Thinking Different Thoughts

J ø š h

A week went by easy. Nothing happened. I wanted to ask Austin about his mom, of course, but sided against it. I had been a total dick to most of the people here, and if he as going to be nice to me then I was going to try and respect him a little. Asking about how someone's mom died isn't exactly the nicest thing to do, I'm pretty sure.

The only time Tyler and I ever talked was in the dorm if we even talked. Mr. Armstrong tried to get him to work with Austin, some chubby dude wearing a bunch of black with eyeliner and white, short hair, and Alex. It didn't last and he stopped trying to force it.

"Y'know," Austin started as he took a bite of the sandwich he bought down the street. Alex and some dude named Ryan were talking about their band or something.

"What?" I asked. He held up a finger and finished his bite. I wondered why he started a sentence while trying to eat food.

"You and Tyler make a great like... Friendship couple.... If that makes sense."

I nearly punched him. And I would have if he wasn't like a fucking foot and a half taller than me. Maybe not that big. But big.

"No."

I said this with tightened fists and looked straight forward. He laughed at this.

"Not that I'm calling you gay or anything, but have you seen how he looks at you?" He asked.

How he looks at me? Did Austin see us walking back from the bathrooms or something?

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

He shrugged and took another bite. I was beginning to wish I had bought some food. My stomach was the main reason for this thinking.

"I just mean look more. You might find something you didn't see before." He said. We got back on grounds and met up with Oli and a guy named Matt and the girl called Tay. And Zach.

"Hey - what're we talking about?" Matt asked. I think it was Matt. Maybe it was Zach. I dunno.

"Nothing," Austin said with a small look at me. "Music. Where're the rest of the guys, Oli?" He asked, completely changing the subject.

I was never allowed to listen to music. I wonder what they're talking about? I don't know these bands.... Are they in bands of their own? That would be so fucking awesome!

I had to keep myself from jumping up and down as they talked about their bands. I loved music, but mom and dad never let me listen to music. If these guys were in bands then that would be the fucking best thing.

The bells rang and indicated that we had to go to our next class. English. With Tyler. Great.

"See ya guys," I said with a wave over my shoulder before I walked towards the baby-blue building. The blue reminded me of Tyler a little.

No. No it did not. I didn't think about Tyler unless he was talking to me or someone was talking about him. I wasn't reminded of Tyler by random things. Nope. Not even a little.

"Hey," he muttered as he continued to sketch. I sat next to him - 'luck of the draw' as Mr. Skye liked to call it.

I didn't say anything back, instead pulled out the book and folder for this class. I planned on zoning out or maybe sleeping a bit since we sat in the back and the teacher never saw me or Tyler.

"What're you drawing?" I asked when I saw the outline of what I assumed was a guy. Was Tyler actually gay?

"Nothing." He said quickly. "Art project." He said, trying to cover it more than he already was by laying over it.