Quick note! I never thought I would have it in me to do a complete non fantasy story, but last night this idea came to me. Please don’t get offended at me poking fun of Emo people, there is a greater meaning than just being mean. I promise!! Sorry for any dumb mistakes in grammar and spelling . Enjoy!

“Get out! Just find something to do for the next couple of hours, okay little bro?” Miguel, my older brother, ordered me, shoving a wad of cash into my hands.

“Get something to eat too while your at it! Take the Bus!” He said, with his shirt off, standing there only in jeans. He was practically pushing me out the door. But I guess that is the ‘norm’ behavior when he has a girl over.

“Okay, let me just grab my ipod.” I said, pushing my body back in the door.

“Hey! I already thought of that!” he pushed my black ipod in my face, and gave me a big shove, returning me outside.

“Have fun! And Don’t Be STUPID!” He commanded, slamming the door out of excitement. Ugh his gross footsteps could be heard pounding up our stairs, I feel sorry for that girl.

We lived in a one bedroom apartment, in an uppity apartment complex. It was either an uppity one bedroom, or a cruddy two bedroom. I had no choice in the matter, so of course Miguel chose the best thing for himself rather than me. My dad is overseas working the only job he could find to support us after the death of our mother. Of course this resulted in leaving me with Miguel. I love him and I like him alright, but he can be so selfish.

I walked the empty streets, with my ipod keeping me company. Where could I possibly go at eleven o’clock at night, when everything is closing? No CD stores opened, which was basically the only place I ever went. I had no clue. All I could do was jump on the bus, and hope for a decent destination to phase me. The bus was filled with drifters, like me I guess. I kept my eyes glued to the window, seeking out a decent location. Finally, street after street, I spotted a nice coffee house that was open. This seemed very unusual to me, but I was going to take it. I pulled the rope, and got off the bus.

The coffee house was small, and cornered on Hux Street. It had an old world look, decorated with rugged looking stones on the outside. I guess it was typical of someone like me to be drawn to a place like this loaded with caffeine and snobby conversation, If I ever talked to anyone that is.

I stepped into the door. An annoying ring followed my entrance, allowing every other loser to know that I had arrived. I hated these kinds of things. Inside, contrary to outside, looked very modern. I picked a nice table in the corner to take refuge at. Good thing I had my ipod, god knows what kind of music they play in this store. I scanned the area, looking at the different people around me. There was an artsy looking couple, clad in black coats, engaging in what it seemed to be a political conversation. My eyes then ventured to a middle aged gentleman with a laptop, typing away. I wonder if he is a writer, one of those weird ones like Chuck Palahniuk or Edgar Allen Poe. Who knows, I didn’t read enough. I wonder if that guy is writing about how some asshole teenager (me) is looking at him at this very moment. While I was thinking about this, I felt something light hit me on the head.

“Huh?” I said, turning to my side, staring at a couple of meat-head jocks. Apparently they thought doing things types of things to people like me was hilarious. They are probably angry that all of their girlfriends like guys like me. I have to admit I get my share of preppy type girls asking me out.

“What? Are you gonna cry emo kid??? Faggot!” they shouted at me, laughing that meaty laugh. I was about to respond, however, I was interrupted by a female voice.

“Hi, would you like a cup of coffee?” the woman asked me, with her painfully cheery voice. Apparently she was my waitress, and not bad looking! Sometimes actions are more powerful than words.

“Sure I would” I replied, turning to smile at the jocks. This was hilarious. Clearly, judging by their faces, they weren’t too happy. Another blow delivered to another humongous ego!

The waitress then looked in the direction of the jocks, and smiled.

“It is on the house cutie” she said to me, with a huge smile, mocking those suckers. Aha! Another score for me. This was getting ridiculously easy.

She leaned in close to my face. “What jerks!” she whispered, referencing the meat-heads that were just walking out of the place.

I exhaled. I hated dealing with idiots like that. My appearance apparently angers a lot of people, mostly other guys. Jealousy is potent. I have to admit I have been poisoned by it a couple of times myself. I rubbed my stomach, which was enclosed by my tight black shirt. Damn I was hungry!

Taking Back Sunday was blasting in my ears, just the right dose of anger for my liking. I was beginning to relax (despite my hunger) which is something I rarely get to do at my so called home with Miguel.

“Hey Emo Boy” a bright voice spoke to me. Was she giggling? How am I supposed to respond to a comment like this? I guess that is what everyone’s first impression of me is. The Emo boy. Having the chin length dyed black hair, the light skin, and the greasy long bangs pushed all the way on one side of my head didn’t help. Yeah so I gave into another trend, it is normal. A lot of the guys in the bands I like have the same style, so it can’t be that bad. Yeah they are cool…Now I am second guessing myself. So what? I did put extra time into my appearance. It’s all I have to my worthless name practically!

“Here is your coffee, don’t drink too much it is late at night you know.” She said sitting down across from me. I cocked my eyebrow at this rude girl. What the hell is she doing? Making her self at home at my table I suppose.

“So, Tell me what you are doing out this late at my little coffee shop” she asked me, like nothing she was doing was abnormal. I decided not to respond, to tune her out with the help of my loud ipod. I guess she caught my drift

“Oh that’s right, I see a lot of emo girls and guys come in and out here. It must be a hot spot for you guys. But this late?” she replied despite my silence. This is a strange one. She is insulting me, yet it doesn’t sound vicious or mean. I think I am losing my appetite.

“How late are you planning on staying here?” she, again, spoke to me. That’s a good question actually. Miguel will probably have the door locked at least until 1 a.m.

“When does this place close?” I finally decided to reply.

“Liz, I’m out!” she yelled at my original waitress, who was behind the cashier. I guess I finally lost her interest. Good thing for me, my annoyance is growing. I was not fond of being questioned.

“You’re coming with me!” she said, grabbing a hold of my arm, pulling me up to my feet. Normally I would go into escape mode, but for some reason I felt powerless. It could be because this girl is the strangest thing I have ever encountered, or maybe the extreme tiredness I am feeling right about now. Who knows? So much for the untouched free coffee!

“Bye! See you tomorrow Lizzy!” She waved to her friend, exiting with me out of the coffee house. I walked alongside of her on the side walk, following her to wherever the hell we were going. Soon I would be in a refrigerator, chopped into little pieces.

“Sorry for dragging you out of there, I could just sense that you had no where to go. I was getting off anyways, so I figured I could take you along with me” she told me, rambling on. What am I doing with this girl? I hope Miguel is happy, for always getting me into these weird situations. One time he got into a fight with his girlfriend, and left me alone with the crazy whore! I was strangled like a stuffed animal, and used as a tissue for her numerous tears. Not fun…

“I don’t bite, you know” she informed me, smiling down at the ground. Thanks for this information really, now I know that you use knives and not your teeth to murder men that you capture! Okay so maybe I am going to far with this serial killer thing…

“Do you hear the music? We are getting closer” she said, cutting the ice a bit. Oh, ice-cream truck music was creeping closer. She must be taking me to the city fair, which I haven’t gone to in years. I guess this could take up some time until Miguel is done being a dirty asshole.

We reached the ticket booth. The line was surprisingly short, in fact we were up next.

“How many?” the teller asked, obviously not happy about working so late.

“Two” she answered for us, going through her purse.

“Ten dollars please” he said quickly. Ah, my mother would never forgive me if I didn’t pay, even if this girl is a serial killer. Thanks a lot mom! I reached for my wallet and swiftly took out a ten dollar bill, giving It to the teller.

“Do you have change for a twenty?” she asked the teller, looking up from her purse. He slapped a bracelet on her hand, and then mine.

“Oh you paid?” she just realized.

“Wow, a gentleman! I’m impressed” she said joyfully, grasping onto my arm. Physical contact already? What am I her boyfriend or something? I think I may have signed a deal with the devil by silently agreeing to go with this girl.

As we walked into the fair grounds, I finally got to take a good look at my capturer. She was still in her uniform, which consisted of khaki pants and a form fitting white collard shirt. If I had to guess, she was at least 5’5, taller than most girls I have dated in the past. Even though I am on the taller side, 6 feet, I enjoy the petite girls. She was slender, but was not lacking in the chest area. Her hair was long, and thick. The color was dark brown, like a tree trunk at night, with caramel highlights. Her face was oval, shaded with angled bangs lying diagonally. I could see one of her obviously fake green-contact eyes really well, as opposed to the other which was partially covered by her bang. Her eye was foreign, as her face was. But I could not put my finger on what race she could be. Oddly, her eyes, they seemed familiar to me.

“You don’t talk much Emo boy.” She commented, while we walked aimlessly around the grounds. I do talk, to people of my choice; with strange fellows, not so much. I decided to reply to her question with my usual silence.

As we were walking, I noticed many a girl staring at me. Although this was flattering, it grew old at times.

“Woah you sure are popular! I should feel lucky, right?” she said with a small laugh, noticing all the girls following us.

“He is so cute!” “So tall!” “So cool looking!” they all whispered amongst themselves. If I let all this flattery go to my head, I will end up as bad as Miguel.

“Omigosh these things are so impossible!” she said excitedly, dragging me to a booth. My glory was interrupted, I guess that was for the best. Now I remember why I hate the fair. The dumb games like this one, was so pointless. And drained so much money! Throw a dart at a balloon, pop it, and win a trashy stuffed animal. She paid the con-artist, I mean the person who runs the booth, money for two tries at winning a trailer trash prize.

She held the dart firmly in her hand, aiming it at a plump blue balloon.

“Come on , come on…” she prayed as she released the dart from her hand. Of course she didn’t even come close to popping anything but the dude’s ear!

“Sorry…didn’t mean to aim any where near you!” she apologized to the peeved booth owner.

Before she could attempt another sorry try at popping one of these scammed things, I took her last dart from her. I have to admit, I used to be good at doing this in my younger years. I pictured this green balloon in my sight to be the head of my gross brother, Miguel. I can hear his disgusting grunts all the way from here. Damn you for putting me in this horribly awkward situation! I released the dart, and popped that sucker!

“Gahhh!” she cooed over me.

“So lucky!” she said jumping up and down.

“Okay kid, pick your prize.” The angry booth owner said, aggravated at this girl’s presence, her clumsiness. I guess if I almost lost an ear, id be pissed too!

“Well which stuffed animals are eligible?” she asked, as if she won.

“Anything to get you out of here!! Here take our biggest one!” He shoved a big fat stuffed panda into my arms. Great, now I have to lug this hairy bastard around.

“Aww how cute!!” she said petting the inanimate object.

“May I hold it?” she asked. Hell whatever to shut her up. I handed it to her, watching her take it in for a big hug.

A big sound echoed loudly in front of me. The Nintendo-esque sounds of the giant hammer of strength. Miguel used to be really good at this game, putting ever guy at the fair to shame. I wasn’t too bad at it myself, not that I was interested in trying at this moment. I hope she doesn’t get any ideas.

“Oh I have to try this, I know I’m not super girl, but how hard can it be?” she told herself, shoving the panda into my arms. Fuck!!! I hate this thing.

The crazy girl walked up to the worker, demanding to try. She held the hammer above her head, and slammed it into the platform. Not bad, but definitely no cigar.

Bip, Bip, Bip, it sounded as the lights ran up the lighted pole. It reached maybe half way, and soon faltered all the way to the bottom.

“Aww not fair!” she whined childishly. No stuffed animal for her, thank goodness. I couldn’t bear to carry another one of these bastards.

“Hey baby, let me try. I’ll win you a stuffed animal” a cocky muscle man said, taking the hammer from the nameless girl.

“Oh no, it’s okay really!” she refused smiling, waving her hands all over the place. Oh that is effective. She walked back next to be, watching the guy attempt to win this game. With all those steroid manufactured muscles, I’m sure there won’t be a problem.

“Yah!!” the guy roared, banging the hammer against the platform like a damn caveman. The lights traveled up, up, up, up and just one more set to go…Failure!! Wow that was awesome.

I saw her out of the corner of my eye, laughing hysterically.

“Fuck!!” the guy yelled at the machine. I couldn’t help but smirk a little, this was grade A entertainment. The guy must have taken note of this.

“Oh what’s so funny? Do you think your little faggot boyfriend can do better?” he said to her, taking a heated glance right in my direction. Oh Fuck! Now what man could turn down a challenge against an ass like this?

“Don’t talk to him like that! Jerk! And he isn’t my boyfriend!” she squealed, standing in front of me.

I gave her a pat on the shoulder, and proceeded to walk up to the game. I may be emo, but I am not your typical skin n bones emo boy. The chance I get to spend constructive quality time with Miguel is when we work out. Although I am not a muscle head like my brother, but I am some what toned.

I grabbed the hammer with one hand, and smiled at that ass that dared to challenge me. I gave the platform a quick and powerful whack, sending the lights all the way to the top of the tower, earning me an awesome victory over yet another jealous jock.

“So cool!” The strange girl fussed over me, hugging my arm. “Take that Jerk-off!” she said sticking her tongue out at the glorious loser.

I shot at him, a victorious smile. Before I could bathe in his humiliation, his fat fist landed a hit across my face, sending me down on the ground.

“That’ll teach you to mess with me” he said, cracking his knuckles, leaving with his big posy of loud mouths. Things are going black. I had to give it to him because that was a damn good shot he landed on me. It certainly wasn’t the first time this happened to me.

“Oh!! Are you okay?” the girl asked, kneeling down beside me. Now I’ll have a black eye, thanks to this crazed woman.

“I’m sorry Emo boy, I am causing you a lot of trouble, aren’t I?” she asked, rubbing her fingers over my fat eye. I looked up at her, looking into her old familiar eyes. Then a figure came into my vision. Oh Shit! Not now! And not her! It was Jacey, my crush of 2 years. It is a small world after all, gah! She was a vision of loveliness, looking like a mini petite version of Alicia Keys. Jacey was no emo girl, she was classy and kind. Just to my liking. She had a head full of long slender braids, skin the color of coffee milk, and a killer face. Did she like me? Probably not, however I have caught her glancing at me during my last year in High School. I doubt she went for greasy white guys, like me. Please god, don’t spot me! I could barley breathe, until she finally left my vision, her plaid skirt swishing back and worth. Thank goodness! All this stress was going to kill me tonight.

“Let me help you up!” she said, pulling me up to my feet. Before I could get a sentence out like ‘I want to go’, I felt an arm wrap around mine, strolling in the direction of the big Ferris wheel. This isn’t the fucking notebook, give me a break! I hate that movie…Damnit I just want to go home to my cruel Miguel!!

We boarded our cart on the big wheel, which looked like it was decorated on a giant Lite Brite. Oh how my life goes on to these little tangents so frequently, I sighed.

“I think this ride is relaxing, I hope you think so too…After all your headache tonight.” She said in a humble tone, sitting across from me.

“My name is Mary, what is yours?” she asked looking at me with her annoying face.

“I’m 20, about to turn 21, How old are you?” she popped another question out! Questions , Questions, Questions! Great an older college chick is driving me into an early grave (I’m only 18 for god’s sake!). I think I may explode, like an angry volcano. Then, something in me snapped.

“Look will you just leave me the hell alone??” I screamed in rage, as we reached the top of the wheel. I was so ready to end this whole little adventure. With my one working eye, I looked over at her face. Her eyes looked watery, like they were going to flood in tears any minute now. Somehow I felt a sting of guilt in the pit of my stomach.

“I’m sorry…I guess I get so lonely sometimes and I end up imposing it on others, my apologies.” She said bowing her head.

I didn’t know what to say, this was too awkward for my liking. I had too many things racing around in my head at the moment to even think.

“I saw you looking at that girl with the pretty braids…You must like her!” she laughed nervously. I guess it was obvious, written bluntly on my face that she was in fact correct.

The long awkward ride ended, and we exited the grounds in silence. She followed me as I walked to the bus stop.

“I guess this is goodbye…” she said to me, holding her big panda. I gave her a glance and sat down on the bench, beginning the long wait for the damn bus. I held my hand over my bulging eye.

“Make sure to see a doctor about your eye!” she told me like she was my goddamn mother.

I could hear the pitter patter of her footsteps coming from behind me. A pair of arms wrapped around my neck, and a pair of lips, I could feel by my ear.

“I will help you win her over! I promise” Mary whispered into ear. She bent over and picked up her humongo Panda I had won her, and began to walk off, out of my sight. Somehow I felt compelled to say something.

“My name is Rivers.”

She stopped in her tracks, and turned her head to reply to me with a kind smile. She then soon, left my vision.

Author’s Note:

Hope you guys enjoyed it! I appreciate any reviews I get, and will gladly return the favor!

TALIM KUN