Chapter 1
I sat up in bed, stretching my long arms. They spread out on either side of me like two leaves on a flower, and I smiled. I flapped them a little, pretending they were leaves in the wind, but stopped, feeling foolish. Looking around, I noticed nobody saw my childish ways of waking up, and for that I am glad.
I pulled myself out of bed and walked courageously to the kitchen, my chest puffed out and my chin thrown high into the air. I wasn't sure why, but I felt as if today was going to be, as the movies called it, 'a new day'. I was the first one up as usual, so I set a frying pan on the black oven and dropped a sliver of butter on the pan. I watched it melt slowly and finally turn to a dull yellow liquid. I strutted over to the fridge and got out three white eggs. I cracked them gently on the side of the pearl white marble counter, and cleaned up the clear goop they left behind.
The eggs sizzled loudly on the frying pan when I dropped them on. They sloshed around quickly as if not sure what to do or where to go. I smiled and put my face too close to the frying pan, almost burning my poor nose. I pulled my face back and nearly laughed out loud. Why? I don’t know, but it felt necessary.
I got out a spatula and poked at the raw eggs that were slowly cooking in the butter. I poked one too hard and the yoke split open. Groaning, I poked the others open and proceeded to make an omelet instead of sunny-side-ups.
"Come on little unborn chicks. Cook up for me to eat!" I encouraged quietly, not wanting anyone to see me talking to inanimate objects.
As I waited for the eggs to cook, I thought about what I could do today, but nothing came to mind. I might be able to go to the park, but all my friends were at college, which I no longer attended due to the fact that I had too many absences. But in my opinion, one hundred or so absences are not that bad for only half a year.
I could smell the finished eggs before I saw then. The rich and buttery smell filled my lungs and I had to force myself to breath out. Skipping over to the eggs, I scooped them off the frying pan and onto a shiny white plate. I catered to myself and set them on the dining table.
"Here is your food, handsome sir." I said in a low, gruff voice and standing in perfect posture.
"Why thank you, good sir." I said in my normal, high-pitched voice as soon as I set down. I picked up a silver fork that seemed to glow it was so clean. It better be, for I spent a long time polishing them every day. The eggs taste as good as they smell, and the fluffy omelet nearly melts in my mouth.
"Mmm." I can't help but say it out loud, for they are too good. I hear a slight rustle behind me and fly up, turning towards the sound. It came from a plant and my face is full of worry.
"I.... I--" I am cut off by my cat, Tom, stepping out into the open. His bright green eyes focus on my face, and he meows quietly. His thick gray coat is matted and wet, so I can tell he's been in the toilet again. "Now, Tom, what have I told you about the toilet?" I ask, but get no response. Of course I won't get a response, I never do. Sitting back down, I notice Tom getting closer to me. Finally, he hops up onto my lap and curls into a tight ball.
"Oh Tom. The strangest thing happened to me this morning." I say, my mouth full of egg. I swallowed. "I woke up and felt like today will be different. And I have the strangest feeling. As if someone is going to pop out of nowhere and get me. I don’t know what they'll do, but they'll do something." I took another bite and let my mind wander. "What do you suppose it means?"
It means you're paranoid, Lelio. You always have been, and you always will. The voice in my head said politely. I know they're trying to help, but it doesn't make me feel at all better about myself.
"I'm not paranoid you guys! I'm just nervous. I need fresh air." I say, then stand up. Tom falls out of my lap and hops onto the table to eat my leftover. I allow him this, and go to the door. on my coat rack, I grab my black top hat with a white silk ribbon in the middle. I bought it because, well, because it was silly. I placed the silly hat on my head and walked out the door.
Walking down the streets, I saw an open bench. Those were rare, for people were usually filling them all up. I sat down on the bench, which happened to be green, and looked around. I wanted to make sure nobody was following me.
Paranoid... They repeated.
"You're wrong, I swear."
Chapter 2
After a few minutes, the bright sun started blistering my skin. The feeling was as if someone was holding a lighter to my skin. Not too bad, but enough to feel funny. I stood up and peeked around my shoulder. Did I just hear a rustle? I think I did.
A very large man came out of a store and headed my way. His large and chunky legs made him walk with more of a wobbly step, but it was enough to send me back a few paces. He kept coming towards me, a gruff and disappointed look on his face.
My mind was buzzing on what to do. Or better, what this fat man could do... to me. He would probably cook me up, the pain would be much worse than the sun. Then he'd eat me limb by limb. Oh, the horror. I could feel my limb shaking as he barreled slowly to me, and the fear gripped my insides. I couldn't run. I couldn't even breathe.
He walked right in front of me, and looked me up and down. I was far taller than him, possibly by three feet. Of course, I was taller than everyone around, but still. And I was much skinnier and paler, possibly by 300 pounds or so. He got to my face and scoffed. He then abruptly walked around me politely and when I looked over at him, he smiled at me and dipped his head.
Did I just imagine him looking me up and down? No... I couldn't have. It was right there! The fat man was about to fight me... Or eat me. Whichever came first.
Lelio you moron, he was being polite and stepping around you. Open your eyes fool! They mocked me, the voices. They never knew how much this hurt, or rather they did and that's why they kept doing it.
"That man was going to assault me! I know it." I defended, and they didn't reply back. Smiling smugly, I walked into a store. It was an antique shop. My favorite actually. Small trinkets here and there were so mouth watering. I mean that as a figure of speech of course.
One caught my eye. I walked up to it and peered closely. It was a silver statue about the size of my fist, but so mighty it should be as big as the world itself. The statue was that of a pirate. With an eye patch golden and a sword the same. I picked him up gently and took him to the checkout counter. The woman looked strangely at the piece and smiled.
"Will that be all?" She asked in a sweet voice.
All? What else is there? What are you not telling me woman! Maybe she's just trying to trick me... Yeah, that's all. Goodness me, that woman is strange.
"Yep, that's it." I finally replied after a moment of silence. She packed up the statue for me, and I payed her in crisp bills.
"Thank you!" She called as I left with the pirate in my palm, to show to the world.
The small figurine reflected off the bright sun that was now slipping out from underneath the clouds. The golden eye patch kept shining the light into my eye, annoying me slightly. The golden sword was pointed straight to my nose as I held it to my face. It was pointed slightly at the tip, yet not nearly sharp enough to break skin. Good thing, for I can be very clumsy.
I sat down at the same bench I was at earlier. Still nobody was there. Peculiar. Why wouldn't anyone enjoy sitting here today, yet sat there any other time? Is there something wrong with the bench? Let's hope not, for I am sitting and there is no going back.
The pirate seemed to stare straight through me as I searched it for other details I didn't spot before. The beard was molded to look as if he had curly hair down to his chest. He wore old fashioned clothes you'd see in a children's story book, and his large boots were chipped a bit at the heels, as if he'd been dropped the same way far too many times. Once again, the golden eye patch blared sunlight into my eyes. I took a closer look, and realized how neat the eye patch was. Although plain and quite average looking, something about it made me attached somewhat.
Chapter 3
A woman and her child walked swiftly past me, and I swear that child almost took my pirate. His hand reached out and nearly touched his silver head. He would have swiped it clear from my hand, taking it with him. His mother would never know, that's for sure. she was speaking on her cell phone to someone name Steve I think.
"Steve, Steve. Steve! Calm down! I'll get it on my way home." She said to him. Or her. I see girls with guy names everywhere, and I don't judge. she continued on her way, and the child peered back at me. His hazel eyes appearing filled with tears. He was young, so I assume he's still in the stage where he throws fits. Boy, will his mother be happy when he starts crying for a silver pirate.
I'm not safe here. Too many tragedies could happen to my poor, tiny pirate friend. Standing up, I began walking back home. Now my pirate was in my pocket, safe from any wandering hands that may like knick-knacks. A few people passed, and they looked weirdly at me. At first, I thought it was because they wanted my pirate. Then I realized it was because every time I passed a person, I was hissing to them quietly.
Lelio, don't make a fool of yourself. Get home and calm down. Good idea, for once. I took large gulps of breath, which usually calmed me down.
My house was not ten yards away, when I felt a slight tap on my shoulder. I hesitated before whirling around to face a woman about half my size. She was old and looked quite frail, so I told myself she wouldn't hurt me. But you can never be sure there isn't a big, bulky man underneath an old woman suit...it could happen.
"Is this yours, young man?" She asked, holding up my hat. How did she get that?! She probably stole it right off my head, that little witch! I snatched it from her and took a step back, placing the top hat gently on my fiery red hair. My hair isn't the average orange color, for I dyed it years ago. It’s a bright red color that pops out from under my hat like flames flickering from a candle.
"I saw it fall of your head while you were sitting on the bench.' She continued, smiling now. Her teeth were yellow. Ew. She can't take a couple minutes to brush her teeth?
I walked away without replying, hurrying into my house. There's no way I let my hat fall off. I think she stole it from me, then the guilt made her take it back. I walked to my kitchen where the empty plate from before sat, no more omelet left.
I sat down, pushing the plate away and placed the pirate in its spot.
The eye patch. It jumped out at me again. Okay, that's about four times now its jumped out at me. I know what I have to do.
I have to go out and buy an eye patch for myself.
I stood up out of my chair harshly, tipping it over and sending it falling onto Tom. He darted light lightning to hide behind my red velvet couch. I could hear his loud hissing even from there and tried hard not to let a giggle escape my lips. the last thing I need is a cat out to get revenge on me.
"My apologies, Tom." I said, bowing quietly to show respect. It took a few minutes, but eventually Tom came out and rubbed his furry head on my shin. I knew I was forgiven.
Turning away, I went to my room. I quickly changed, wanting my appearance to be perfect for some reason. I put on a formal white button-up with black dress pants and matching shoes. The outfit matched my hat well, so that was good. I looked in the mirror at myself. My bright green eyes stared back at me with intensity as always. They looked so determined, you could swear I was out to do something terrible and get away with it.
My bright red hair curled gracefully around my ears on either side of my head, the black tips seeming to disappear somewhere in my earlobe. My long bangs were shoved over to the left of my face by my long and lanky fingers. They were bony and almost looked like those of a skeleton.
Standing back, I gave myself one last look in the mirror before trodding off to my living room. Tom meowed quietly, and I took that as a goodbye. I waved to him silently and left my house, walking down the street once again.
Every time a person walked by me, I paused until their stomping feet faded away into the distance. I do not want anyone following me today. Even that old lady I met earlier had given me a fright, and who knows what other freaky people could follow me home and steal my hat. or worse, my new eye patch when I retrieve it.
As I walked along the gray sidewalk, I made sure not to step on a crack. Even though me and my mother never talk, I still do not want her poor delicate back to break.
I was never close to my mother. Yes, we lived together after father died in a car crash, but we never spoke. It was as if our house was a lonely hole, not allowing anyone to speak or even make eye contact with each other. But no matter, I lived through the dark, empty days of no voice for a while, and I turned out okay.
A teenager walked by, an I-pod blaring in his ear. He was staring at the bright white screen, so he didn't see me as I passed him. His should, which by the way was rock hard, hit mine. Mine gave a loud crack, and I had to rub it before the pain went away. He didn't say anything to me, for he probably didn't feel it as I did. I walked on though, sure he would follow me. But there is no way he'd be able to keep himself hidden. I could hear his rock music from fifteen feet away.
I kept moving, taking gulps of breath and peering around my shoulder every twenty seconds to make sure the music boy was still gone.
He's gone, and there is no reason to fear. He was probably deafened by the music and numb from having it in too long. He most likely couldn't feel the impact, Lelio. the voices soothes me, calming my heart rate by a lot. I nodded in response to them, and they quieted to let me be on my way.
Calm. Calm. I can do that. It won’t be that hard.
A small squirrel scurried up the tree beside me, causing me to jump behind a trash can. I’m sure my heart stopped as I saw the squirrel climb higher. My breathing came in quick, tiny gasps as if I had just seen a ghost. Looking around, I realized nobody saw me.
Phew. That was close. But where was I? Oh yes, calm. Calm.
So here goes nothing.
Believable Characters are Key - Obviously Lelio is paranoid. It is clear that he is not the average. That is completely fine. But to make Lelio more believable I think you need to explain 
