A Daydream Away

Jack’s POV

Rain never bothered me. In fact, I love storms. The air pressure, the booming thunder, the crack of the lightning that could kill instantly or burn down an entire forest. It was like my parents when they fought, which was quiet often. They didn’t split up for the kids though. My older sister was already out of the house, but they had my little brother and I to worry about. I wouldn’t really mind if my dad was out of the house. Less beer bottles and cigarettes for me to clean up. My little brother wouldn’t like it though. He hated it when they fight, and my parents knew that. But they did it anyway.
I laid there on a park bench in the rain for two hours. I was only across the street from the school, but no one came looking for me. I doubted anyone cared. My friends probably hadn’t even noticed I was gone, and my teachers were probably overjoyed that I was gone so I didn’t interrupt their lessons.
‘Why do I even do that?’ I thought ‘I like school. I like to learn. Why do I have to fucking ruin everything all the time?’
‘Because that’s what you’re meant to do.’ A voice whispered in the back of my mind. I didn’t even argue, because I knew it was true. My parents mostly fought over me. My grades, my lack of relationships, my back talking, my lack of participation in sports, the music I listen to, the way I eat or sleep or whatever.
I ruined my teacher’s plans, and thus ruined my grades. I pretended not to care about grades, but honestly, I knew all the stuff they were teaching. I just couldn’t imagine me going to college when I could do so much more.
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I was a virgin, too. Which drove my dad crazy. He lost his virginity when he was a freshman, and wanted me to do the same. Even encouraged me to bring a girl home. I told Max I slept with girls in other schools, that way I wouldn’t be in ‘his territory’, since he sleeps with all the girls at our school. But, my first kiss wasn’t even with a girl. It was in 8th grade, with a guy.
I argued with everyone. I had a short temper, according to my parents. It was true, I knew that, but I didn’t want to fix it. At least I didn’t yell at them when my baby brother was around.
I didn’t like sports, which was also a big issue. I only watched football because, well, everyone in Baltimore did. I did like the Ravens. I had gone to games, but I could live without it. I didn’t play anything. No soccer, no running track, no football or baseball.
I was a walking disappointment, and I accepted that. But I also hated myself for it.
That’s why I preferred sitting out here in the pouring rain, because I couldn’t possibly mess anything up by sitting in the rain. I could get struck by lightning, but that would probably solve everyone’s problems. I mean, it isn’t like I want to die. But I would move out of the way if a car was zooming at me or someone had a gun to my head.
I just need someone to keep me sane. No one I knew could do that. Everyone else in my life drove me insane.
I turned my head, looking towards the school. The bell had just rung and kids were already pouring out. Buses were being loaded and cars were taking off, and I was left here. I’d have to walk home in the pouring rain, causing probably another argument between my parents.
I groaned, closing my eyes. How was I going to get out of this one?
I heard footsteps coming up behind me, but I didn’t bother to open my eyes. Whoever it was probably thought I was an idiot anyway.
“Uh… hey there”
My eyes popped open, taking in the familiar voice. It had never spoken to me before, but I’d heard it so many times before in class and in the hallways.
I turned my head to face the one and only Alex Gaskarth.
‘Do I make a joke, like he would expect? Do I ignore him like my friends would do? Do I great him like an acquaintance?’
“Hey there.” I said, smiling. I wonder if he knew how insanely gorgeous he was. He stood slightly shorter than I, and had gorgeous eyes, like ones you’d find on your favorite celebrity after they’d been photo-shopped to look perfect, except his already looked extremely bright in real life. Even in the rain the dark hazel eyes stood out to me.
His hair was wet, but still somehow looked flawless, unlike mine, which was falling in front of my face.
His face was set perfectly. I appreciated his nose, probably because mine was too big for my face. And, according to his Green Day shirt, we liked the same music.
Okay, so maybe I had a tiny crush on Alex Gaskarth. But no one knew that.
Everyone knew Alex was gay, and no one minded. Rumor had it that he had a boyfriend who went to his old private school, and they’d been dating for a couple years. He hadn’t confirmed it though.
“Do you… like… do you need a ride?” the boy in front of me asked.
I smiled in spite of myself, and looked down at my sopping wet clothes.
“I’ll probably get your car wet.” I said laughing.
He smiled, looking at the ground and twisting his feet around, like a kid after his mom caught him taking candy.
“Well, my house is actually a two minute walk from here. I walk home, obviously. No buses go to my neighborhood and my mom won’t let me drive the car to school, since that would just waste gas. My mom is at work, so you could just come over and dry off, and I’ll drive you home?”
He sputtered his paragraph out quickly, like he was worried I’d laugh in his face. God, did I really freak him out that much?
“You know what, Alex? I’ll take you up on that offer.” I stood up and ruffled my hair back to normal, or as normal as it could get in the pouring rain.
Alex smiled at me and pointed to a spot I couldn’t see through the rain, and muttered something about his house.
I smiled, following the boy to his house. All the way there, we talked about absolutely nothing, but I enjoyed his company more than I had ever enjoyed anyone else’s. His laugh made me laugh, and his smile lit up the whole rainy walk to our destination.
The voice screaming in the back of my mind was right. Alex Gaskarth was the perfect person to be alone with.
Now I just had to get over the urge I had to pull him close to me and kiss him in the pouring rain.
I needed to stop watching chick flicks.

Notes