Happy Reading!
**Just so you know, I really don't like the title
So if anyone has suggestions, let me know. I'm debating on changing it to Your Eyes Only but otherwise, I'm at a loss. Help!**
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ONE
Landon
It’s easy to understand why when a beautiful person walks into the room, all eyes turn to look. It’s human nature to be drawn to something appealing to the eyes. They have done studies on newborns and they always seem to want the aunt with the perfect complexion over the grandmother with the wart rising from her chin.
Too bad I was never able to find this out for myself.
That’s why I wasn’t surprised when Harlow Davidson enters the room and many males of the classroom spin their heads to be graced under her godly appearance. I, thankfully, am immune to this and continue to tap my foot repetitively on the carpeted floor. The room smells like aftershave and a nasty tinge of B.O.—no doubt from Marcus who I believe hasn’t bathed a day in his life.
I feel Harlow’s presence as she moves—more like glides—to the seat beside me. Her light perfume makes the air around me sweeten so much that my head turns in a reflex. I grind my teeth and face forward again. She isn’t worth it I continue to repeat to myself. I don’t know how many times I’ll fall for that perfume I know almost by heart—flowery like my mother’s garden but sweet like the candy my father used to buy for me when I was younger.
I hear her shift in her chair, her sweater—cashmere no doubt—brushes the metal chair, creating a soft sound that rubs my eardrums. Her books fall onto the desktop, creating a slap and then she starts tapping her pencil against the spiral of her notebook, generating a twang that makes my senses heighten.
Shifting restlessly, I picture myself in my room, the book of Moby Dick in my hands. It’s old, the pages stiff and worn. Father told me it was a genuine copy though I just think my grandfather never took care of his books.
“Class, please pass forward your worksheets from the movie yesterday.” Mrs. Carter’s voice jerks me back to the present with an unpleasant tug and I sit up straight. I stretch my fingers across the desk until I feel the rough edges of my folder, mutilated from my lack of organization in my locker. I flip it open and run my index finger over the top of the first paper. Feeling my name at the top, I pull it out, shut my folder, and tap the person in front of me with it so they can pass it forward.
I feel a pair of eyes on my frame, the soft pull that makes me turn. No one says my name however and I face forward again. The room feels too warm and I tug at the collar of my turtleneck, the wool itching at my skin. Readjusting my sunglasses upon my nose, I place my chin in my hands and gaze blankly at what I know to be the white-board.
The class period is too long, Mrs. Carter’s voice too droll for my taste. I would rather the day be fast-forwarded to last period where I can hear the heavenly voice of what I think is my true angel.
Mercifully, the bell rings only moments later and I wait for the class to escape before I stand at last. Mrs. Carter is talking in a low voice with another student and I don’t stop to listen as I slide the books into my hands and maneuver skillfully through the maze of desks, only bumping my hip once.
Sighing, I rub my forehead with my hand and escape into the pandemonium-filled hallways. I should’ve just stayed home today. I’m just asking for disaster. Then I remember what the doctor said and I feel my strength rise. I know this school like the back of my hand; I can still picture where my locker is located perfectly. I don’t need that stupid cane or anything else.
It’s funny how the doctor still thinks I’m completely blind. I even had my driver’s license evoked for it; I still struggle with having my parents drive me to school at the age of seventeen and it’s still frustrating, trying to convince Dr. Gavin that I can still see, even if it isn’t like everyone else.
I laugh quietly. Yeah, that would go over well. Hey, doc, I can see everyone’s auras but just not their faces.
If I ever let slip to anyone about that I would be sent to the loony bin before I could even explain myself.
Smiling, I knew I had to tell Reeve about this latest idea. He would no doubt laugh his ass off and then yell at me for thinking like that.
Moving stealthily through the hallway, I reach my locker and feel around for my thick math textbook. Someone near me slams their locker and the vibrations snake up my arm, making me turn my head to see who it was. Before I can determine it, someone slaps me hard on the back, knocking my sunglasses down my nose. Quickly before anyone can notice, I slide them back into place before turning to greet my best friend.
“Reeve.” I smile. His aura is like a bright yellow fireball—because he’s all energy and go-go-go-attitude. Everyone has a unique aura; at least, that’s what I believe for I have never seen two aura’s that are exactly the same.
Everyone has an aura. It’s like their soul shining through. No one can hide who they truly are when I see them like this.
Even the girl who thinks she has it all.
Harlow walks by then. I would know her aura anywhere. It’s a faded turquoise color rimmed with a cold black. I’ve never seen anyone with such a sad, depressing aura—even the emo children still have a little life in them. But Harlow is all dark and depressed. I think that’s why I tried so hard last year to liven her up. My efforts were useless and I ended up being the blunt of all her cruel jokes. In the end, I gave up; but it’s still difficult for me to watch her walk by so alone and helpless, me being the only one that has seen the real Harlow.
“Hey, earth to Landon!” Reeve shouts, his breath fanning across my face, smelling like old cheese.
“Dude, what the hell have you been eating?” I nearly gag as I turn away to close my locker.
Reeve just ignores me, his aura brightening. Whenever this happens, I know he’s smiling. It’s still wearisome only being able to see auras. I used to be able to see other’s smile, watch their eyes lit up, watch them blush. Now, I can only try to determine what they are expressing on the outside by the light of their soul.
An aura is only the outline of the body—a glimmering light that surrounds the person. I can no longer make out face expressions or hair color. Everyone is absorbed by the aura. Humans aren’t the only ones with souls however. I was surprised to find that I could still see plants and animals. No surprise here, all plants are varying degrees of green and most animals are lackluster colors like brown, black, and tan. Everything else is a blurred vision of gray with varying degrees so I’m able to walk around without running into walls.
“What do you think Fredrickson is going to make us do today?” Reeve wonders, his aura shifting as he moves to start down the hallway. It’s a wonder I was ever able to share with Reeve my secret when I found out I was able to see people’s auras.
We were five and my eyesight had been failing for a long time. My parents were frantic, taking me to doctor after doctor but they could do nothing. It was one of those fluke things that just happen and there was nothing I could do about it. It was on that cloudy afternoon, Reeve and I playing in the sandbox at the park when I first saw his glow. It was faint at first but then, steadily, it grew brighter and brighter until nothing but the aura could be seen. I wasn’t afraid, surprisingly, and when I told Reeve, somehow, he believed me.
Since then, Reeve has never said a word to anyone about my aura seeing, nor has he ever questioned my ability of being able to move around without the use of a cane.
I shrug. “I have no idea. Fredrickson has been off his rocker for a long time. I can’t see anything about today that would change that.”
“So what you’re saying is that math is basically going to suck as it normally does?”
I nod, smiling. “Man, since when does math ever not suck?”
“Good point,” Reeve states before we enter fourth period, the audible groans coming from various spots around the room as Mr. Fredrickson writes the five-page-long assignment on the white-board.
which has people with auras which the girl can see but she's not blind and she got it from almost dying. I wanted to give it my own take and my own twist so hopefully that goes well =]
