Chapter Text
Going to a high school specifically centered around the creative arts seems like a lot of people’s dreams. Functioning like a private school without the thousands of dollars of tuition, it sends you head on into your world that you got selected to be a part of. A bunch of happy-go-lucky artsy kids and geeks alike (minus the dance girls) all conglomerated in one building, seven hours a day, five days of the week. The public eye only sees what gets presented or displayed; not anything behind studio walls. That’s why going to a high school specifically centered around the creative arts SEEMS like a lot of people’s dreams.
“Eliza, Liza, Liz. Whatever. She/her pronouns and my field is creative writing.” A script engraved in my head since last year, when I was a freshman. repeated annually every time I sat down in one of my academic classes, filled with semi-new faces every year. My creative writing classes held the same bunch over and over again, year after year, so there was no need for intros.
Which is exactly why I thought Benjamin was going to be a problem.
I could tell from the start he was going to be at least a little off-putting. His appearance is unsettling in a way, like if he catches the right like his skin looks almost transparent and his dark hair and matching eyes are shadows to nothing. His writing style was.. well, you couldn’t really judge at Matthieus High; If you judged people, then you were the weird one. But, between us, let’s just say his looks matched his work.
He was always weird, especially around girls. I don’t know if I’m the only one that’s ever noticed it, but no one else has spoken up. It’s practically frowned upon; calling someone out in any way, shape, or form. Almost as badly as dating someone in your department is.
One day, Mara and I were sitting in the grand hall eating lunch with a few other bunches of friend groups all settled amongst eachother.
Then there was Benjamin.
He was sitting alone, he always had, so I’d never paid attention to it.
“… Then she tried to blame it on me! So I went and told mom…”
My mind was blipping in and out of the conversation Mara was having at me whilst I picked at the crimped edges of my Uncrustable, when something tugged at me. A feeling.
I looked up, my eyes re-focusing, past Mara and a group of music kids, to find Benjamin staring right back.
He didn’t look mad, not neutral even, but more like he was trying to figure something out. Puzzled, stumped maybe.
“…So she’s grounded for a week because-“
“Don’t look but-“
“Too late.” Mara turned her head around to match my gaze and saw Benjamin, the same taken aback look I assume had been on my face dawning on her before she whipped her head back around . “That’s just weird, Liza. Don’t ya think?”
“Yeah… yeah it is…” I replied, watching as he turned back away. Not caught, not guilty, just turned back like nothing had happened.
Half of one of Mara’s stories later, I paused when I noticed Benjamin just casually pull headphones over his ears and walk out, still with thirty minutes left of lunch.
“Yeah, no, I do not like him. Strange guy. Creepy.” I guess I didn’t notice Mara noticing my pause, before using her big elaborated words and sentences, as always, to describe someone. I guess you can’t expect so much vocabulary wise from a visual arts kid.
And though I don’t know why;
“Yeah… I agree.” I replied, nodding my head.