Bittersweet

Distinct Features

The anatomy and physiology lecture dragged on longer than usual. I knew it only felt that way because of Lilly's absence and my incessant need to check my phone for any messages or missed calls from her. I would need to visit her after school today. Could she have caught something? The temperature was pretty mild last night. With this weather there was little chance of that. And no fight with anyone, even her family could keep her from the classroom. Especially this class, she decided long ago she would be a biology major.

Ten minutes until the bell rung and I decided to listen to some music, the murmurs and conversation of other groups inciting envious feelings in me. After a minute or two I heard the door open followed by Mrs. Arnett calling for everyone's attention. I grabbed for my right ear bud, taking it out while looking to Mrs. Arnett. She was announcing with a displeased expression pointed towards the boy that was standing beside her at the front of the class.

"This is Jasper...I am sorry, the note does not include your last name." She pauses, waiting for him to introduce himself. He looks straight ahead at the wall behind me, not meeting anyone's gaze. Let alone the swooning ones of Maisie and Rove. I chuckle at their obvious displays of attraction towards the new student.

I glance his way to find him staring directly at me. I raise a brow at him when he doesn't look away. He smiles and turns to Mrs. Arnett, "Just Jasper is fine. My family situation is a little complicated right now. So I would appreciate just my first name for now." I could see through this new student. I was always great at reading others, especially those around my age. He was the charismatic boy that doesn't understand how to be anything else. He doesn't even realize his 'fun' side is a crutch for a problem he has yet to address.

She directs him to take a seat and this is when I realize he would need to sit in Lilly and I's group. I see Maisie and Rove staring daggers at me. I shrug them off and grab my bag, laying it on Lilly's seat beside me. He could pick one of the other two. And he did, without a glance my way. It was for the best. Hopefully he would keep his attention away from Lilly and I.

"Jasper." I stop my absent minded scribbling and look up to see an extended hand. I sit up straight and take his hand. There was no reason to be hostile towards this new kid.

"Mercy." He raises a brow, mimicking my move from earlier. I nod. "I know, not the most traditional."

He said nothing more and I thought we would leave it at that. But he surprises me by tapping my notebook. I was done with my side work from the worksheet handed out and was now filling in every other square on the graph paper. "What?" I whispered.

"Where are we in this class?"

"Seeing as it is towards the end of the year, we have covered almost everything up to chapter thirteen in the textbook. We have two chapters left and then the final. And maybe a lab or two before that." I summarize it quickly and grab my bag from Lilly's seat, pretending to rummage through it. Hoping he was aware enough to take the hint. And luckily he does.

There was zero chance that by the time next week came around, Maisie and Rove will fill him in on the reason Lilly is my only friend. It felt like a waste to talk to him, to get to know him. Or for him to get to know me. A waste of time on both of our parts. And a waste of his penetrating eyes boring into mine.

-     -     -

My forearm burned insistently the duration of the day. Every hour, like clockwork. The school day was almost over, one more period and I would be free to get home. Maybe it was stress causing the discomfort. But that made little sense to me. This never happened. I rubbed at the jagged skin there and decided to stop at the restroom on the way to last period. The burning got worse, more than just mere irritation. My pain tolerance was low compared to others. I picked up speed and slammed the restroom door open. Staggering to the sink, suddenly dizzy I dropped my shoulder bag at my feet.