Short Story

“No need to stare, young one. You’ve never paid this close of attention to my born form.” I glanced up to see his chapped lips pulled up in a devilish smile. Raspy laughter could barely be heard, the only way to truly tell the subtle noise was coming from the man before me was the slight shake of his shoulders. I clasped my hands beneath the table, trying to find some way to begin the conversation we were to have.

I leave his room and turn off the light. I shut his door and start walking across the hall to my bedroom. After letting out a long and shaky breath, I open my door.

It was another day in the wonderful world of VMI. Today started off just like any day here: your phone wakes you up with that dreadful sound, you go to BRC, and you go to classes. Except I was anxious to get the next twenty-four hours over and done with. I told my loved ones I was digitally disappearing for the next twenty-four hours. My isolation began at four p.m on Monday, October 2. This was the moment I feared the most. My finger struggled to hit the power off button, refusing as if it had a mind of its own. I went down to the rifle range for practice feeling like I had forgotten something. Minutes felt like hours and hours felt like days. I slowly walked back to barracks realizing how beautiful the colors of the leaves were.

It was the day I would get to sit by Aaron and enjoy a wonderful movie. With fright in me I looked through my closet and picked something simple out. A pair of Aeropostale skinny jeans and a cardigan. Aaron picked me up and he set off the day with a light and fluffy mood in the car. Talking softly and making me feel comfortable. We got there and being a gentlemen he paid for my ticket. “ Let's get some popcorn” He said. We got in line and he asked if I would like anything else. When a man with his date cuts us. Suddenly the atmosphere has darkened, Aaron's doughy eyes became sharp. He aggressively pushed them out of his way and said we were here first. The man said sorry we didn’t realize you were in line. Aaron says clearly you didn't like he was trying to pick a fight. The couple rolled their eyes and just kept to themselves. We awkwardly ordered and went to your seats, scared I wanted this date over as quickly as

My eyes fall to Thorn and there’s a similar softness gracing her features. She doesn’t blame me either. But it doesn’t matter if they don’t blame me because guess what?

“Hey Julia you look different!” Called some kid ,wearing an oh-so-geeky-smile, from across the bus. I didn't know what to say, did I really look that different? Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, OH-MY-GOSH I saw Scott Hudson out of the corner of my eye, I tried to act casual but i'm not sure if he saw me. He had on a wrinkled red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and a pair of new gray vans,he smelled of old spice and cedar , his hair was slightly gelled into a rough looking coiffure. I've had a crush on Scott since kindergarten, I wonder if he even remembers me , does he remember when we shared that pack of peanut butter crackers, does he think I'm pretty, does he even know my name.

“The Outer-Ring,” he said, laughing at the irony as he braced for impact. “A new step for mankind.”

I walk to the garage which is giant , filled with nice cars with pretty colors.  Not me though i hop on my baby a black Ducati  since I was the leader I got choice of what car I wanted or whatever so I got a sexy beast.

It was a cold day in January in Concord, Maine, around thirty five degrees Fahrenheit. Colby Watts wasn't cold, he was hot. That's what would happen when he got nervous. Colby was auditioning for the lead role in their High School musical "Romeo and Julien" with modern twist on a classic story. It was a brilliant idea according to their director, and Colby was auditioning for the main role Julien, He would finally get the solo he had been hoping for since he had been a freshman, now he is a junior. He was sitting in the back room of the school auditorium, nervously shaking in his sent. Then Mr. Nichols, their director opened the door,

A few months ago this guy showed up and said he was his nephew. Within a few days, Gary left town without saying anything to anyone. I tried telling everyone Gary said he had no relatives, but they weren’t interested. When my husband passed away in May, I forgot about it and never mentioned it again. Now there are too many strange things going on over there. I see six to eight people go into that house and they never open the curtains. Now, don’t you think that’s odd?” Squinting, her eyes, she asked.

If you’re reading this you probably are wanting to know what you were like back in your youth (Yes, you are old now). To start, I’ll tell you a little about what is going on in the family right now. Well, I just turned 18 and let’s just say so far I am enjoying it. Grandpa and Grandma just put addition on their house. Dad is still making up his mind on whether or not he wants to sell the ranger (he has been in the process of deciding whether to sell it or not for about two months now). Mom just got back from Texas the other day. Her job at Nelnet has her traveling almost every other week now. Our little brother, Caden is a freshman right now. He thinks he’s a tough guy because he’s almost as tall as me. Owen is constantly wrestling Max

"William watched Abigail for a moment noticing her stiff nature. " Abigail, " He said with his tone shaking slightly. William knew something was wrong Abigail was not her usual self.

It was Christmas Eve day in London, England 2015 and Baltimore was in a staring with his cat Shawlings. “Blast!!!” he called out. “You’ve beaten me once again in another staring contest, Shawlings. I don’t know how you do it”. Shawlings starred as Baltimore hopped off of his bed to get his phone and text his all-time and only best friend Sebastian. Baltimore: Hey, Bastian, you wanna come over now?... He noticed that Sebastian hadn’t texted back as fast as usual. He looks over to Shawlings. “He isn’t texting back like he usually does, Shawlings… Oh well I guess I’ll just call him in about five minutes” he said; jumped onto the bed to continue his staring contest with Shawlings.

I look down at my feet as I pull the door open, I run into someone this completely caught me off guard and I stumble back a few steps before falling. Before I could fall someone grabs my wrist “Whoa” I look up “you okay?” it’s a guy ‘bout my age I stable myself and then he lets go my wrist. “I’m fine” I say forcing myself to smile “I’m Phoenix” “I’m Arabelle” I stutter. “Sorry I was looking down when I open the door…” “Hey don’t worry about it” he smiles and exposes his shiny braces to me. He’s literally an inch taller than me and we share the same brown hair color. He’s got blue eyes and his skin is a soft white. I close my eyes and move out of the way “Well it was running into you to m’lady” When he says this I tense up. M’lady what is this an old love movie? “Nice to meet you too” He doesn’t move “ Maybe we’ll cross paths again?” he says smiling. “Yeah” a smile escapes from me and so does a giggle. He leaves the hospital and I continue my walk down the horrible smelling hospital hall. I’ll admit he’s a cutie, at least that’s what my mom would probably say if she saw him. I laugh out loud to the thought of my mom making fun of me and a little girl with an air tank looks at me. She’s sitting in one of the hospital chairs “excuse me” the little girl says softly. I kid you not she looks just like that Phoenix guy “What’s so funny?” Oh she’s talking to me “Just thinking about my mom” I say with a big smile “Oh I thought it was because you were just talking to my brother,

I hand my pocket change to the homeless man who camps out the apartments, he quickly count the change and grins