Standing in the garden of lilies
With you across from me
Your skin scares off the bright sun
As you kiss me delightedly
I can no longer breathe
When I've fallen this deep
I never thought it could be
The effect you have on me
"Kai!" Eleanor snapped at me across the lunch table. "Can you stop daydreaming?" The sudden volume of Eleanor's voice woke me up completely as I regained my focus. "Sorry, okay?" I quickly say without a second to lose. "Bro, you seriously have a daydreaming problem," Liam stated after my mind knew where it was. Eleanor seemed to agree with him, but I didn't. I mean, I daydream quite a bit, but it's not a problem, I just have a big imagination. "No, I do not," I said in a semi sleepy voice of mine. "You can't blame me for having more vivid imagery than you could have in your lifetime." Liam and Eleanor both look unconvinced at my comment.
For the past 5 years of being friends with Eleanor and 9 with Liam, they've never really done anything creative. Eleanor was the activist who kept her friends humble. She's the president of our sophomore class in student council, and strives to keep our school as clean as possible. I'm in student council too, but mostly because she bribed me with $20 if I joined with her. Liam was the gamer nerd of the group and always knew when the next game, comic, or convention would be.
As for me, I'm the most optimistic of the bunch. I love to imagine the impossible and always look at the bright side of things when things get rough. My mom said ever since I was born, I always had a strong imagination. I used to hate it, but ever since 8th grade I've looked at it as more of a superpower instead of a disadvantage. I could conjure anything in my head and apply it to the real world, but sometimes it was a little too strong. In 7th grade, I had a crush on this boy and my head got carried away. All the poems and songs I wrote—jeez, I needed therapy really bad. After he found out that I liked him, he kept his distance and never talked to me again.
"Kai!" Eleanor shouted again.
"What, I'm up," I said as she looked at me disappointedly.
"If you were up, then tell us what we're talking about?"
"Uhh…adding vegan options to the school menu?"
"I swear, I do not know what we're gonna do with you."
Eleanor could see that I wasn't listening to a single thing she said. But I swear I was trying to. It's hard to focus when you have a lot of thoughts running through your head.
By the time I looked up, lunch was over, and the bell rang for advisory. Luckily enough, we all had the same chemistry teacher, Mrs. Burry. Our conversation continued with Liam talking about the next convention and what he should cosplay as, and Eleanor arguing how stupid the characters look and suggesting a different look for him. I kept to myself for a little while just thinking of…well nothing. I do this to stay out of debates with Liam and Eleanor, because I'm always the tie breaker, and I don't like to take sides.
"Kai," Liam said, "should I cosplay as Cloud or Sephiroth?"
I looked at both characters Liam suggested, and I couldn't choose. It's like they were the same person just with different outfits and hair. But I have to choose one.
"Cloud, you can pull that off more than Sephiroth."
"Cloud it is."
Right after Liam decided what to wear, Mrs. Burry shushed us because the morning announcements were on. They go through mostly the same thing every week with a little something new here and there. Like, basketball tryouts next month. I don't know why they're announcing it so early, but I guess they want a lot of people to try out. As soon as the announcements conclude the class' conversations start to flutter again, including ours. Advisory and 4th period flies by and suddenly the last bell of the day rings and every student hurries to get out of this prison.
"Hi mom," I greet her as I'm jumping in the car.
"Hi sweetie," she responds, "how was your day?"
"It was fine, like any other day."
"Really? It's like everyday is fine with you. Are there any cute boys you saw today?"
"Mom, stop trying, it's never gonna happen."
"Don't say that, you're gonna meet someone you just have to wait. I swear as soon as you look up there's gonna be this very handsome boy that's very interested in you. Come on, use that big imagination of yours," she gestures at my head.
Out of all the things I could imagine, love was the least. Not that I don't like love, I love it, but after the whole debacle in 7th and 9th grade…I try to avoid it.
"Y'know I am really tired and would like to go home."
"Alright Kai, just don't give up on it, okay," I don't respond as she pulls out of the parking lot.
My mom is like my own personal Yoda, at least she claims to be. Ever since I came out to her in 6th grade she always told me to make sure I didn't hesitate to come to her if I wanted to talk. Which was very helpful for me, because my dad left when I came out. Sometimes I blame myself for being the wedge that ended their relationship, but she ensures me that they've mentally been broken up for years. My dad was always the one trying to get me to do "manly" things like sports, but I was never interested. Once I told him I was gay, he flipped out and left the house for a week until he decided to move out completely and get a divorce. After the divorce my mom seemed pretty happy, even got her last name changed back.
We pull up in the garage of our house as I quickly get out to change out of these uncomfortable school clothes. I rush through my house saying hi to my little sister, Lola, and my big sister, Claire.
Claire was overprotective like mom, but in a subdued way. She is always meddling and irritating me, but I know she does it because she loves me. And I just think she needs someone to mess with to let off some steam from college. She graduated last year and decided to go to a college 30 minutes away and decided to stay home. As for my little bug, Lola, she's the one I meddle and irritate because it's easy to. The little squeak in her voice is the cutest and most persuasive thing ever. It's like her own little get out of jail free card. She loves big hugs and is the best mathematician in her kindergarten class. Mom claims that she's gonna be the next Elon Musk.
I rush into my normal clothes to enjoy the relaxation for the rest of the day. I spend most of my time writing poems that suck. I'll admit, there's some diamonds in the rough, but not enough to convince me I'm Edgar Allen Poe. The light of the sun slowly melts as it becomes night, and I start to fall asleep into the threads of my bed. At lunch the next day, Liam and I were having a conversation about the new addition to the comic book series "Galactic Warriors."
"Bro, I have to get it!" Liam exclaimed.
"It actually looks cool," I replied.
"It's more than cool, this will be the best comic of all time."
"Kai, can you help me put up posters for the food drive?" Eleanor said, sitting down rubbing her head.
"Yeah, you feeling okay?"
"I'm alright."
"Then why do you look so stressed?" Liam said.
"I guess it's just one of those days," Eleanor replied.
After advisory, me and Eleanor began to put up flyers for the food drive around the school. We decided to split up so it'll be a faster process. I took the second floor while Eleanor covered the first floor. As I'm putting up flyers, the last bell of the day rings and students start to flood out into the hallways. I keep putting up posters despite the crowdedness of the hallways when…
"Oomph!" A collision hits my shoulder as papers fall out of both of our hands.
"Oh my bad bro," I hear a random boy say as he comes and helps me pick up the fallen papers.
"It's okay," I say as he hands me the flyers and quickly continues walking.
I know students are eager to get out of this jail cell, but jeez, that boy was running like someone was dying. And haven't I seen him before? His face looks so familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. I meet back up with Elanor to hand her the leftover flyers and to say bye. As I walk to the car, I finally remember where I saw the boy before. We had gym together first period in 8th grade, but I still can't bring myself to remember his name.
"Hey hon." my mother says as I get into the car.
"Hey mom."
"How was school?"
"Just as normal as yesterday."
"Well, at least it wasn't bad," my mother sighed as she started pulling out of the parking lot.
And I still can't remember that guy's name. I don't know why I'm so determined to remember, it's like I have to know his name. Maybe I should just shrug it off, what good will it do if I remember his name?
As we arrive home, I go straight to my bedroom taking off my school clothes in exchange for some shorts and a plain blue T. T…my mind suddenly remembers that his name starts with a T. But what names start with T? Thomas? Tristan? Theadore? Couldn't be any of those, doesn't sound right; but nothing else starts with T. I give up again as I head down stairs for something to munch on. I ended up eating a bowl of ramen noodles before crawling in my bed. I know I said I've given up, but it wouldn't hurt to try one more time. So, I got out my phone and googled, "Names starting with T." I scroll down every name until I finally remember it. His name is…Tyler. I don't know his last name, but I was forty-five percent sure the dude's name was Tyler.
I flip to sleep on my right shoulder, grinning in satisfaction that I figured out his name. I still don't know why I was so interested in him, but I just felt the need to. Or maybe I just have nothing better to do, because my life is boring. I clear my mind as my eyes begin to droop to sleep, waiting for an even normal day tomorrow.