Highschool Strangers - Chapter 1

    Just two strangers. It could have all stayed that way if it weren't for curiosity.

    I am Acheron Erebus. I am a pessimistic asshole. I like the rain. I hate spring. I do not deserve love.

    The clock strikes noon, people get up from their seats and proceed to the commons. The commons are where any and all students go to hang out with their friends during break. School has become less of a place for learning and more for socializing. I, for one, do not like this sort of change.

    Most days, I spend my break in an abandoned music room. Old posters of famous musicians scatter the wall. Instruments that have been collecting dust bring a comforting atmosphere. But most importantly, it is quiet here. I like quiet.

    I'm sitting alone like usual, until the door swings open. A boy walks in, I'm unable to make out his features due to the lights being off. He flicks them on and I take in his look from the corner I'm sitting in. Crazy dyed blonde hair, something he clearly did himself and hasn't maintained since; black roots sprouting from his scalp. He has a guitar bag on his back and his school bag over his shoulder. His skin tanned with a few paler scars on his left hand. I don't say anything and continue to stare at him from my spot.

    He doesn't notice me, which is nothing I'm not used to. The guitar bag on his back is covered in old stickers. I could only name a few of the bands. He puts his schoolbag down on one of the empty chairs and his guitar bag leaning against it.

    "Oh! Hello. I didn't realize anybody was here." The nameless boy says, turning around to see me in the corner. "Or are you just some sort of figment of my imagination?"

    He says the word "imagination" in a weird french accent. The rest of the words had a soft country accent to them. "Is that a rhetorical question?" I ask, genuinely unable to tell if he's joking or not.

    "What's your name?" He asks. I don't know why but I find myself curious about who this guy is. Probably because I've been in this hell called high school for 3 years now and have never seen him before.

    It takes me a minute before responding, "Acheron." I say quietly. I share the name with a river in the underworld, most known for bringing only pain and suffering. My name is one of the many things my parents have cursed me with. Along with my freakish height, deathly pale skin, and mismatched eyes.

    He steps a bit closer to me and sticks his hand out towards me. "That name's like, super cool. I'm Lukas, with a k."

   Nobody has ever said anything about my name before, besides teachers asking for an easier nickname to call me by. I stare up at him for a bit before taking his hand and standing up. As I stand, his head looks up in a way it looks like his neck will break.

    "Holy shit, dude. You're tall as fuck! You have to be at least 6'4." His expression is one mixed with surprise, amazement and a third emotion I can't quite make out. "How tall are you, man? I'm like 5'5 myself."

    I don't say anything for a few short seconds. "I'm 6'6..?" I sound unsure. To be fair, the last time I checked my height was 3 months ago and I'm unfortunately still growing.

    "Damn," he says, longing the vowel in the word. "Give me some inches, will ya?"

    My cheeks burn slightly. Did he say something like that on purpose?

    Before I can say anything, he turns around and reaches for his guitar bag. He opens it and pulls out an old guitar. The wood is chipped and scratched. The strings seem like they should have snapped off by now.

    He sits in the closest chair and sets his guitar onto his leg. His hand grazes the guitar, it's something he must have done hundreds of times. He plays a single note before the bell interrupts him. Have we really been here this long?

     "Oh shit, I'm gonna be late. Time goes by fast, doesn't it?" He says with a smile on his face. He packs his things again and runs out of the room, just as loud as he entered before. I just stand there, looking at the door. What is up with this guy?