At six thirty the alarm clock goes off, frustratingly I press the pillow over my head to avoid that annoying sound- which isn’t working very well. “ugghhh,” I sign and turn the alarm clock off. I throw the pillow to the ground, staring at the ceiling fan so I could possibly find some motivation- doesn’t seem to work, so I look around. “Wow, my dark wood dresser really compliments the blue walls,” I think. My eyes wonder while I lay in bed still like a statute; however, my eyes gets caught on a little chest I have had since I was younger. In the mornings, the chest sits on my dark wooden dresser- staring at me. “I wonder what might be inside. But I lost the key,” I think. My mother says it was my grandmothers, then she handed it down to her and then little o’ me. Yet it stays there: never touched, never opened. Waking up in the morning is a drag but eventually, I get up and crawl to the bathroom. “Whoa!?” Did I mention I’m a crazy sleeper and wake up scarier than the Boogie man. “Yikes,” I scrabble through the cabinets and find my brush. I attempt to brush through it- that’s not going to happen; then, getting my hair wet I brush through it gently- staring from the bottom to the top. With the half empty toothpaste tube, I carefully squeeze the toothpaste on my toothbrush. In a circular motion I scrub my teeth starting with: front, sides, back, tongue, repeat. With that out of the way, I head to my closet, there’s a lot of vibrant colors and a lot of dark colors. There’s a lot varieties too: short sleeve, long sleeve, crop tops, tube tops, sweaters, sweatshirts, carnages. “What to wear,” I say and stare at the options. “Maybe a maroon long sleeve with a carnage that matches and a pair of ripped jeans.” I put them all together and makes the decision to wear it. “Oh shoes,” I say while looking at the shoe rack. I grab my furry moccasins and slip them on my feet. Once I’m satisfied with the outfit, I go down stairs for breakfast. “Good morning,” my mom says while pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Morning” I say, looking for something to eat- I grab a bagel and cream cheese. “So, I want to talk to you about something if that’s fine with you,” I says and takes a drink. “What did I do now?” She looks like me, she walks over to the kitchen table and takes a sit. “What’s wrong, you never like to talk to me?” Her eyebrows rinse. “What do you mean; I’m talking to you now?” I say while scraping the cream cheese on the whole wheat bagel. “No, like you never tell me what your feeling, you never tal-“I interrupt her. “Because I don’t need too, I’m fine!” I stomp away and angrily leave for school. Outside is heat and humid, automatically my arm pits start sweating. “Typical Florida,” I think. The school building is tan and made out of bricks- It’s pretty tall because it’s two stories tall. There’s a big window on the side of the building- the commons. All the smart people rushes and herds inside the school, while everyone else, well, sit outside in a blazing hot sun. People are different here; they all have there our style, different ethnicities and lifestyles. “Hey Daylon,” I say “Hi,” back and keep it moving. Eventually, I get to my dark green locker- the hallways are filled. “Just another day,” I mumble. As I open my locker, I spot the unoriginal and wannabes. Then, the originals and awesome people that stand across the hallway. Suddenly, before I could even react someone nudges my head forward. It heads face first for the locker; then, it impacts with it making a loud “BOMB.”   Anger flows through me like water traveling through sewage pipes. Annoyed, fierce and ready; I twist around to see who’s going to have my wrath. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” clenching my fist. It was a six foot three, with short brunet hair, stupid head named Dimitri. His cheeks were puffed out about to laugh. “I’m sad to call you my best friend,” I shake my head and punch him dead in the chest. He stumbles and tries to catch his breath. “I-I’m sorry.” He whimpers while walking off hunched over while holding his injury- “ha-ha sucker,” I think. I grab my Psychology text book and folder; as soon as, I walked into class it was a lifeless, colorless, characterless feel and look. Ten minutes in, “Can I go to the restroom please?” impatiently raising my hand “Sure, make it quick please,” Mrs. Pam says. In my head, I already know that’s not going to happen. “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” I go to the restroom; I look at and get a glimps of my hair - thanks to the humidity my dark kinky curly hair are Mufasa’s mane. “Jolly,” I say to myself; then, pulls my hair down with mild force-didn’t work. “Whatever,” I passively say; I arrange my makeup and apply a fresh coat over my old makeup. “I woke up like this, flawless,” I sing in confidence- then though my I definitely did not wake up like this. After, that I take my precious time heading back to class. The class room is dark, “Great now everyone is going to look at me for interrupting,” I think. I open the room quietly and tippy toe to my desk; I try not to pay attention to the eyes following me to my sit. Mrs. Pam continues to bore us with videos that are pain, tears, and wickedness. She’s one of those people that discourage and unhappy with her life- like a woman that lives with cats. After, those dreadful four classes: worn out, miserable, and distress. I finally get to the place where people talk loud and act their selves in front of their friends- I always wondered what they’re thinking when they act “cool” in front of everyone. “Maybe I should jump on the table and dance,” “That was a great reaction, I’m going to do it again.” Fifteen years later, they’ll look back and remember their ignorance and foolishness. Arriving to the commons/ lunch room, Dimitri sitting stiff and still on the daily lunch table. His eye were widen and was focused on his game, his fingers tapped rapidly on the phone screen- it was the only movement he was doing.  My eyes squint and focuses on him as a sit- waiting. “You know, I always think if it was possible that there were human like beings living on Mars,” I say. He continues to focus on his game. “Like on Ancient Aliens It said that they probably came to earth and showed us how to cure, build, and how to use their technology.” His eyebrow pinch in confusion; then, he paused his game and gave a “are you alright and what are you talking about” kind of look.
“WHAT?!” He says with confusion. Then something hits me and it makes so much sense, “Oh! What if everything just paused for twelve million years without anyone even knowing?” Enthusiastic and curious, I smile thinking I’m a genius. “You’re stupid,” he says. He gives glare and smiled, “But you’re right maybe that is possible.” Dimitri starts laughing at my thoughts,    “I wonder why I share my thoughts with you.” I scrabble through my backpack too look for my earbuds. “Because I’m your friend and friends share their thoughts, no matter how ridicules it sounds.” I nod in agreement and place both of the earbuds. Every day, I enjoy to sound of music, something about it continues to make me concentrate and gets my creative juices flowing. Unconsciously, I daydream about random stuff – like what just happened like 5 minutes ago. I snap back to reality noticing I was biting my nails- I always catch myself doing that. “Oh yeah I forgot about my lunch,” I say and pull out my lunch bag from my backpack. Dimitri takes a bite out of his roast beef sandwich looks good; however, if only he didn’t overdose on the mayo. I pull out my sandwich- turkey-. It’s less exciting: turkey, cheddar cheese, mayo, and mustard. Whatever food is food, so I take a bite. “What?” Unaware that Dimitri’s eye were locked on my sandwich, his mouth was slightly opened. “No,” I say while twisting away from him. “Just one bite?” My eyes squint staring into his soul; then, I lift my head studying his face. “Then you’ll have to give me your fruit snack,” I smirk in wickedness. We have a stare down for 5 seconds. “Nahh, it’s not worth it,” he gives in. “ha-ha,” I laugh and continues to eat. “Hey Dimitri,” two girls walk passed him, one of them brushes their finders across his shoulders. “Hey, how you are girls today,” he smiles and the girls sits side by side from him. Annoyed I shake my head and blast my music until they leave. When, they leave a giant smile was spread across his face. “You’re kidding me, right?” He looks up trying to hold his smile. In disbelief, I shake my head again. “What they’re just friends,” he says. He looks over at the girls – they’re short, one has blond long hair the other has long brown hair. Those are the type of girls I call, “wannabes.” They try too hard to be something they’re not. “Since, when did you start talking to them?” I say. I forgot he plays football, and the game just had a game last Friday and he scores three touchdowns. “Just happened, are you jealous?” I ignore and blast my music, he glances at me and then he keeps eating. “Am I jealous?” I think to myself; however, lately I’ve been Dimitri has been looking cuter. One thing I’ve been friends with him for ages, “NO, don’t’ think that, he’s my best friend and it’s going to stay that way!” I think. Once, lunch is over me and Dimitri head to our class. We take our regular sits, “So, today my mom tried talking to me, saying how I never talk about feelings.” I put my hood up and cover the bright irritating lights. “Maybe you need to open up to her, she probably needs clarity,” he says. “Yeah but I hate being all touchy feely, it feels weird,” I shrug. He has a worried face plastered on his face. “Well I say you do, I’d hate to have a heavy weigh on my shoulder with bundled up feelings,” he says. I start to notice that might to true but I don’t want everyone to know my business. “I mean you’ve missed so many moments when you could’ve shared,” he says. “You’re right,” I nob and take it in consideration. My mom does seem to be going thought a lot lately, maybe she does someone to talk too. “Hey do you know that meaning of life?” he asked with his eyebrows pinched. “Um, well I think that nobody should be wrapped up in a blanket al their lives- like go explore your fears and joys,” I smile at him and slide my hood off my head. “Why?” He writes every word I spook on a crumbled piece of paper with other crosses out sentences, his hand writing is small and looks like chicken scratch. “It’s a project and I have no idea what to do it about,” he focuses on the sheet of paper.                                         “Oh, what class?”  I ask trying to read the other ideas: how to think positive when life is down, the things you need for making pizza, what things you need to know when doing for a touchdown. “Haha, the things you need for making a pizza?”                                                                   I laugh and he looks at me smiling, “Don’t judge me trying to be creative.” I try to keep my laugh in but the air blows out my nostrils. “Daylon, can you answer the question,” the teacher says. “Um which question?” I stare at the teacher- completely forgetting I was in a class. Everyone turns their heads over to me, I look around and notice they’re focused on me and only me. “My point exactly,” the teacher says. I my eyes squint and my face tenses up, anger rushes though me. “Please tell me what your point is exactly? Is it that whenever I’m in your class you have the same emotion pasted on your face or is it that you don’t know how to teach and keep your students entertained?” I sit back and cross my arms. The teacher stares at me in surprise. “Excuses me? You can go to the principal’s office right now,” the teacher walks over to the phone and dials the office number. Everyone glares with big eyes and mouths are dropped, Dimitri holds his hand out expecting a high five. I smack his hand with intense strength; then, he shakes his hand – I don’t think he knows how strong I am. “Why is it that no teachers like to deal with their own problems, they want to go and tattle tale and expect their students to change.” I stomp out the classroom and to the office, the principle waiting by the doorway. His tall and bald, he wears ties that are too small and looks like he hasn’t seen his belt in years. I call him the “Bald eagle,” his arms are crossed and he taps his foot. “Thank you for coming,” I look at him and walk into his office, he has all his souvenirs from when he traveled all 50 states. “So, you interrupted class and disrespected your teacher,” he says. I look at him and roll my eyes. “She accused me of interrupting class because I had a little giggle and not only that but she disrespected me too, I’m not the only one here!” He gives me a look of disbelief. I stare at him until he gives me a response. “Well it was still-,” interrupt him and sits forward on my chair “Did you not hear what I said, I’m not the only one here,” He sits back and we sit in complete silence for a moment. “I do understand but we are talking about you right now - NOT her.” I sit back and give up. “So by you not paying attention in class and disrespecting your teacher by saying unacceptable words, I’ll have to call your mother.” I shake my head and look study the grey carpet. “Whatever, I don’t care.” He gives me a fake smirk and sends me to a small room for the rest of the hour. I sit in there by myself and doodle then I listen to music; before they put me in the room, they told me to give me my phone- I lied and said I didn’t have one. I slid my hood over my puffy hair and put in my earbuds. Filled with boredom, I fall asleep for about twenty minutes. Finally they let me out and go to my next class, Dimitri runs to me “Hey, did you get in huge trouble?” I look at him and I shrug, he stares waiting for an answer. He pokes my shoulder, “No, I didn’t all I know is that my mom is not going to be happy.” His eyes widen and is surprised. When they day is over, Dimitri gives me a ride. “Thanks for the ride,” I slam the door closed. The house has flowers my mom installed in the front lawn- she probably got them from a greenhouse market or something. The outside walls is a pale yellow, when people drive by they might think it’s an “All American” type of house hold – but it’s not. I walk through the door and it’s silent. I glance down at my mom’s shoes – she’s probably waiting for me. I slip off my shoes and to the kitchen. “So what happened today?” she asks. She sits at the table on her phone. “I guess I disrespected my teacher but it wasn’t just me, she did it too.” She looks up at me. “That’s not what I heard, sit down,” I walk over to the table and sits down slowly.  She watches me, “What’s going on with you Daylon?” She face softens and her eyebrows lift.        “I’m fine,” I say biting my nails. She takes a drink of you water, she squints her eyes at me covering her mouth. “Please, talk to me,” she sounds sincere; then, I sigh and hunch over. “I don’t like getting touchy feely, because I don’t want people to know why I’m in pain; so I bundle it up and hide my feelings to everyone and I realize that it’s not working.” She looks at me a surprise, “Ever since, I heard you and dad are getting a divorce I shattered me.” I start to feel my face getting warm and tears forming in my eyes. “I understand it’s hurting me too,” she says crying. “I thought this would never happened but it did, I’m sorry,” she covers her face and sabs. “And I know you’re going through a lot mom and I can see you suffer, that’s why I never want to talk to you. I don’t want to give you more of a heartbreak.” The tears start to fill my eyes; eventually, the tears fall down my face like a waterfall. “No, you can talk to me about anything honey you know that,” she gets up from her chair and sits by me, her eyes are red. She reaches out and grabs my hand – I can feel the wetness from her hands. I smile and give her a long hug, it felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders – clarity.  After, that I got up to my room, as soon as, I walked in my room a sharp silver piece was on the carpet. I pick it up – it was the key to the chest. Surprised and excited, I rush over to the chest and unlocked it. Little did I know but there was a: dairy, necklace and a diamond ring. I learned even though it’s rough on the outside there’s beautiful on the inside.