Ch-1- Reality is NOT sweet.

"Damn. You are so beautiful. Can I touch your hand ?"

She nodded hesitantly as if she didn't want me to know something. The unwavering hesitance in her gaze just made me feel more tempted to touch her glowing copper skin. Oh, sheet! I really shouldn't have touched her. She is disappearing. Her once glowing skin now fading under my touch. I feel helpless and anxious. I want to stop this, yet I can't. I have no power. Her face is starting to fade as well and her sad smile is the only thing left in front of me. Her smile reminds me of the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland but just a tad more beautiful. Her smile is gone too. I feel empty yet somehow full of a warm feeling.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's a beautiful morning. The sun rays are shining brightly on my face and I feel warm everywhere. Maybe that was the warm feeling after all. The birds are chirping in the distance and-

"Wake up Harry! We don't have all day! Get ready and come down to have some breakfast." What a shame. Why do parents, or in this case mothers, always have to bring us innocent children back to the harsh reality named life? I just want to snuggle up in my blanket and dream some more and yet I have responsibilities and obligations to carry out. It is not easy being a teenager. It's kind of like hell if you think about it. Getting ordered around by a bunch of devils to do stuff you have no interest in whatsoever. I need to tell Carlos this. It's not like you come up with horrifyingly true analogies every day. He is probably going to make fun of me like he always does. Is it a crime to enjoy reading books that are considered "feminine", or in Carlos' words "girly", which should be stereotypically shocking as Carlos is gay.

Showering is such an underrated part of the day. You can relax and stay there as long as you like. The steam from the rushing hot water makes the bathroom feel like a sauna. A bonus is the total privacy. Just thinking about the privacy factor makes me want to shower the whole day. However, that is not the best part. The best part is when the steam condenses on the mirror and you can write or draw anything with the tip of your finger. Ok, I have now realised that I might be thinking a tad too much about showering and I should get going otherwise mom might come banging again.

Walking to school is tiring, even though it's barely a mile away. That just made me sound lazy, but in my defence, it's not like I had a feast. I only had a measly breakfast consisting of milk and cornflakes. Not very fancy, is it? That's life for you Harry. If only I was Harry Potter or Harry Styles, then, I would be rich, famous and I would get any girl I liked. Instead, I have wild and always tangled ginger hair along with a round face. I wouldn't say I have very sharp features except for my jawline which is one of the things I like about my appearance. Along with my jawline, I have deep-set green eyes, an average nose with a soft edge to it and small plump lips. In short, I am a pretty average looking guy. Not a visual god like those K-pop idols whom girls seem to fawn over nowadays but not ugly either. My school is filled with average looking guys like me except for some who are above average, but I still can't help feeling insecure. And NO, insecurity is not just a girl problem. Everyone feels insecure at some point in their lives especially when you are surrounded by people who seem to have everything-girlfriends, families, money, intelligence, muscles, visuals etc. I don't have a girlfriend, only got my mom, money gets tight sometimes, not the brightest kid in class, got a lean body with no muscles and like I mentioned before, pretty average looking. Who wouldn't feel insecure?

There it is. Cantesbury High. The school where I have to rack my brains for the next 2-3 years EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. The only thing that gets me through the day is my best friend---Carlos. I don't remember when we exactly became friends because he was around for as long as I can remember. It just happened like Bam! and we became best friends. Honestly, Carlos would have been some real competition in the girls' area if he wasn't gay. He is SO handsome. He has lush dark brown hair with very sharp features. Sharp nose, sharp jawline, sharp icy blue eyes etc. you name it! I am pretty sure I caught some girls stalking him one time. I sometimes secretly thank my stars that he is not interested in girls. Along with gifted genetics, he has a great personality, even though he can be mean sometimes. Apart from Carlos, there is another special person, but we will talk about her some other time because Carlos is waving at me from the entrance. Bestie duties call. That was cheesy.

Classes are so boring. What an obvious statement. I wish I could be saved from this boredom. Oh yes! Carlos is tapping on my shoulder. He probably has some really good gossip to tell. Thankfully, the teacher isn't paying attention to us. Perks of sitting in the back seats.

"Did you hear that Eva broke up with her boyfriend ?"

"No Carlos, do you think that I am as social as you ?"

"That's a conversation for another day. As I was saying, Eva is now single and probably ready to mingle!"

"So? What am I supposed to with this VERY classified information?"

"Ahaha sarcasm. How many girls have you gotten with that attitude? At least I have been trying to set you up with other girls apart from your Ms. Switzerland"

"Carlos, for the last time her name is Geneva and just because Geneva is also a city in Switzerland does not make her Swiss. She was born and raised in the USA and is an American citizen."

"I still don't get what you see in her. You have liked her since I have known you."

"Oh come on. She has such beautiful black hair like a shiny raven. Her cheeks are so pink, her skin is such a pretty shade of copper and her eyes! OH, her eyes! She has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. They are practically brown but with tints of dark green here and there." Carlos proceeds to look at me as if I am a child who is dancing in the middle of a mess. Why does he have such an expressive face?

"You won't get it, Carlos. You are gay"

"Oh yeah, I sometimes forget that I am gay. It hasn't been a lot of time since I came out to my parents and so it still feels as if I have to pretend to be straight."

"Yeah..do you think the people at school know that you are gay?"

" I am pretty sure most of them know or have realised it at one point. The chances are still there that some people still think I am straight. Especially that girl who always hangs out with Ms. Switzerland.."

what's her name? "

"Again, it's GENEVA! And 'that girl' is named Cara."

"I can always count on you to tell me Geneva's biography."

"Shut up!"

"I won't shut up because I have the right to speech. Anyway, Ms. Cara was staring at me like a hungry predator who hasn't eaten in 5 days. Like at least try to hide your interest! The poor girl is going to be in for a big shock when she finds out I have no interest in her or her species."

"Do you think Geneva knows you are gay?"

"I highly doubt it because her friend doesn't seem to know. Honestly, I couldn't care less. Even if everyone ends up loving me, half of them will be eliminated in the first round because of their gender."

"I wonder if that counts as gender discrimination."

" Oof. At times like these, I realise why I am your friend."

"What do you mean ?"

"You think like a child. You need protection. I am basically your bodyguard."

"Stop getting on my nerves, Carlos."

"As you wish your royal babyness."

"CARLOS!"

Thank god I was saved by the bell. Carlos can get annoying sometimes. Oh yes! My schedule says that it's time for my favourite class. And no, this class is not my favourite because of the lessons or the teacher. It's because I have this class with Geneva. I love my life at this moment.

My heart is beating faster and faster as I am approaching the classroom. I will be able to see her in just a minute. Oh lord, there she is.