Alive. Definition: having life; existing. Translation: not dead.
I never understood why I was alive or why my mom had me.
The unknown was irritating. My name is Andrea Renee Altson.
But I prefer Dre. I'm a sixteen-year-old junior in high school.
Something you should know is that I also have depression.
I've had depression since I was eight.
I don't know why. It crazy that you can feel so sad so useless so...nothing, and not have a reason.
But we're not here to only talk about my depression. We're also here to talk about me being supernatural and to do that I have to start from the beginning...
***
I snapped my eyes open. Woke up in a cold sweat trying to remember the dream I just had. I can never remember what happens in my dreams I just remember the feelings. The loneliness.
I looked at the time. 5:48. I sat up trying to clear my head. When I was able to think straight I got ready for school.
I wore a pair of jeans and a black crew neck. I grabbed my book bag and headed downstairs.
I went into the kitchen only to find my mom cooking.
Why does she do this every day if I don't eat it?
"Hey sweetheart are you hungry?" she asks wholeheartedly.
"No I'm going to be late for school" I reply
"But school doesn't start until 6:30 " She counters
"Yeah but it's a 10-minute walk by the time I get there it'll be 6:32. You know how strict they can be."
She frowned "I can drive you"
I grimaced "I like the alone time."
You see my mom knows I'm depressed and she knows how hard I've been struggling to keep it together.
She was one of the first to notice it. I think she feels obligated to do extra things for me but it just unnecessary.
"Ok, I guess? Have a good day at school!" She boasts
"Whatever," I said too annoyed to be polite. I took a water bottle out of the fridge and left.
***
While I was walking to school I noticed that it was a little breezy out but it was only March.
I reached into my pocket, grabbed my phone and my AirPods.
Listening to music calms my anxiety. Ever since I was a baby I loved everything about music. There is something about music that makes me want to be...well alive.
I would only sing around my best friend because I don't want anyone's ears to bleed from my vocal assault.
***
His name is Bartholomew Scott. I call him Barry or Barry Allen.
He hates when I call him that because out of all the DC characters Barry Allen is his least favorite.
We've been friends since we were five. Our parents knew each other since 1998.
Barry has been with me through the good and the bad.
To be completely honest with you if it weren't for him I'd probably be in a mental hospital right now.
As I approach school I look at the time. 6:30.
Huh?
Must've been speed walking. I opened the door and I went straight to biology.
There were too many people in the hallways I didn't even want to look at my locker.
As soon as I walked in I scanned the room for Barry.
I didn't see him so I sat in my usual seat, in the back corner.
I took my biology book and homework out of my bookbag waiting for Mr. Huff to begin his lesson.
When I looked up I saw Barry walking to our desk. "Barry Allen" I greeted him.
"Andrea Alston" he replied and I grimaced.
He knew I hated being called Andrea. "I hate you," I said but he just chuckled. "I'm sorry Dre."
I smiled a little "who's the sub?" I looked to the board to see a tall Hispanic man.
I didn't even notice him "I don't know."
The substitute grabbed a marker and wrote Morales on the board.
He has some amazing handwriting skills.
"Alrighty, class I bet you wondering where's Mr. Huff?"
"Well Mr. Huff went back to Colorado to take care of his mother so he won't be back for the rest of the year."
Almost every kid starting cheering
"Settle down I have some other news. Since he won't be coming back I will be your new biology teacher. My name is"
he went to underline his name on the board
"Mr. Morales. Now I hope that I can get to know you all individually and we can all have a great ye-"
before he can finish his sentence, Nathan Burst, through the door.
***
Nathan Price is the New York high "star athlete".
He's obnoxious, annoying, and too social for my liking. But I have to give it to him he is one of the nicest people around here.
That's probably why people like him so much.
He is semi-smart nothing major and he has a Duke university Scholarship waiting for him in his future.
***
"Are you in this class sir?" Mr. Morales asked
"yes sir" he replied
"ok, what's your name?" Looking at his clipboard
"Luke skywalker" Nathan answered and everyone aside from me started to snicker including Barry.
I looked at him and he immediately stopped. Something in my expression must've been intimidating to make him stop so abruptly.
"Oh, I see we have a class clown. Well, thanks to the class clown I'm going to set assign seats" the class groaned.