Humans are truly remarkable creatures. They rarely notice things that they can’t comprehend. Even more rarely do they notice things they think of as ‘fantasy’…

---

“Paul!” Ellie screeches shortly before I land spread-eagled on the floor.

“Jeez, Yunie! That one hurt!” I say, dusting myself off. Ellie is probably the most hyper goth on the planet. I can barely make it through the day without being glomped at least once.

I look over and see Ellie brushing imagined dust off her pants before showing me a dazzling smile and apologizing.

“One of these days I’ll manage not to knock us down. You just need to work on catching me when I jump.”

I roll my eyes and glance at Mika and Melanie for support. They shrug and Melanie shakes her head. She and Ellie met on a camping trip. We all swear they’re joined at the brain. It’s creepy.

“I swear, Paul,” Mika says, “If I didn’t know you were gay, I’d think you were with Yunie some days.” This comment, though random in its timing, is actually rather true. Ellie’s joke has always been that if I was a woman and she was a lesbian, she’d be my lover. She’s always going on about people like that. Some times, we’re not quite sure she’s not a lesbian, though I know it’s not true. I’ve known her for most of my life. She was the first person I told when I came out. We made it through the hell of public school in a small town, and even now that we’re in highschool, she’s probably my closest friend.

Melanie, more usually referred to as Soleil, I was introduced to her in highschool by Ellie. She jokes that she was normal before she met Yunie, but the only one who could support her story is Mika.

Yunie and I only met Mika since coming to highschool. We don’t know much about her really. What I can say, however, is that she is a good friend, though a little psychotic. Well, I suppose all of our group is really…

“Mika! Jeez, not in the hallway. Crazy chibi,” Soleil says, breaking through my thoughts. “Besides, that guy’s standing right there!”

Yunie waves at the boy. Soleil glares at Yunie. She doesn’t notice.

“Don’t mind us,” she says, “We’re geniuses!”

The boy gives her a blank stare, and walks off. “Pfft, you’d think he’d never seen geniuses before,” Yunie scoffs. “Hot though…”

“Yunie!” I blush. I’d had the same thought.

“Ya Yuna, no need to announce it. I’m sure he knows,” Soleil.

Yunie pulls her puppy dog face, hilariously out of place with her makeup.

--

Lunchtime finds me once more flat on my back.

“Oopsie,” Yunie mutters as she helps me off the floor. “Eventually I’ll get it right.”

I just shake my head mutely.

“So,” I say in an effort to move past the awkwardness, “How were your mornings?” I’m so considerate.

“Gah, math this morning,” says Mika. “I’m totally dead.”

“Same here,” Yunie replies. “I can’t understand how that woman can get so excited about math! I mean, it’s MATH.”

“I had French, so I’m fine,” Soleil replies. French is her favourite subject. “What about you Paul?”

I can’t help but give a slight grin. “Science. And you’ll never guess who’s in my class.”

“Oo! Tell us!” Yunie stares at me intently. Mika and Soleil glance at her in despair, than look to me, waiting to hear who’s caused all the excitement.

“The guy who gave you the funny look in the hall this morning,” I announce.

“You mean that guy over there? The one with the blue streak in his hair?” Yunie points across the room to a small group in the corner: a girl, dressed in pink; a tall muscular guy; and another boy dressed in a slightly gothic fashion similar to that of Yunie and I. The goth boy sees Yunie pointing and raises his eyebrow, saying something to the girl who then glances at our table.

“Ellie! Stop pointing! It’s rude!” Soleil scolds. I send a silent prayer to any deity who might be listening thanking them for placing Melanie on the planet to control Yunie’s craziness. Well, somewhat control.

“They’re looking at you Paul,” Mika mentions. “Probably wondering why you can’t keep your ‘girlfriend’ in check.” She smirks. We all know Ellie and I are just friends, but outsiders, new comers like the three in the corner especially, often assume we’re together.

“Gay boyfriend, Gay boyfriend, I never feel lonely when you are near,” Yunie starts singing (quietly, thank goodness).

“Do you have to sing that?” I ask. “And besides, I’m not your boyfriend.”

“Yes, I do,” she retorts. “Besides, you’re gay, you’re a boy, and you’re my friend. I feel justified.”

I sigh. It’s hard to argue with that logic. Soleil stifles a giggle and Mika smirks at my predicament. I notice the goth boy out of the corner of my, and he seems to be smiling. I just hope he didn’t overhear Ellie singing.

“But getting back on topic…” Soleil interjects, “Have we learned anything about the goth boy who thinks Yunie needs to go back to the mental hospital? A name perhaps? Or are we just going to have keep referring to him as ‘that goth boy who thinks we’re crazy’?”

Trust Soleil to remind us of where we left the original conversation before going off on a million tangents. What would we do without her?

“All I really know is that his name is Ryan.” Well, that, and he’s got some kind of bizarre interest in me. I had to sit beside him, and throughout the class he would lean over just slightly and sniff the air. Every time I glanced at him in question, he would give me this, smile I suppose you could call it. But it would never reach his eyes, which were a pale greenish-grey colour and seem to hold some unfathomable emotion.

“What? No juicy details? No dark secrets?” Yunie gasps in mock astonishment. “I’m ashamed of you.” She’s joking of course. I see the sparkle in her eyes, and just smile.

“You need to lower your standards then Elle, or you’ll be a true Emo in no time,” Mika smirks. Yunie just sticks her tongue out like a two year-old. Soleil laughs at the childish display.

“Some days I don’t know why I associate with you guys,” She mock-sighs.

“Because you love us!” We chorus at her, laughing.