I got up early the next morning, having kicked my headset off in my sleep. Nevertheless, I could still hear the alarm blaring from beside my head, aggressively ordering me to get ready. It was odd waking up to the sight of my cobweb-covered, practically empty room rather than the digital world I’d put so much effort into perfecting. Stretching my limbs, I got to my feet, grabbing an old gray t-shirt from my closet and a pair of black jeans from the floor. I even grabbed the ragged black hoodie I’d gotten eight years ago to prepare for the cold. Pulling them on, I snatched my bag off the ground and settled the headset over my forehead. I headed out to the living room to grab my shoes, the sound of my parents snoring following me down the hall. Cobwebs collected on my socks as I approached the door, and I had to give my feet a good cleaning before I slipped on my sneakers. Pulling the headset back over my eyes, I headed outside, skipping down the stairs and wandering toward the school building. Though I’m certain I could’ve found my way without the headset’s directions, I still wasn’t ready to face the real world just yet.
The walk to school today was just as bad as it was yesterday, and it was a relief once I could enter the cool, light air of the school. Flipping the headset back up over my head, I adjusted my bag on my shoulders as I was once again faced with the dilemma of how to walk down the school hallway. Yesterday, I had gone for confidence, only to be made a laughing stock. Showing off my arm muscles had been unsuccessful, and no dominance had been asserted. Other than Axel, the son of a high-ranking security guard who had somehow ended up here, the other scholars saw me as nothing more than one of them. My name had no meaning here. It was an odd feeling to feel so small, like you were just another number. Lowering my head, I kept my eyes on the ground and headed for the classroom door.
“Hey, uh, you!”
Subconsciously, I lifted my head. It was the pink-eyed blonde from yesterday. What was his name again? Oh, right, Alden. He was standing in the midst of his friends, waving to me as though we’d known each other for years. What did he want? To show me some more banned literature to change my mind? Let him try!
“Huh?”
He stared at me expectantly, tilting his head to indicate I should approach. As I continued to hesitate, the pink-haired terror at his side began to squeal loudly, making a scene.
“Come on! Get over here! Don’t make us beg for ya!”
The people in the hall began casting us irritable and/or confused glances, the likes of which made my cheeks burn in embarrassment. I don’t know why I cared about their opinions, but I did. Huffing, I came to join them.
“It was about time.” Fickle let out a puff of breath as she leaned against the lockers. “I was starting to think you’d just keep standing there with your mouth hanging open forever.”
“Good morning,” Alden smiled softly as Craven began to scold his sister. “You look more prepared for the weather today.”
Was he making fun of me?!
“Yes, I figured the weather would be similar to yesterday, and it was a bit chilly.”
He nodded, dipping his head. “I just wanted to thank you again for what you did. You spared me a lot of trouble.”
I couldn’t help the prickle of suspicion that ran down my back. He was still thanking me even though I’d destroyed his book? This must be some way of belittling me. Nonetheless, he couldn’t know how much it was affecting me.
“Of course. I was only doing what a good citizen would do.”
“I don’t think I ever caught your name.”
Now he wanted my name? Was he going to find my address and ship me one of those heretic books he’d been reading?
“It’s Brash.” I had to stop myself from adding in the 907 part. Best not tell him my last name for fear he really was interested in my address.
“Brash?” The orange-haired kid, Link, poked his head around Alden’s shoulder. “That’s your name?”
“Yes.” I puffed out my chest slightly.
“I thought your name was Rash this whole time!” He began to cackle loudly, hard enough to shake the room.
“R-Rash?!” Why would he think my name was Rash? What idiot would name their kid that?!
“Yeah, like a skin rash!” Fickle managed to escape Craven’s scoldings to join in the fun. So this had been a scheme by both of them! “Kinda fits you, don’t you think?”
“My name is not Rash!” I could feel the heat running to my cheeks as they continued to laugh and poke fun. This was outright disrespectful to the son of the city’s most influential couple! “And that name does NOT suit me!”
“Now he looks like one!” She pointed at my flushed cheeks with one finger, her long nail an inch away from poking my skin. I quickly slapped it away, preventing myself from tackling her over.
The people around us were beginning to stare, some of them even adding in their own chuckles. More blood ran to my head as their laughs rang in my ears. How dare these insolent poor people mock me! How dare they call me such awful names! Did they even know who they were disrespecting? And why did this make me feel so terrible inside? Why did I even care what they thought? Why was I paying so much attention to this? It was probably some stupid scheme the whole class had devised to humiliate me, and I had fallen for it! I was such an idiot!
