It's another lonely day at the back row.
I watched all the kids around me chat, play, and laugh. It must have been nice having friends. I've known most of these people my whole life, yet we never talked.
I doubt they even know my name.
"Hey Mikey."
I turned to look at my neighbor, Claire Connor, taking her seat. A beautiful young girl with braided hair, and a fixed sunny expression. The only person who ever talked to me.
"Are you okay?"
Crap... I was staring for too long.
I quickly retained focus, carrying every strategy to help this conversation last.
"Good Morning."
I'm sort of disappointed that I couldn't come up anything else.
Before she could respond the homeroom teacher came in.
"Alright, settle down. I have something I want to say." he said.
The silence followed, everyone changed their focus to him.
"As you already know, the graduation ceremony is this Saturday. I would like to say, it was a pleasure teaching you all. You kids are the first to..."
He lost me at graduation ceremony. Since enrolling here, I haven't noticed any redeemable qualities I possess. I had a low understanding for anything. My fighting wasn't that impressive, nor can I master basic traits. Listening to him was pointless, I doubt I'll graduate. I've heard rumors of children disappearing after failing to graduate. Guess I was next.
"Michael Voss."
The homeroom caught my attention.
"Missing the graduation ceremony will result in serious punishments." he added.
I knew he was actually teasing me. What a cruel teacher. He didn't succeed in making me feel bad, but his words made the other students give me looks and whisper.
"Who's he again?"
"He's the first person that comes to mind when you think of Cyro's next victim."
They had come up with a theory. There was a killer abducting children who failed to graduate, nicknamed Cyro. It was clever to use the old language to name him.
When Claire heard them gossip, she wouldn't stop staring at me as the day went by.
The bell signifying the day's end rang. Without hesitation I packed my notes and left class.
"I wonder why she was looking at me." I muttered in the hallway.
While lost in thought, I accidentally bumped into someone. I turned to them instantly, and said. "Sorry."
It was Amelia Scotts, a popular girl from the honors class. She had short brown hair, and an irritated look on her face.
"Watch where you're going Idiot."
"I said, sorry."
Without answering, she fled with urgency. I turned to leave as well, making for the school gate.
But before I could reach it, outside, I saw my least favorite people waiting. I snuck past, moving like a ninja, but no luck. They spotted me.
"Mikey."
The boy calling me came closer and wrapped his arm around my neck. They called him Bucky, the boy with the hottest temper in the honor's class.
"I hear Cyro is after you. After I become a warrior, I would be glad to become your personal bodyguard, for a hefty sum of course."
"Thank you, but I'll have to reject your offer."
I removed his arm and began to walk away. Before I could go any further, he hit me with a nasty hook, causing me to stumble back and crash on my rear.
"Who told you to leave during a business transaction."
It wouldn't make that much of a difference if he had just beat me up, so I stayed silent. As expected, he rolled a fist ready land another hit.
"What are you doing?"
I turned to see Claire standing on my left. Her presence was enough to make Bucky surrender his fist. He clearly didn't want trouble with her, since she had the power to report him.
"Let's go." he said.
After Bucky and his boys left, Claire immediately rushed to my side, hand outstretched.
"Need a helping hand."
I accepted her hand, which felt warm, comfortable, welcoming. She was strong enough to pull me up. That's what being the best in class feels like, even if it's ju. She's strong, capable.
"You have to start standing up to those guys. They might leave you alone." she said.
"I'm not entirely bothered by it. Perhaps I won't have to deal with them when I disappear."
"That's pathetic."
That hurt.
"I'm disappointed in you. First of all, you believe in that Cyro nonsense. Second, you are doubting yourself."
"Do you actually think I'm going to graduate."
"I don't think so, I know so."
It honestly made me happy to know that she believed in someone as hopeless as me.
"State your reason. Why would I pass?"
She was lost in her thoughts for a second, trying to find the answer. It was obvious, that nothing came to her. That honestly broke my heart. She was disappointed in herself as well,
"Well, it's not that bad. Trust me, I have a feeling that you're going to make it."
"It was nice knowing you."
I turned ready to leave.
"Wait."
I paused, curious. She closed in, grasped my hands, and left me turning red.
"You going to pass neighbor. Believe it."
I returned a faint smile, happy to know she had hope for me. Her eyes sparkled in confusion as she looked at me. She's so cute.
"I've never seen you smile before Mikey. I think if you began smiling more, people will actually begin acknowledging you."
I nodded along with her.
I didn't actually think her idea was going to work, but giving it a shot wouldn't hurt. That is if Cyro doesn't get to me first.