Prologue
Ayanna walked past school for the second time that week. He often played hooky. He did not like school so he did not see the point of going. People were just too much for him and he preferred not to deal with them when he could be doing far more important things instead of acting before them. What was the point of pretending so often? He hated that his life was some sort of stage with the world around him as an audience. Being backstage always sounded like a great idea to him. He paused outside of a coffee shop and glanced at what they were offering on the menu. There was not much that he would like so he moved on. It was not as if he really drank coffee anyway, but everyone else seemed to so he found himself drinking it when he was with others. He was only in junior high and people already wanted him to become someone he was not! It drove him crazy.
He noticed his reflection in a window and halted to look at himself.
He was so young still. His body was scant, his clothing flaring with life and his eyes a bright blue. His hair had been dyed a faint purple and he had his ear buds in. Something about him said defiant, but he was not sure if it was his attire or his eyes.
What was wrong with him? He looked ordinary enough to slip into society and disappear. So, why was he not able? He was always found. He could never escape long enough to sort everything through his mind. What was it about this world that just drove him completely mad? Was it that they always haunted him? People were always watching, criticizing...he could not stand it! It was bad enough at home. Why did the rest of the world have to make it worse?
Ayanna turned to leave, his eyes closed for a brief moment to try and keep his tears suppressed. Then he felt warmth. He jolted backwards and tripped over something behind himself. A hand latched onto his wrist and he steadied the rest of himself on a stop sign pole. Finally, he looked up at his rescuer.
The man smiled warmly, his green eyes the life of a far away place. His blond hair glistened like strands of sunlight and his skin was soft and clean. Instantly, Ayanna wanted to know more about him, but also wanted to run away from him. "Easy now, young one. You don't want to fall."
"Thanks." Ayanna muttered as he pulled his arm back to himself.
"You look too young to be out and about." The man stated, his eyes scanning over Ayanna’s body. "Shouldn't you be in school about now…or is that later?"
"Uh...later." Ayanna lied quickly. The bell had probably rung about two minutes ago and he would be in serious trouble later for skipping school again.
"Later?" The man's eyes glistened. He knew better and Ayanna could tell that. "Well, that's fun. How old are you?"
"I shouldn't be talking to you." Ayanna stated, looking away.
"Ah." The man chuckled. "Right. Don't talk to strangers, kid. They'll eat you alive. By the way, my name's Nuriel. Nuriel Darington."
"Ayanna Stanton." Ayanna replied.
"Well, now you can talk to me." Nuriel laughed. "We're no longer strangers. I'm nineteen. You?"
"Fourteen."
"Must be in eighth grade then?" Nuriel guessed.
"Yes." Ayanna wanted to get away, but he already liked this guy. Something about him said that he did not compare or judge people, but, then again, Ayanna was certain that everyone compared. "I thought you were twenty-something."
"Really?" Nuriel put his chin on his fist. "Well, that's a nice compliment. You're young kid. When does school start for you?"
"Eight." Ayanna lied. Wait! That was not enough! It was eight now!
"You're late then." Nuriel laughed, knowing he had caught Ayanna. This guy, Ayanna realized, might not judge, but he was definitely cunning. "You want me to walk you to your school? I could explain that you were nearly hit by a car. Is it this way?" Nuriel pointed in the direction in which Ayanna had been going.
"Must be because you were headed that way. What school do you go to? Is it a new school? I thought all the junior high schools were that way?" He pointed in the direction that Ayanna had come. "Or are you playing hooky, Ayanna?"
"You're mean." Ayanna accused pointing a finger up into Nuriel’s beautiful face. "So? I hate school! All anyone there ever does is judge! They're hateful and cruel! The less time I spend there the better!"
"We think alike." Nuriel mumbled. "I'm playing hooky too, you could say. I called into the college claiming that I'm sick. Hopefully, they bought it. I just hope no one sees me. If they do, my father will be angry. He's a professor there and I happen to have one of his classes today. Oh, well. I hate dealing with him."
"I hate dealing with my dad too." Ayanna admitted, glancing down. "He's a jerk. All he ever does is tell me what to do with my life. I have to be perfect so that he can frame me later. I don't like trying to be his trophy. It makes me angry."
"Makes you want to rebel and do the opposite, right?" Nuriel nodded and Ayanna agreed with him. "I know that feeling. My father is like that with me too. Doesn't help that I'm the oldest. I have four brothers and two sisters, but my father wants me to be the moon in a sky of stars. I don't really want to, but I do it anyway just to not be disowned."
"I do too." Ayanna played with his shirt tail. What was with this guy? He had never met someone who thought like he did. "But not as often as I used to. Now, I rebel a little more...usually by staying up late so that I fall asleep in class, but yesterday and today, I just skipped school altogether. It just isn't worth it to be tormented there and then go home for the same treatment."
"You want to hide with me?" Nuriel asked with a smirk that suggested something tricky. "We could make it so that no one can find us."
"How will we do that?" Ayanna asked, glancing around. If one of his parents' friends saw him, he would be doomed for sure.
"We could take the bus and leave the city." Nuriel suggested with a shrug. "We could escape. Let's do that! Sound like a plan? I know a few places we could go sight-seeing. It won't be overly exerting and no one will see us since it's a weekday."
Ayanna was not sure. The man was only nineteen, but still an adult. He also knew hardly anything substantial about the man. He glanced hesitantly around again. They would be on a bus so he would not be completely alone with the man, but he did not know where they were going. It did not help that he had no cell phone so if he ended up in a bad situation and he was alone then he would have nothing at all. Nevertheless, the thought of being caught and thrown into the middle of school did not sound like a great idea.
"Okay." He finally agreed. "I'll go with you."
"Great!" Nuriel piped and Ayanna thought he saw a little bit of an immature child in him for a moment, but then Nuriel sobered enough to lead Ayanna to a bus stop. The bus would be there in a minute and then there would be no turning back. Nuriel and Ayanna chatted a little about their views concerning people before the bus came and then they were stepping onto it. He peeked out the window, down the road that lead to his school. Somehow, he felt as if he would never be seeing that road again...
As he took his seat next to Nuriel near the back, he did not know how right he was...