Sweat trickled down Jesse’s brow as he reclined on the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdscxXpjjnF
bleachers behind him. As he watched his classmates make yet another lap around323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nt5Kif4vG
the track, his mind was consumed by one thought:
It was fucking hot.
Jesse had been forced to transfer323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6zD9u8tRp
schools. It was close to graduation, he hadn’t wanted to leave, but his mom had323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUMUZXtHEy
insisted. She told him he needed a “fresh start”. That wasn’t what he needed,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHZVEBC7z1
or wanted, but what did she care? Now here he was, sitting behind the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTalqzVxT7e
bleachers, avoiding the P.E. teacher, and this god-awful heat.
He turned to inspect the open field323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN6JliZbKP
to his left, and instead of green, all he saw was blue. Pale, icy blue. Jesse323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqIP94jv7Q
reeled slightly, taken aback by the sudden intrusion into his personal space.323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhXhJK50wf
He hadn’t even heard the person approach, but here he was, sitting next to him,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYR1zYZSMB
staring. Jesse takes in the boy. Everything about him seems mundane. His baggy323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwtsKVOQFo
clothes, his short cut, blonde hair, even the shape of his face was just…323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd61acW0rv
ordinary. The only striking feature on him were his eyes. Devoid of emotion,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB8kS23640
they made Jesse feel like he was looking into a deep, clear lake. One you would323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsOIOKNC1r
drown in if you weren’t cautious enough.
Throughout Jesse’s pondering, the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJQsZSLkRz
boy had remained silent, and it was beginning to make Jesse uncomfortable. How323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfLrLFp2Ry
could such an intense, empty gaze like that not? He didn’t want to be323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY6uN1Aowi
the one to break the silence. What would he even say? He dropped his gaze once323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzCOVsSHYr
he realized there was no figuring out who this person was and waited for him to323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAswT4RziG
say something. After averting his eyes from the penetrating pools of blue,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNv2yQk8rD
Jesse shifted in his seat, folding into himself slightly, trying to make323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTqki087We
himself invisible. Why was he just staring? The silence between the two323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpUCiCsUSe
lengthened. Jesse shuffled his body slightly and looked at the ground,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgJ39bMOas
uncomfortable with the kid’s overwhelming presence. He could feel his gaze.
Flicking his eyes back towards the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jEppKukSn
boy momentarily, he catches the sight of the boy’s retreating back. His eyes323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxEkoDfaU8
follow him as he gets smaller and smaller, noting that the boy was far taller323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8PJbLUYUn
than he had appeared. Far, far taller than Jesse was surely. Before long, the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA66gDMokx
boy was nothing more than a black speck in the distance, vanishing from sight.
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G7hc8RM9N
Jesse let323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZeyz1iNij
out a breath, on he hadn’t realized he was holding, and tried to not let the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ883f85IOzj
events that had just transpired consume his thoughts.
As the final bell rang, a vast323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCxXpk24qI
expanse of teens flooded the hallway. Jesse was jostled slightly as he fought323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YeieDah8Y
his way through the sea of bodies. The sooner he emptied his bag into his323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxucnANFSA
locker, the sooner he’d be back home, in front of his computer. Today had been323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPXw17sul9
yet another dull day; pretending to listen to the teachers drone on and on;323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzobj4FVuxQ
ignoring the petty cliques that had formed well before he had transferred to323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvZ7BWeLtX
this lame ass school; barely stomaching shitty cafeteria food. The only323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOvTYB1O9B
memorable part of the day had been the mystery boy. Jesse couldn’t get his eyes323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HOC50hzkV
out of his head.
Having only been in this school for323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpRAHdxlZN
a month, Jesse sure as hell didn’t know all the kids that went here, but he323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bu5rp9V66
couldn’t help but think that he would remember someone so off putting. He323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ5ZOsYhw5
shakes his head of the thought as he reaches his locker. Failing to put in his323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FOzewNZ92
code correctly the first try, he curses under his breath and spins the dial323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqvq244Nur
around again. Finally succeeding in opening his locker, he begins stuffing his323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKVQ6SnlQw
textbooks onto the top shelf, feeling rather impatient.
Just as he is about to slam the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjgC2xK1WK
locker door, he overhears a hushed conversation two lockers down from his, and323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7d0eHeM6o
slows himself, pretending to search for something.
“…parently he just got back. I323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2p9VnC4op
don’t know what they were thinking letting that psycho back in.”
“Right?! Who knows what he’s323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiBqogQ3vy
capable of?”
“I thought for sure he’d be323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT3QAR2M1S
expelled this tim…”
The voices faded from ear shot as323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME41nR2B7r
the owners drifted down the hall towards the exit.
Sighing and slamming his locker323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeFHNATyXf
shut, Jesse followed behind at a distance. He had no clue what or who they had323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2khVlDC1uP
been talking about, but his stomach was turning knots.
He made his way out the door and323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ6c71Dyg8
trudged down the road. He walked to and from school every day. It wasn’t really323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbOjjlq88z
that he had to, his mom would have happily come to pick him up if he had asked,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3TQnXOtSo
but he liked the solitude and silence of the short walk.
The driveway was empty when Jesse323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8PmEzmO9Z
arrived home, telling him that his mother had not yet returned, not that he323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAS3szmhMF
expected her home anyway. She’d been coming home later since they moved.
Sighing, he slid his key into the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmCyxTbf5r
lock, but before he was able to unlock the door, a bang from his left startled323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcTZ8ERbvY
him, making him flinch inward, his face scrunching up. Turning to look at where323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSxfVEI1Xp
the sound had come from, his eyes grew wide. The tall boy was standing on the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PHOARRpJP
porch next door, staring at him.
Again, Jesse noted just how cold323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrCcUMdD1e
his stare was. Pale blue eyes, void of emotion, bore into his own olive-colored323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIozWkFyCI
ones. Jesse stared back, uncertainty etched across his face.
Jesse cleared his throat,323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIowMO55r2e
hesitating a moment before speaking.
“Hi, uhmm… I’m Jesse. I moved here323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgJxyt1niU
last week. I take it you’re our neighbor?”
Jesse’s question lingered in the323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F2uDXyxFj
air as the boy continued to stare at him. Becoming even more uncomfortable with323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrQekn3xvo
the kid’s intense eyes fixed on him, Jesse moved to unlock the door.
“Adam.”
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwIYltLHdQ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWolI6gRYZ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4Fz5UBvlo
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10dEMq9kID
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAEjLXN3hM
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt72atLqtU
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeaxPBjqad
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErGM4H9QMK
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOA8uL1dIE
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA7ug87I2y
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5sLovfx54
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm4BgjQzKx
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpdWYRe6Rl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdf191jJt4
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROQ7E8FlsD
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecfgxLd16S
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkg1j9vqmv
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZC7ZWHeOF
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidZ2Mz8Ow2
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcHCgArm70
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rlshvEhfb
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaFHIJn0Wl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfBqzquW3Y
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimeUJsv8vW
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHd14YC9Z0
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdveKMjg8O
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxQnqTZ0jQ
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuxhb7RL1P
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBOlPmtRwh
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeOvVgEw7o
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyporOvea3
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxMD5XmFXB
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J8TftWZfM
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4uz12vU7t
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zEj67BSTP
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq7rY5uacl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusb7OateVe
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN8wM1ZPDs
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq0UQh7Rl7
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqB7wjQillN
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtwgwBCnZm
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pva1oXSJw
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyaDlySRqF
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gHd6l3Kdo
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoGMdJvySo
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Dc3inyLv7
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WzZDP1pqI
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGJv1Acovc
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi26SuIAYwr
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLvDU7j2gl
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl5vB8Qy6G
Jesse323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjEVdz4VjU
whipped his head back towards the boy as the screen door of the neighbor’s home323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoHYQY7NcE
slammed shut. 323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscVvhSAQFe
323Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytu7stROEz
