I was walking past His table for the fifty-thousandth time. He sat in his normal, tense, way. All angles and bones. Watching the people that passed Him through narrowed eyes. His friends laughed and made jokes at the expense of the odd passerby, occasionally calling out rude, or lewd comments as a beautifully anorexic superficial make-up-caked “girl” walked by, All of them just full of smirks and grins.

This time something a little different happened.

“Anna.” He looked straight at me for the first time. Or at least the first that I was aware of.

“Yes?” I turned slightly, slightly unwilling to look down at Him.

He held out a cd, smirking.

“What’s this?” I asked, not taking it.

“I saw you listening to System of a Down in the library. Thought you might appreciate the chance to broaden your horizons.”

I looked at Him for a second, cautiously assessing the situation. His posse watched me. The anorexic bombshells watched me. The jocks watched me. My friends watched me. Everyone could see what was going on.

I took the cd.

.../\...

It got weirder.

A week later He was standing by my locker. I didn’t know that He knew where my locker was. I hadn’t known that He even knew my name. I’d never spoken to Him before. He never said anything to me. To anyone.

“Did you like the cd?” He wasn’t looking at me. Just leaning on the locker next to mine. The girl who it belonged to stood a short ways away, staring.

“Yes...”

“Good.”

Then He just pushed off and walked away.

.../\...

Then there was a point of interest for everyone in the school.

My necklace had been smashed into a million little pieces under the heel of our soccer captions shoe. Accident, but I was devastated. See, the necklace had been really important to me. He apologized. See, Matt’s never been a bad guy. He’s really friendly. Cheerful. Talked to everyone. Never picked on people. He paid for my lunch the next day to make up for it.

Didn’t quite ease the sting, but he sat with me and my friends that day. It was nice, because my best friend, Michelle, had a slight crush on him, and I got them talking. He kept pulling me into the conversation though.

I looked up at His table. He was watching us. He didn’t show any emotion. He rarely did. It creeped me out, the way he looked at me.

Matt noticed where my gaze was directed. He started to ask me questions. He found out that I’d been on the girls soccer team at my old school. Defensive. Usually on the right, for some reason, and never sweeper. He was offense, usually center.

“Wanna have a go after school?” He asked me.

“I won’t have a ride home.” I was just a junior. I took the bus.

“I do. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Ok...then sure. It’ll be nice to get back in action.”

Michelle frowned for a second. I shrugged at her. I looked up at Him. He finally turned away.

.../\...

Matt led me out to the field. Standard issue soccer ball in hand, wearing cleats. I looked at my con’s. All star. High tops. Not good for soccer. I’d try anyway.

Matt is an amazing player, and I was really no match for him. For ever goal I blocked, he scored two. Then he started to go easy on me. When it was over, a flash of black caught my attention. He was exiting the stands, didn’t look back.

What was happening to me?

.../\...

Matt took me home in a chevy pick up truck. Beat up and red. Exactly the right kind of car to my eyes. It had character. We talked the whole way, about teachers and grades, and soccer, and the world cup, Zidane, and somehow got on the subject of convenience store food. We stopped at the 7/11 and bought King Cones. He insisted upon paying for mine. I shrugged it off.

Then He walked in.

He didn’t acknowledge Matt or me, just bought a soda and walked back out.

What was WITH this kid?

.../\...

The next day He was waiting by my locker, before first period started.

He thrust a fist at me. Then I saw what was in it. Black velvet ribbon. Held together by safety pins.

“What...?” I looked at him with a question in my eyes.

“For you to wear. Around your neck. It’s a choker.”

“Did you make this?” I asked.

“Yes.” He wasn’t looking at me. Just glaring at the people who’d stopped to stare, “Take it.”

“Umm...can you help me put it on?” He looked at me. Looked me in the eye.

“You sure about that?” He asked.

“Uh...yes?” What are you talking about?

“Ok.” He fastened it in the front, “The pins are decoration.” He told me. His voice was a perfect monotone. He stepped back. Looked me over for a second. Then he walked away. No goodbye or anything.

.../\...

Matt had taken to sitting with us. I had stopped walking past His table, choosing to walking out with Michelle, and sometimes Matt.

Michelle was having trouble catching Matts attention, and I left them alone as much as I could. But Matt would often follow me, or call out to me after school.

“Anna! Wait up!”

I’d stop, and smile at him, and he’d offer me a ride. We’d stop at 7/11 and get some kind of ice cream. We’d talk for a while then he’d take me home.

One day Michelle came to me in tears. At first she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong, then she finally asked me what I felt for Matt.

“He’s my friend. He’s been a good friend to me. Why?”

“Are you BLIND? He wants you!”

“What?” No...no way...

“God Anna! He’s been nothing but obvious this whole time and you just stand there like an idiot ignoring the signs! He doesn’t see me at all when you’re in the room!”

Then I saw the black out of the corner of my eye. He was watching me with that same blank expression. I stared right back this time. Michelle turned to look at him too.

“Huh. I get it now.” She said softly, “I have to go Anna-banana. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye...” I didn’t turn to look at her, not wanting to lose my staring contest with the boy who confused the hell out of me.

He crossed the hall blocking traffic. Nobody protested. Most people had stopped to watch.

“Can I offer you a ride home tonight?” Our staring contest had not ended. If anything, it had gotten more heated.

“Matt was going to-”

“So?” He cut me off.

“Umm...” I looked at the audience, losing the silent battle “Ok...”

“Good.” He started to walk off. He noticed that I wasn’t behind him, “Are you coming?”

“School’s not over yet.”

“So what? Get your things.”

I looked at him confused. He stared back at me, finally grabbing my arm and draged me to my locker.

.../\...

He had a very nice car. Black. Sports car. Reminded me of the Batmobile. He popped a cd into the player. It was the same one he’d made for me. I shivered slightly. I didn’t know why.

For a brief moment we just sat in the car, with him watching me and me staring straight ahead. Then I felt his fingers brush my neck, brush the choker.

“You haven’t taken it off have you?” I looked up at him. He was smiling. Wow.

“No. I couldn’t get the clasp. The safety pins were too complicated.”

“I see.” He moved his hands to my hair, playing with one of my brown curls for a few seconds, before revving the engine and gunning off down the street.

We passed my street.

We passed my neighborhood.

We passed city limits.

I was getting scared.

“Where are you taking me?” I couldn’t help the tremor in my voice.

He smirked, “Maybe I’m taking you on a date.”

My eyes widened, “A date?”

“Maybe.”

We pulled up to a bar.

“Where are we?”

“The Mad Hatter.”

“It’s a bar.”

“So it is.”

“I’m only 17.”

“Don’t worry. We aren’t going to drink. We’re here for the band.” Something tells me that he drinks frequently.

“Oh...” He got out, and went to my side of the car, opening the door for me.

“Come on. You’ll have fun, I promise.”

“Ok...”

.../\...

The band was fantastic. And it seemed that the owners of this fine establishment knew Him. They knew Him well.

He was greeted by name when we walked in.

“Hey Alex.” The bartender greeted him. She looked me over, “Who’s this little thing?”

“This is Anastasia. People call her Anna.”

“How did you know my name?” I asked.

“Hmm? I heard your Mom call you that once.”

“Once...how long ago?”

“Last year.” He was staring straight ahead.

My eyes widened again. He’d noticed me even then? How strange...

.../\...

On the way home I called my Mom to tell her I wasn’t dead, lying in a ditch somewhere.

“And just where have you been young lady?” She sounded angry.

“I was hanging out with Alex. He’s taking me home now.”

“Am I?” He looked at me, grinning.

“Yes. You are.” I said as firmly as I could. He had a predatory grin. It made me nervous.

“Fine then.” He shifted back into monotone.

.../\...

He walked me to my door wordlessly. Then He just walked back to his car. I was somewhat relieved. I don’t know what I’d do with myself if He’d tried to kiss me.

.../\...

This’ll be good, huh? I hope you’re enjoying the story!