Author's Note: Even though this article is based on a true story in my life I've changed some of the characters names and events to protect their identities. Enjoy!
My friend called herself an idiot.
I tried changing Mary's mind; I told her she was smart. But I guess my words were the same thing everyone kept telling her.
And this morning, she walked into school wearing black and skulls. I rushed over, knowing the last thing she would wear was bloodied skulls and black and asked her what was up. She simply replied she was going punk and walked toward the rest of my friends who were already wearing a mixture of colorless clothes.
I didn't know what to do.
It seemed like all of my friends were either depressed or abused at home. After going through a stage of depression myself for almost three years, I tried to help them get through it. But they pushed me away because everyday I came in wearing faded jeans with a new colored t-shirt, sneakers squeaking on the tiled floor.
A week later when high school football season started my friends and I piled into our parent's cars and were driven to see the first game. All my friends sat in the back, black covering them head to toe, talking about their new skateboards and the new tricks they learned from the guys who lived in the alleys by their houses. I pulled my dark green jacket tighter around me. Loosely fit around my body, I looked comfy and casual while the rest of my friends were wearing the tightest clothing they could possibly fit into. I continued to stare at the gray sky in silence.
When we reached the football field we all climbed over a sea of people to get a seat near the front. I sat down next to Mary.
I couldn't believe this girl was the same Mary from last year.
Dark eyeliner was caked on her eyelids, black nail polish, heavy metal leaking out of the earphones from her iPod. I shook my head and concentrating on the football team.
After a few touchdowns I managed to catch the eye of one of the players. He was the quarterback. From what I heard he was a junior at the high school and was already 17. He had already made some fantastic throws and plays. Even though I knew it wasn't likely, I hoped he would score a touchdown. His brown eyes caught mine and I recognized him from my bus.
With thirty seconds left until half time Mary suddenly turned toward me. She asked, "Why do you wear such idiotic colors all the time? Can't you see we're all depressed?" I glanced at all of my friends over Mary's shoulders. They all had huge grins on their faces. I quietly got up and left as the crowd erupted into cheers as our team scored a touchdown just as the buzzer rang to end the second half.
I sat behind the bleachers, a flurry of tears coming out of my eyes. I crouched on the wet grass, my tears staining my jacket.
To my surprise, a hand fell on my shoulder.
"You cry?"
My head shot up to look into two bright brown eyes. It was Louis, the quarterback.
Wiping tears with the back of my sleeve I stood up. I sniffed and tried to act calm.
His head tilted to the side. I answered, "Everyone cries, Louis." A boyish grin crossed his face. "How do you know my name?" I smiled and brushed a blonde lock out of my face. "You ride my bus." He nodded his head.
He wiped a tear that I missed coming down my cheek. "You're always so happy. Smiling." Louis shook his head. "I'm sorry, that was a stupid question."
We both turned to stare at the gray sky. "Looks like rain," he muttered. We stood in silence.
"Ever go outside when it's raining?"
I smiled.
"You have no idea."
He laughed.
-msof57
Author's Note: This will be a short series, 3 or 4 parts at the most. I have not forgotten my "Blue Eyes" series. I've been finding issues with it and have decided to take a break from it for a while to edit it.
