Prelude
Hi. I'm Alfie. And oh boy do I have some stories to tell you.
The moment I had turned 15 in 1999, life seemed to have thrown a very interesting curveball at me.
I wasn't so sure if it was the hormones the youth experienced around this age or if I was just starting to see the world in a different point of view.
Around this time, the life I grew up with was fading and becoming a very distant memory as my parents were going through a very terrible divorce.
This left me in a house with just my mother, my older sister and my little 6 year old brother.
And to add to that, I was seeing my older sister dealing with the troubles at home in a very different way as compared to me.
She's always been hot headed and rebellious, but now embraced a Chola lifestyle and went by the name "Pebbles" after the baby from the Flintstones.
Don't let that name fool you. I've seen her knock someone out that was twice her size just because they gave her a mean look.
Very protective but was also my biggest bully. I really avoided her.
This all has led me to start struggling with my studies. I was no longer feeling like my home was a home anymore and just wanted to escape.
The school and my friends were my only refuge during these difficult times. My group called ourselves "the island of misfits" based on the old Christmas animation "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer".
Many of us in the group were a bunch of social butterflies and misfits that just felt they didn't really belong in a specific clique or group but somehow got along with all kinds of people.
From the cool artistic kids (that would be Victor), star athletes (that would be Boss), to the nerdy and studious bunch (that would be everyone, especially me), the punks, rockers and goths (too many to name), even a few that considered themselves as thugs and troublemakers (Nate).
We were definitely an interesting bunch.
Being at such an age, many of them have been dating, shared their first kiss, even becoming fully intimate and romantically involved with some of their classmates.
As for myself, I had become too shy and questioned what love is after witnessing many heartbreaks.
I personally didn't want to find love.
I had it engraved in my head I was going to become some kind of monk and live the life of a hermit.
During the Summer of 1999, things started to change.
Because of how far behind I had become during my freshman year in highschool, I had no choice but to attend summer school to retake the courses I had failed.
This also gave me another way to avoid home. Alas. A blessing in disguise.
The only misfortune is none of my friends from the group were there. Might as well be a lone wolf and keep my head low.
Walking down those musky and aged hallways of our highschool felt different when they weren't cluttered with the usual chaos of student traffic.
The only students I saw were all standing in line and waiting for the teacher to open the door. They all looked miserable and tormented by the intense summer heat of El Paso.
The teacher finally appeared and was unfortunately very bland. He looked like he didn't want to be there as well.
As he opened the door and held it for the class to enter, he announced.
"Ok everyone. Go ahead and look for your name on the desk. If you don't like the arrangement, that's too bad."
Some of my new classmates were really quick to respond in displeasure.
I didn't really care. I just wanted to get on with it.
I quickly found my seat and pulled out my drawing pad I have been doodling on for the last year. I had become very fond of that anime style that's become a bit of a craze.
"Oh that's cute!"
A very sweet voice chimed right next to me. I slightly looked over and noticed a plastic lunch pail with the characters from Disney's Gargoyle's on it sitting on the desk. There was a braided chord fastened to it somehow like a shoulder strap.
This girl had definitely caught my curiosity and I finally looked to see the owner.
My heart may have skipped a beat as I struggled to finally respond.
"Thank you."I giggled bashfully as I dropped my pencil. "I... I'm actually just messing around right now."
Ok, who is this unique beauty that just struck me like a bolt of lightning? Who was this girl?
Her gothy, alternative aesthetic was unique, yet had its charm: Baggy pants with safety pins attached randomly. A curvy figure with a Powerpuff girls T-shirt on. The jet black color of her nails, the shiny silver rings that adorned her fingers and the multiple bracelets around her wrists. Her brunette hair was shoulder length with one side brushed behind her ear to display all the different piercings.
What had really drew me into her— her eyes.
Even with the way she lined them to appear more catlike and the hint of silver shadow, I couldn't help but to stare for a moment as there was something peculiar about her eyes.
I couldn't quite figure it out.
"I have to ask" I finally spoke while mustering the courage to continue. "What's with the lunchbox?"
"Oh this?" She smirked and maneuvered the lunchbox closer to her to open it. "It's my purse."
I was a little dumbstruck and laughed. This girl had managed to take a regular children's lunch box and arranged it to where she was able to carry some makeup, a few personal belongings and—a classic model Gameboy.
I leaned in with awe. "Did you seriously bring a Gameboy to school?"
She let out a little giggle and nodded. "What else am I going to do while I wait for a ride after school."
I couldn't argue with that statement. I was already liking the way she thinks and looks. Sweet yet rebellious.
"Sooo." I fidgeted with my pencil. "Since we are going to be stuck sharing this desk all summer, I figured introducing myself should be the first step. I'm Alfie."
"Yeah, I already saw that on the card." She playfully pointed at my name card and quickly covered hers. "I'm Cerulia. I usually go by CC."
"Cerulia? That's different." I blinked quickly. "Like cerulean?" I tried to take a look at her note card which only led her to scoot it over out of my sight. "Your last name is pretty cool. Kane. Just like the wrestler."
"Ugh. I've been getting that a lot lately." She seemed a bit annoyed.
"Candi Kane" The teacher called out while doing attendance.
Some of the classmates started to giggle.
"Here" She raised her hand while the other covered over her face in embarrassment. "I go by C.C." She became even more annoyed by that.
I leaned over towards her. "Candi? Did your parents seriously name you Candi Kane?"
I didn't want to appear rude. It was really amusing to me that she was named after a Christmas treat.
She grimaced and sighed. "Yeah. My parents thought it was really cute. That's why I go by C.C"
After hearing my name in the roll call, she rebutted. "Oh ho. Now I know why you go by Alfie. Your name makes me think of Chicken Alfredo."
"Ha ha. I have never heard that one before." I answered with such sarcasm. "CANDI!"
She scoffed and stuck her tongue out at me. "Fettuccine." CC snapped back with sass.
We just stared at each other for a moment and started to giggle quietly.
As the class went on, we couldn't help but tease and banter with each other throughout the entire thing.
After class, we walked to the front of the school and waited for our parents to pick us up.
C.C had her Gameboy and sat at the ledge up front ready to play, but instead we chatted a bit longer.
"So what games do you usually play?" I asked curiously and now feeling comfortable talking to her.
"A little bit of whatever." CC shrugged. "Tetris will always be my go to."
"Tetris huh." I crossed my arms and thought for a moment. "Umm...Maybe I can bring my Gameboy. We can play versus mode." I smiled.
"Maybe." She giggled and brushed her back behind her ear. "Think you can keep up?" She looked up at me and smirked.
That afternoon sun had hit her eyes just right and I was finally able to see a rare beauty reveal before me.
Her left eye was green—a noticeable green—and the other was a very warm brown.
I had never seen such a feature on anyone before.
It was indeed at that moment I had become smitten.