three

her

"remember, choose

partners before

next class, friends!"

as the students march

out of the rusty library room,

i push my way out,

bumping into a few people

in the process

a hand pulls onto my

leather jacket, and

south says:

"want me to walk with you?"

"i'd rather not, actually."

"but I wanna walk you home!"

"i said: no."

"rosemary, please?"

"no thanks, south."

he lets me go and grins,

and it is as if a billion

pictures are taken;

he is a diamond

"what?!"

"you know my name."

there is a warmth

wrapping itself

around my heart at

his words, because

no one has ever thought

that i was worthy enough

of such a smile

with parents whom couldn't

care less about their daughter,

and friends who only want to

get high or are interested in

physical contact;

this boy's smile is the

first comfort i have received

since him.

-

him

"so, can i walk with you?"

she purses her lips and says:

"don't talk too much."

i grin; "so that's a yes?"

"south, let's go."

i murmur, "god, i love it when you say my name."

because the taste of my name

on her lips is bitterly sweet,

and the sound of her voice

is strangely comforting,

and i think she might be—

no, no, no.

"what's wrong?" she asks,

and i realize i must seem upset

"i'm fine. i'll walk you home next time,yeah?"

"shouldn't have asked if you

didn't want to," her face falls.

"no, no!"

"it's fine. bye."

she turns to walk away.

i hold her wrist, "rosemary!"

"what do you fucking want?"

"i just need to think about something.

it's not you, i swear."

"i don't give a fuck."

the overwhelming urge of

hugging her takes over me and

i hold her, she stays reluctant and stiff

"you're one of the most beautiful people

i've ever met and i give an f word about you."

she pushes me away,

purple colliding with green,

and flummoxed, she leaves.

i think she might be a wonder that i might call my home.