Clairvoyance

chapter 5
Alex kept his head down on his way to fourth period. It was just one more class before lunch and Alex was already exhausted. He hadn’t seen Rian since the morning when the other boy had pretended not to see Alex pass by his locker, but Alex didn’t mind. He took his regular seat in the back of the room and ducked his head low to avoid the whispers of yesterday's events. If he wasn't a freak to everyone before, he sure was now. Things like this spread quickly in school, even students outside of their grade knew about the episode Alex had had in class, but Alex decided there was no point in paying attention to it. At least they weren't making fun of him; whether they were scared or pitied him, he didn't know.

“Turn your books to page 394.” Alex obliged, his hand trembling above the book. Alex flipped through each page carefully, as if afraid the thing would catch flames and explode all around him. Class after that went painfully slow for Alex. He wasn’t used to his head being full of his own thoughts without the interruption of the familiar voices, but since he had passed out last night, he hadn’t heard a single one. Alex was undecided about yesterday, it had to have been a dream. When he questioned his mom about it this morning, she said she heard nothing. Alex didn’t know if she was being honest or trying to assure herself, but nevertheless, Alex concluded it was all a dream.

“Do you wanna have lunch with me?” Alex was snapped from his daydream.

“No.” he didn’t look back and got his bags from under his desk and began to walk to his locker.

“Alex wait!” but Alex didn’t.

“Don’t be mad! I only called your mom because I was really-”

“Rian, its not about you calling!” Alex snapped throwing his locker door open.

“Really?” Rian asked shocked because not only was Alex not mad about him calling his mom , but Alex had raised his voice at him.

“Yeah...its just so...ugh!” he slammed his locker shut and turned to face him. “I know you think I’m a freak- don’t try to lie to me, I heard you yesterday,” he cut him off when Rian tried to object, “I don’t want to ‘drag you into this’ you’re free to do what you want. You don’t have to stick by my side and watch me be a freak while you do nothing.” he quoted what Rian had thought yesterday.

“Alex I never said anything ab-”

“But you thought it!” he accused and when Rian didn’t object he knew he was right. “I’ll leave you alone. I promise.” Alex said quietly, trying to move past him and go to the cafeteria.

“Alex it's not like that. I like being your friend!” Rian sighed, blocking his path. “I know I’m a real shitty friend for not standing up for you yesterday, but I didn’t know what to do.” Alex looked down at the ground.

“You called my mom.” Alex said quietly. “That shows you care...sorta.” he shrugged.

“I do care! Honest! I won’t do that again. I swear to you, from now on it's you and me! The dynamic duo! Ok? Forgive me?” Rian said with a frown. Alex laughed quietly.

“Yeah...yeah ok.” he nodded. Alex could never really stay mad at him for long, it was impossible. The other boy was all he had.

“Good! Now let’s go get lunch because I’m starving!” Alex agreed to that, he was rather famished himself.

**************
“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” Rian asked taking a bite of his burger.

“I don’t know, but it seemed so real. Like, I felt he was really there.” Alex sighed, popping another grape into his mouth.

“But your brother is...well you know.” Rian shifted in his seat.

“Dead? Yeah I know that. I’m not saying it was physically him.” Alex rolled his eyes.

“So you think it was his ghost?” Rian asked seriously, setting down the can of soda in his hand. Alex looked up at him and then burst out laughing. “No! I’m not that weird.” Rian joined in relieved.

“It was just a really vivid dream,” Alex explained. “I’ve never been religious and stuff, but maybe it was like a sign or something,” he reached over to take a chip from Rian’s bag.

“Maybe...or maybe you were just thinking about him before you fell asleep.”

“But it felt so real!” Alex groaned through a mouthful of food.

“I’ve never seen you eat this much,” Rian pointed out, “but seriously, don’t think too much about it.” Rian smiled.

“I woke up starving! I scared my mom too.” he laughed. “So, if it’s because I was thinking about him, what did the boy at the end have to do with anything?” Alex shivered at the memory of amused brown eyes staring at him.

“People dream about other people they don’t know all the time.” Rian reasoned.

“I know that! But he felt so real! I remembered everything about him!” Alex reached into his book bag and pulled out his sketch pad, sliding it to Rian.

“Holy shit that's creepy.” Rian looked at the drawing hesitantly. The drawing was extremely detailed, it was like looking at a portrait.

“I know! I just....I don't know.” Alex sighed and took the book back.

“Are you sure this isn't some guy you saw and have a crush on?” Rian asked with a small smile.

“No! I’ve never even seen him before! I don’t even like him! I’m not even-”

“Relax Alex, it’s a joke.” Rian laughed causing Alex to blush. “Tell me more about your mystery man.”

“Well...there isn’t much to say. You know what he looks like based off the drawing. He didn’t even say much. He was just fucking smirking at me and telling me I had shut them off. I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean. You think this has something to- sorry.” Alex blushed suddenly when he realized how much he was talking.

“No continue. I like this talkative Alex.”

“I don’t know much else, you saw the drawing.” he said quietly.

“Well he sounds like Mr. Mystery Perfect.” Rian said in a high pitched voice and Alex threw a grape at him.

“We’ll talk after school okay? Wanna come over my house?” Rian asked once the bell rang.

“You...you want me at your house?” Alex asked surprised.

“Well yeah...if you want to.” Rian looked down at the floor awkwardly.

“Yeah I do! I’ve never been invited to a friend’s house before.” Alex admitted shyly, walking with Rian to his locker.

“Well it’ll be fun. I’ll order some pizza or something.” he offered with a smile and Alex nodded brightly.

“Well I gotta go, the international students are coming today and Ms. Aaron made me be a guide in exchange of detention.” Rian mumbled angrily.

Alex and Rian never fully understood why anyone from another country would choose to come to such a small, middle of nowhere school. It must have been their sports program because academically, it was just average.

“Meet you outside at 3?” Rian asked with a smile.

“Ok.” Alex waved with a big smile.

When Alex got to class, his usual seat was waiting for him in the back of the room.

"Today we're gonna start a new lesson in Greek Mythology, take out your notebooks and title it chapter 8." their English teacher, Mr. Norman announced once the bell rang. Alex obeyed with a grin, this was really the only class he actually enjoyed. Mr. Norman was the only teacher who treated them as real people. He didn’t give a shit about cursing or beating around the bush. He taught them the real shit, no euphemisms.

"Is this about the gods and shit?" A boy next to Alex groaned.

"No Andy. We're not learning about shit, but we are learning about gods. We will begin reading the Odyssey next class, so bring a copy." he informed. "Who can tell me who the god of the sky is?" Mr. Norman turned to the class. Alex knew the answer right away, he was a total nerd when it came to Greek mythology

"Anyone?" He paced around the room searching for a hand. "Good job Mr. Parker, I almost didn't see you hiding behind your desk." He rolled his eyes sarcastically, "Why don't you give it a try, who is the god of the sky? Think about the guy with the thunderbolt." He directed at Parker.

"Uh...Jesus?"

"No." Mr. Norman groaned, "Are you guys seriously this stupid? Come on, one of you? No? Write this down." He gave up and began to scribble Zeus on the board along with some other notes. Alex wrote them down, pleased with himself for having known most of the things up there already.

"What do you guys know about mythology?" Mr. Norman turned back around to face the class. No one said anything. "Guys come on! If I wanted silence I wouldn't have came today! Ah, yes Ms. Louse." He pointed to a short red head in front of Alex.

"Aren't all the gods supposedly descendents from Kronos? Like Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus? Like he ate them or something?" She asked biting down on her pen.

"On the right track Ms. Louse! Finally. Take out your book and turn to the 8th chapter. Who else can tell me something?"

"Aren't there like monsters and stuff?" someone asked from the other side of the room.

"Yes! What are some examples?" Mr. Norman was getting excited.

"Mermaids!" A girl squealed.

"The thing with one eye."

"A Cyclopes?" Someone asked.

"Yeah that!" The same kid answered.

"Centaurs and Medusa and crap like that." A kid named Patrick spoke up.

"Good! We're getting better. Does anyone know who Medusa was?" Mr. Norman grinned.

"She was a gorgon." Alex said quietly. Mr. Norman turned to him with an excited smile, "Yes Alex! Can you tell us her story?"

Alex BIT his lip nervously, "Well there are a lot of different versions but basically-"

"Excuse me Mr. Norman, but the international students are here." A knock on the door interrupted. Alex breathed relieved, now he didn't have to talk.

"Very well Travis," Mr. Norman sighed, "let them in." He motioned them forward. Alex heard feet on the floor as the students walked in, the whole class seemed to have fallen silent. He glanced up at the door curiously and eyed the two new students.

"Why don't you introduce yourselves." Mr. Norman said lazily and sat at his desk.

The first boy was extremely skinny and rather tall. He had extremely dark black hair in contrast to his pale complexion, which hung slightly over his eyes that was covered with a black beanie. He was dressed in a black t-shirt and tight black skinnies. Then Alex caught look at his face and the first thing he noticed were his eyes. They were a hazel green looking colour, so inviting and so warm, Alex couldn't help but stare in awe.

"I'm Oliver Sykes." He said with a smug looking expression, which contradicted what his eyes had said seconds earlier. Yet, Alex watched him intently. His voice was like liquid sugar. He heard a faint accent, it sounded British, but he wasn’t quite sure. Alex tried to look away to see if anyone else found the boy extremely alluring, but he couldn't help but keep his eyes focused on him.

"You can sit in the front seat." Mr. Norman said in a bored voice from behind Oliver. Oliver nodded and sat down. Alex was finally able to look away and let out a deep breath. He glanced around quickly to find there were still some people looking at the boy, which made him feel better about himself.

"I'm Zachary." The other voice said quietly. He had light brown hair, light skin, hazel/green colored eyes, and was dressed in a plain white shirt with black jeans. The boy was obviously ripped, but he stood awkward and shy. It was weird.

“Where are you guys from?” a girl asked curiously.

“We’re from Greece.” Zachary said in a soft American accent, which threw Alex off.

"Do you go by Zack?" Some student asked.

"I guess...yeah." He said blankly like it was the first time he heard it. After that, Mr. Norman had Zack sit in the seat next to Alex, which made Alex slightly nervous. But as soon as the kid sat down, Alex felt himself relax a ton.

**************
"Alex!" Alex turned around to find Rian running up to him.

"I thought we were gonna meet outside." Alex said closing his locker.

"Yeah, but I had to find you!" He said out of breath.

"Why?" Alex asked curiously, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"The guy, in your drawing, what was his name?!" Rian demanded.

"Why?" Alex asked confused.

"Tell me!"

"His names-"

"Jack! That's him! Alex that's him!" Alex's eyes widened.

"How did you know that? I never told y-" Rian turned Alex's head in another direction, and there was the same boy from last night standing in person, laughing with another student at the end of the hall.

*******************
“You had to have seen him yesterday.” Rian said exasperated. “How else could you have known what he looks like?”

Alex sighed and slumped against the seat in Rian’s car. “I’ve never seen him before in my life. I would remember a face like that anywhere.” Rian said nothing and turned on the radio.