Bubble Wrap: Chapter One

A Story by Ai Nina

Luke encounters an old friend, and strikes an unlikely conversation and plan.

It was a cold day in Savannah, Georgia. It was Friday, and the boy who went by Luke was wandering the trailed, wild forest of his ungated community. The houses were big, all the same, but different colors. It bothered him a great amount, the normalness and unoriginal designs, he enjoyed downtown better, with all the old quirky houses, it made him feel more at home than anything else, rather than his small black cat, Nico, and his music. He was quite odd, what his classmates would classify him as a nerd. It never hurt him, the things they called him. He only valued music, cats, and people who actually cared. He lived with his Aunt Emma, who was only entering her thirties. His best, and probably only, friend was a tall boy who was so pale he sparkled. They were both fifteen, and strange for their age. They were quiet, as in soft voices. Everyone was loud. It bothered them, and they stuck together because of that. They appreciated true inner beauty and nature. Though Luke avoided society, his brunette fringed vampire looking friend was something important to him. Luke was different, he had black bangs that drifted to the side, and short hair. His eyes were hazel and he was tall-ish, like Milo, but his skin was tanned. Anyway, he was quite an aesthete. He roamed around the dry, littered forest. To you, it is nasty. To him, it’s inspiring. He wrote, and most of his works were found online. His memory was shockingly accurate, and his words exaggerated beautifully. All the things he never expressed were let out at the end of the day. It all went together. Vividly, his inspiring opinions on society and Earth were very memorable to the ones who read it, his friends. Not the real ones, the online ones. He didn’t care much for them, but they shared views, important ones. He listened to In Utero, his favorite Nirvana album, while he organized a plot for a short story, his name idea to be “Whitney’s Woods”, which was a place he and his aunt visited. His thoughts were interrupted by a laugh. “Angels already?” he thought, hearing the heavenly chuckle again in his head. He looked around, then saw his old classmate, possibly from grade seven. It was Andy, actually, an old friend, who was also an old classmate. She was incredibly lovely to Luke, short and curvy, dark blue-gray enchanting eyes. Her hair used to be light blues and greens, but it was in between a silver and white now, still wavy and thick and shoulder length and smelt of honey. Now that he thought of it, everything about her was enchanting. “Hey, Luke! Been forever, huh?” she said, jumping down from the tree she climbed. Luke shook his head, then laughed, “Sure has. How are you?”, he asked, sincerely interested. “I’m okay,” she said, Luke taking note on “okay”, he remembered she had problems with depression, “how are you?” she said, disturbing his train of thought. “I’m good, I think. Anyway, where did you disappear to, Andy the Comminatory?” Luke said, scooting over while Andy almost sat down on his lap, “North Carolina, I think.” she claimed. Awkwardness filled the space between them. “Have you been on an adventure?”, she asked, looking straight into his curious eyes. “Metaphorically, indeed, since I’m alive and struggling. Literary, no.” he responded, breaking their stare to look and remember the sight of a bird skipping branch to branch. “You’re still very smart, right? I need that for my next adventure.” she said, tapping her feet. “Well, yeah. I guess, what’s the mission?” he responded. She took note that he doesn’t talk unless he’s being talked to. Lots of responding...Andy thought while analysing his his features. He was quite lanky and with slight build, and scars. He was generally average looking, handsome to people with good taste. “I think we should go on a camping trip. My brother got an RV for his sixteenth birthday. I’m already driving, so things are a bit easier. I have already have set up wifi for it, and a radio. I bought enough food for two months, and pillows and beds stuffs. I’ve been looking for an adventure buddy for a while now. Whatcha’ say?” she explained. “Hm, sure I guess. We have all summer. Where are we going?” he said. “Where the wind takes us!” she said as she stomped on twigs and leaves. “You’re ridiculous…” he laughed. She looked at him oddly, “I’m confuzzled…” she said, looking at her feet. “What?” he asked, looking “confuzzled” as well. “Confused and puzzled. Confuzzled!” she said, laughing. “Oh. You nerd.” he said, smiling. “Anyway!”, she exclaimed, breaking their moment, “How the heck am I ridiculous?!” she shouted, giving Luke a slight shove. Luke laughed, rubbed his arm, then sighed. “I apologize I have to inform you of this...but adventures...aren’t exactly realistic. I get that you’re being creative, but in the end logic defeats the arts, unless it’s logical arts, which I’m perfectly fine with.”, Luke said, twiddling his thumbs, avoiding eye contact at all costs. Avoiding the face of misery and heartbreak. He has always been like that, he hated hurting people. He’s usually cold, but engaged in a conversation and knowing a person makes him open up. The closest person he had was his dad. His dad left, leaving behind everything. He just...left. He left his mentally destroyed son. He left his young sister. He left all the memories of his dead wife. He left his son with the burden of losing everyone he had ever loved. With the burden of breaking his aunt’s heart, the feeling of pure misery. Luke thought to himself for a minute, regretting what he said. He looked up. Andy had tears streaming down her cheeks, yet wore a proud smile. “You see, it may not be your reality, but different persons have different standards. I prefer to go with what my first instinct is. It doesn’t matter if it’s the right choice or if it’s realistic. Because there is none. There’s no exact standard I am fully aware of. Therefore, I do as I please…” she explained, boldly. She stood up for her belief. She pulled a smart and strong move, according to Luke. “I-I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to…” Luke mumbled, looking as if he was going to cry as well. “It’s okay, I guess. No biggie!” Andy proclaimed calmly, patting Luke on the back. He began to cry a little. He hated the fact he hurt Andy. She was his old friend, now best friend, and within less than an hour he hurt her. He kept on thinking and thinking, tears stinging and becoming thicker. Andy then hugged Luke, letting his head fall upon her broad shoulder. Andy mentally took note that Luke is very sensitive...and not very dominant, aside from his looks. “Shh...it’s okay. Really. Hey…” she said, sitting him up, then caressed his soft cheek, wiping tears away. “Y-yeah?” Luke said, extra softly. “I know a good coping skill…” Andy said, reaching into her bag. She then pulled out a sheet of bubble wrap, and handed to Luke. “Just pop away!” Andy exclaimed, wearing a huge grin.