Before Me, There Was You

Perspective is what truly matters when explaining what just happened on the market Street that Julien found himself in when awakened. All while he was checking himself out (of course.)

A girl wearing the same school uniform as him was on the way towards her first day in school. She was doubting her memory for quite a while now, took few wrong turns and was just playing cards with her luck. Her gaze would shift to any street sign or exit in hope of a clue.

When she elbowed him in the back, he would then knock her onto the ground when turning. Julien was so spaced out that he assumed the stranger on his right was the one hurt.

Those are the facts we have at our disposal but they matter as little as an archived forum post.

Julien found himself somewhat charmed by the stranger on his right - she was quite a pretty woman that Julien took as a university student. Her sepia blouse with a certainly expensive bag was on the fleet with his tastes. She might have messy hair but it smelled nice to him and added some charm to the already good base, maybe gods were on his side.

"Uhm, is everything alright? Yeah, sorry for hitting you - Maybe a pastry as an apology, no one can reject food? I don't remember the last time I ate, if being honest." He would lightly chuckle, surely there's no way she would say no if he looked like a son of Apollo, Julien thought.

The woman looked uncomfortable, she wouldn'rt look into Julien's eyes. Startled by the sudden offer and the fact that another girl was on the ground. Are they pulling a kind of a hidden camera prank - wait is that girl crying? It was too early in the morning for her to comprehend.

Oh, she has a boyfriend already, doesn't she, Julien thought, even in the afterlife I can't at least go on a date - I don't care about the relationship I just want to know how it feels like for fucks sake especially with a pretty girl. Internally, he slapped himself - "Don't forget that you don't know her at all, you dumb wit."

The woman mumbled "You shouldn't be apologising to me, I think you mean that girl."

She pointed at the youth with a shiver and left whilst Julien was looking behind him.

He couldn't see her eyes as they were covered by her hair, plus it seemed as if she waited a moment longer in hopes that he will help her up. She raised up and brushed her skirt, before fully looking at Julien. She was aware that she was to blame, but she thought it would turn up to be a misunderstanding after all what sort of guy would hate you for running into you. He wasn't a criminal or anything like that, right?! They always turn out to be some sort of softies without utter malice hanging around them like he was emitting right now.

Maybe he will tell her it's fine and to not worry about it, or that he's sorry too. At worst he could say that she shouldn't approach him. Could it be that he just has a scary expression?

"Hey! Watch your feet or you'll lose them"

Nothing was charming about that, it was just honesty. He looked down upon her with belittlement - but Julien was mannered and kept his childish rage to himself. Nothing could've prepared him for what he was about to hear.

"Kya-I-am-sorry-for-running-into-you."

The anger turned into a jaw drop, as he heard a mechanical voice speak through the girl. He wanted to get out already, leave and never go back especially after that text-to-speech Kya. What am I in? Some damn internet stunt.

"Damn, that's kinda impressive but it feels like your taking a Mick out of me. Drop the act you Android girl, as I am willing to make you regret this without even touching you by- uhm. SOMEHOW I'LL" In the last sentence, he dropped his cool as if she was a terminator and he didn't want to die, he was ready to leg it.

Maybe that's why she doesn't need her eyes, it all makes sense, all she needs to do is pull out a sword from her chest like other girls, Julien thought.

"Excuse-Me-but-YOU-are-quite-rude-all-I-did-was-run-into-you.You-should-say-sorry-too-and-be-nice." The girl picked the Argue back option.

"Well, I'm going to get going, nice meeting you, enjoy your day." He brushed her off and hoped she won't chase him with a canon. That's the call - time to run.

Whilst, trying to keep up his pace, he found navigating the town perculiar, it was strange as everything looked somewhat familiar but he was certain that he wasn't there before. He just followed his gut and made it "********************* private high school" The name was blurred out for some reason but Julien couldn't care less he was running and hungry, so was on his way to the cafeteria.

The school corridors were the way you see them in media, full of what Julien assumed were living people chattering amongst themselves. The floor somewhat clean and notice boards bursting with life from events, clubs, school magazine and recent competitions, that upon closer inspection would bear the likeness of Ray if he cared to look at them.

The cafeteria was spacious, unlike the one he knew from before, but he knew right away where he would sit, in fact, his seat was saved by Ollie, Emil, Ray. They waved at him as if nothing happened to them like they were still alive and not dealing with whatever ineffable plan that watching had for them.