town. It was almost the end of our tenth grade year too. I considered Zeke a friend in my eyes. Maybe even a good friend. We didn't really know too much about each other, just the basic everyday things. I knew he had a little sister named Ashley. He was born on August 19th. I know that Zeke knows that I was born on March 12th. Or that I like the colour yellow and have two older brothers, Angelo and George. Who are fraternal twins. Just things that you'd tell anyone who's decent.
Zeke doesn't know me on a deep level like how much I love the rain, or my favourite movie is The Mask with Jim Carrey. Or that I have an allergy to strawberries. Just like how I know nothing about his personal life. Or outside of school. Besides working in the same restaurant. From what I see, it seems to be a little rough for him. I don't want to make him uncomfortable with the sudden request. Zeke was introverted like myself, he didn't enjoy social functions too much.
Zeke was taken off guard a little from the randomness of the offer. He thought it over in his head. Shrugging his shoulders in response. "Eh, why not. It's not like it would kill me to get off my high horse and do something a little more involved. I also don't want to be an ass and make you feel stupid for asking me. I know it took you some courage to ask me." Zeke smiled. Then a small smirk formed on his face.
"Is this your way of asking me on a date?" He teased, giving me his shit-eating grin.
I swatted his arm. "What the hell! I'm asking you as a friend you ass! I will hit you again even harder. On purpose." I hissed at him playfully.
"Yeah, I could certainly do without you purposely chopping me in half. I couldn't resist taking the chance to fire you up." Zeke smirked some more. This time, his eyes met his smile. I rolled my eyes in return. While glad I could see the liveliness in Zeke today.
"It will be more fun than you're anticipating. We can be two wallflowers together just watching and judging how idiotic Charlie and his pups are." I insisted. Zeke just chuckled at my eagerness and the idea of mocking that fool Charlie Love.
"For a supposed 'softie' you have quite the eagerness to see how much of an idiot Charlie is. Not that I disagree with you." Zeke pointed
"Well, it's just a side of me you don't know too well. If someone is going to be a bully, then I won't give them a second of my earned respect. Do you know what he's called me before? Krabby Pattie. Like seriously? It wasn't even that creative for one. Just because I'm not model sized. He can't handle thicker girls, so he shames them. Charlie's a douche." I exclaimed.
Zeke frowned at that. I felt like opening up to him a little, showing I have trust in him. Maybe he'd feel encouraged to open up to me about why he looks distressed recently. Plus, I want to show I felt comfortable around him and that he's a good person if I'd be willing to share info like that.
He pats my shoulder. "Sorry to hear that. He should be ashamed. You're a perfectly nice person and pretty. With a personality to match. Like you said, 'don't waste your energy on them'. Bullies like them...just make my blood boil" I nodded in agreement. Showing I was thankful for his kind words. I wasn't used to compliments. Especially from guys, so Zeke calling me pretty had my cheeks bursting red. It makes it worse in my case as Zeke was a genuinely attractive looking guy too.
"On top of that, everyone has got a side to them that no one really knows about; Sometimes it's a good thing. Sometimes it's not. It's different for everyone." Was all he whispers out. His beautiful smile dropped.
Before I had the given chance to reply, the bell rang. Sending the scruffy haired boy to his class. "See ya at lunch or something. Or work. Around in general."
He takes off, dragging his feet on the ground with each step taken. Seeming to be in a hurry for his class. I only nodded. Not too sure what to think of his final words of our conversation. I walked off to the direction of my math class. Those words remained stuck in my head during my entire class And pretty much the rest of the day was just me tending to myself. I never did see Zeke at lunch today. He was right. There was a side to Zeke I never knew about. I believe I'm just beginning to associate with it even. For the better or for the worse? I didn't know yet.