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"Everybody has a secret world inside of them. All of the people of the world, I mean everybody. No matter how dull and boring they are on the outside, inside them they've all got unimaginable, magnificent, wonderful, stupid, amazing worlds. Not just one world. Hundreds of them. Thousands maybe" ~ Neil Gaiman (A Game of You)

7.23.2010

Boy Meets Girl

He had never been the new kid at school before, and to be quite frank, it sucked.  Everyone staring at him, or everyone ignoring him to talk to their obviously already well-established friends, either way was awful.  He thought back to the new kids he had seen come and go and wished he had been a little kinder.

Even a smile would be nice at this point, but he had his eyes trained firmly on the empty notebook in front of him, so he wouldn't have seen it even if it had been offered.  He opened to a blank page and began doodling an eyeball, anything to keep his attention away from the frightening masses around him.  For once, he wished the teacher would hurry up and start the class.  Even geometry had to be better than this.

Her laugh caught him off guard and caused him to raise his head from its safe place.  He looked over at her.  Her hands gesticulated wildly as she continued telling her story.  The boy sitting next to her snorted, and the girl behind him wiped a tear from her eyes as her shoulders shook with giggles.  He wished he sat close enough to catch the words.  It wasn't a private moment; she didn't seem like she would mind if he stole a little pleasure from her story.  She finished with a wave of hands and a rolling of eyes.  The group around her erupted again, just as the teacher stood and asked them to please turn to page 112 of their textbooks.

The lesson was easy.  He was glad to know he was ahead of the class and wouldn't have to spend hours studying to catch up.  The period passed slowly, and he thought about his next class, physics, and hoped he would be on track with there, too.  When the bell rang, it caught him daydreaming and planning and worrying.  He looked up at the board where the teacher had written the day's homework assignment.  He quickly copied it down and began scooping his books into his backpack.

He hadn't been fast enough.  Somebody pushing past him -- a football player, no doubt, with that mammoth physique -- knocked into his desk and sent his math book flying.  Flustered, he waited for the remaining students to file by before attempting to rescue it.  He reached down to retrieve it, and his hand bumped into hers.  He glanced up in surprise to see the most incredible blue green eyes looking back at him.  It was her.  His thanks stuck in his throat; he stared.  She picked up the book and handed it to him.  She smiled, and her eyes became electric, and he didn't think he had ever seen anyone so beautiful before in his life.

And then she was gone, out the door, and he hadn't said thank you, didn't even smile in return.

*****

Today's prompt:

Pick two established characters, either from your own work or others’. Now write the scene/story of their meeting.  


To play along, visit Write Anything's [Fiction] Friday.

21 comments:

Kyara said...

I love how we both finished the prompt right after each other, how funny!
I really enjoyed this.
It's both fortunate and unfortunate that I can relate to the feelings the boy had.
I've been the "new kid" plenty of times, and it really is rough...
But simultaneously, it's comforting to know that there are kind people out there to make the transition a little easier, and you captured that moment well.
It's a bittersweet story in that he wasn't able to voice his gratitude before she whizzed away.

Renee said...

How sweet...This story is played out all over in schools across this country and beyond I am sure....and I believe it is only the beginning and they will meet again....he will have another chance to connect with this smiling girl :)
I like it!

Marisa Birns said...

Ah, the pangs of being a new kid in school. You've depicted it quite well here. Maybe the days to come will help him find his place. Perhaps with the girl with the electric eyes?

Well done!

John Pender said...

Oh boy, new kid syndrome! I know all too well the feelings running through this poor kid.

Shelli said...

Thanks, Kyara. I think it may have been a little too cliche, but it works for my novel.

Renee, Marisa, John -- thank you. I'm glad I was able to capture some authenticity with this.

Jason Coggins said...

You certainly captured the anxiety of school days. I saw myself as your main character - right down to the hiding of my head in my desk ... but unlike your main character I never experienced the kindness of girls - electric eyes or otherwise. Cue world's smallest violin ... .

Anonymous said...

I see this all the time being a teacher. You try and make the new person feel comfortable and give them a "buddy" to help them out the first few days.
Very well captured.

Shelli said...

Jason -- Thanks for the comments. And high school sucks; thank goodness life gets better, right?

Adam -- Ah, you're a teacher! That explains why you do the MG/YA voice so well. I think my character would have died if she had been assigned as his "buddy."

Susan G. Haws said...

Everyone has been the "new kid" one way or another. So it is not cliche it is universal experience. (Tight rope walk between the two. You do a good job making something universal fresh and interesting.)

Scott said...

Definitely evoked those anxious feelings. I was invested in these characters (and didn't even learn their names!). Nice writing.

Walt said...

I can remember a time when I was the new kid in school. It can be both frustrating and intimidating, you portrayed that well. The ending was excellent, makes me wonder if has a chance with her or if he has insulted her by not saying a word as she handed him the book.

Well done

Icy Sedgwick said...

ARGH! Does he get the girl?!?!?!

I've never been "the new kid" but I can only imagine how stressful it can be but you've captured that perfectly!

Laura Rachel Fox said...

A beautiful meeting. You were able to capture a moment that many can relate to. I enjoyed the beginnings of a relationship between the two. You were able to reveal those feelings of overwhelming adoration perfectly in just a few sentences.

Shelli said...

How nice to wake up to such wonderful comments!

Susan -- Thank you so much. I was worried I'd find myself on the wrong side of that line.

Scott -- Thank you! I do reveal the name of the girl in my novel, but I never give the boy a name. That's why I didn't do it here.

Walt -- Thanks! Kind of like in an earlier flash I wrote, does he have a chance, and does he take it? I'm not telling yet.

Icy -- Ha! You have to read the novel to find out. :) And since I just finished my first draft, that could take awhile... And thank you for your comments.

Laura -- Thank you! That was exactly the emotion I was trying to convey. I'm so glad it worked.

mazzz in Leeds said...

Oh, I remember all too well what it was like being the new kid!
Very well portrayed here, nice work

Anonymous said...

Oh my the effect one person can have on another. That sweet girl probably didn't even realize her own power. Or if she did, I hope she uses it for good. Again. :) VERY nicely told Shelli. As always.

Anonymous said...

So . . . you're sending in some of your novel for us to look at for our next meeting, right? Right?

Great emotion, intriguing characters. Can't wait to read more!

Wendy

Shelli said...

Mazzz -- Thanks, and thanks for coming by to read!

Carrie -- Thank you, and you will eventually find out what happens to them, because...

Wendy -- yes, I will be sending some of my novel EVENTUALLY. I really have to edit it first. I can't expect you guys to do all the hard work, and there's really a lot of dreck in there right now. Thank you for your comments!

keiths ramblings said...

Delightful, it brought so many memories back.

Stacey said...

Loved the scene you portrayed, very well written!

Shelli said...

Thank you, Keith and Anastasia!