Up and Away (Open)

[lovergirl]

I woke up with a flinch, quickly shaking off my bloody and scream-filled nightmare and walked into my little brother's room. He looked so peaceful, with a smile gracing his small face and a slight hug to his pillow. To awaken such a beautiful creature would be a crime against humanity, but it had to be done at some point. After crossing the five feet to get to his small cot, I run my fingers through his curly black hair, gently humming a random tune. This usually helps with the start of the day since a normal wake-up call is too much for Trin.

"Up and at 'em, darling," I whisper into his ear, smiling widely once his eyes pop open and he snickers.

There's no way to express how my heart blossoms when I know that he's lived another day. That is honestly the only thing I live for. My brother is my whole world and more. Nothing can take that away from me. One tug to his soft hands and he sprints to the kitchen, somehow expertly avoiding any chance of tripping. I roll my eyes, knowing that once again, we will go through the process of my parents completely ignoring our existence. Handling that on my own is bearable, but for Trin to carry that load is too harsh. He can't even understand why they act the way they do. Most of the time, Trin believes that he has done something wrong. The only crime he's committed is loving his parents that won't allow themselves to love him back.

I shyly wave towards the two almost-strangers that sit in our dining room. They're both eating our stale toast and chattering amongst themselves. Not one acknowledgment comes my way and I sigh, knowing that I shouldn't have even tried. On the other hand, Trin is jumping up and down around their chairs, smiling and hugging on their legs. This would not end on a positive note.

"Trin, let go. We have to go soon, remember?" my voice shakes slightly as I look down at my little brother, aware that he will never have a hug returned.

He cautiously untangles his arms and shuffles over to me, his head hanging low. I shake my head and grip his chin softly, tilting it up until we make eye contact. One smile. That's all it takes for him to move on from the scene. One smile and he's already begging for food. One apple and a few nuts later, I'm stalking after Trin while he runs towards to school. I finally catch up to my target, latching my hand onto his. He laughs and stumbles a few times but we finally make it to the gray building. Planting one knee on the ground and one foot right next to it, I am kneeling in front of this magnificent human being, ready to make my daily speech.

I clear my throat, "Now, remember what I told you. Try your best. Don't mind what the other kids have to say, okay? They won't ever get it, but I do. Answer every question thrown your way, and it's okay to be wrong. That's how we learn around here. Everyone makes mistake, and sometimes, it's better to do so. Those perfect people won't be anywhere near as great as you'll be."

Trin does his usual nod that means that he wants to bust out of there and I kiss his forehead, letting him run off to whatever waits behind those doors. I don't like to let him go but it's needed. I know my parents don't believe he'll make it in the long run. That's why I'm here. To prove them wrong. After remembering what I had forgotten, I run back to the house, grabbing a pair of boots and a water sack and heading out to get a head start on the work I have to get done this week. The mud from last night had dried up but I could tell it would start up soon enough. I had no idea what I'd have to do today, but I hope it's something that won't give me a cold. After entering my own classroom, I sit near the back, smiling up at the teacher.

[plantix]

Lotus Tears

It's about an hour walk from my home to my school, and by the time I get there, I'm still early. School isn't really hard for me at all. In fact, it's so easy, I've managed to skip a grade because almost all my teachers suggested it. Not only that, I started school a year earlier then most of the other students. This means I must take my classes with the teenagers that are around sixteen years old.

Now that I think about it, maybe taking my classes with the kids that are older then me did contribute to the fact that I have a limited amount friends. I just avoid them because they just avoid me.

I enter the class room along with the other students and I sit at the very back next to a smiling girl... It almost looks creepy, and she looks too young to be sixteen years old. Actually, She kind of looks like she's my age. My hopes of a potential friend are raised when that thought entered my mind. I contemplate on whether to say a simple 'hello' to her, or if I should just stay quiet.

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[lovergirl]

My classmates file in, one after the other, looking like it was a death sentence to sit through several hours of education. I squirm in my seat, feeling uncomfortable around the group of teenagers that seem to gravitate towards the other side of the room. There must be something on my face, or I must look terrifying. Whatever it was, I did not enjoy it at all. Suddenly, my throat closes up and my cheeks burn a bright crimson. The cotton shirt that covers my chest seems to constrict my chest, even though I know it's not true.

"Alright, students. Let's begin! Partner up and..." Mr. Kane spoke loudly, but I tuned him out quickly.

It was the same drill almost every day. Partner up. Get to know each other. Here, look at this sheet and work together to find out the answers. Don't worry, class. You'll do just fine! The truth of the matter is that you must have a partner in the first place to do just that. The class had been uneven for years. Of course, I'd be the only one working alone. I didn't mind it at all. In fact, my assignments were done quicker and were correct about ninety percent of the time. Something about this year gave me a slight queasiness. Things were about to change.

One look to my left and I know why. A new student, who I didn't know anything about. This could be a problem, and not a minor one. The only thought going through my mind was that I wasn't going to be alone this year, and that concerned me more than anything else could. A paper drops on my desk and I know I've already got the answers imprinted into my skull. My parents like to keep their books, so I read ahead when there's nothing else to do. The screeching sound of the desk next to me moving closer makes me flinch, but I recover quickly and nervously tap my pencil.

"Hey! I'm Rilett, but you can call me Rile. We should probably get started and have it over with and spend the rest of the class watching the others. How does that sound?" My words are rushed but I can't make them any clearer.

I'm smiling and slowly writing my name down when I blank out. Being near people just makes me feel sick. I don't know how to act; I don't know how to make them happy or to keep them from judging me. The one thing I should be thankful for is that I'm in the back, where no one can see me be the freak of nature that I am. For a minute, I sit and breathe. Finally, I take a glance at the boy next to me and sigh, shaking my head and offering a hand.

"Sorry. I'm Rile. How are you?" This time, my sentences are short, choppy, and slow, but at least one can hear them.

[plantix]

"Alright, students. Let's begin! Partner up and Get to know each other. Here is your sheets of question and work together to find out the answers. Don't worry, class. You'll do just fine!" the teacher said. I bit the bottom of my lip when he said the words 'partner up'. This means that I'll have to share my work with someone. Usually, if I'm in a group I have to do all the work because no one else will do it. Maybe I can find a partner that will actually do their share of the work.

I'm handed a sheet of paper to scan and figure the answers, but the sound of other students making their desks screech distracts me. After most of the screeching is done, my head drips to look at the paper, but before i can actually see it, a voice interrupts me. "Hey! I'm Rile, but you can call me Rile. We should probably get started and have it over with and spend the rest of the class watching the others. How does that sound?" It's the girl I was sitting next to. Her words and simple sentences are almost too fast for me to understand. By the time I've digested what she said, it's kind of established that she's going to be my partner, at least, that's what I think she's offering. Just as I'm about to give my answer, she kind of spaces out for a second to breath. I'm tempted to say a response, but I can't muster the courage to bring it up. A few long seconds of awkward silence comes, and I can only hear the sound of the other students talking among themselves.

"Sorry. I'm Rile. How are you?" Rile apologizes and asks me. She seemed to know that her words where too fast for me, hence her apology. I suppose that since she's introduced herself, it's be formal for me to give my name too.

Now, how am I going to reply? I've never really dealt with having to speak to someone in this kind of situation. Just a simple 'hello'... maybe? "I uh... It's okay... You don't need to apologize... My name is Lotus Tears... So... Uh.... should we start on the paper?..." I say quietly and a little shyly. I write my name on the paper to identify it as mine, before looking back up to Rile. I wonder what she thinks of all this?

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