The White Wanderer

A person's life has several stages - childhood, which is mainly going out with friends, kicking a ball until late in the evening. The teenage years, where people change their views, their style, or make important decisions for their future. And finally is the stage where you're an adult, you create your family, you build perhaps a business, or you climb the ladder of one already established. This is how most people's lives go, and of everything, perhaps the most pleasant is the teenage years. Most of the time it's filled with laughter and foolishness that a person remembers their whole life, but not everyone's life goes the same way. For some people, life turns upside down in seconds. One such was Ethan's. A 17-year-old boy who had a small group of people around him, living in a small town surrounded by forest, he was just living his life. As always, he got up early, got dressed, had breakfast with his father, and left with one of his best friends who picked him up. He got in the car, threw the backpack on the back seat and leaned back, disappointed that the weekend was over.

Tyler - I see you're having a hard time dealing with the start of the new school week.

Ethan looked at him angrily.

Ethan - And are you happy it started?

Tyler laughed, he was one of those people who tried to be balanced and not lose control, especially when laughing at misfortune.

Tyler - Of course not, but I'm not father time to snap my fingers and have it end.

The two laughed and before long they were in front of the school. They got out and James was waiting for them at the entrance.

James - Couldn't you have been a little later, we'll get jokes again because of you.

Ethan - Bro, we'll write ten times that we're sorry and we're done.

Tyler - This isn't first grade, bro, but I have an excuse.

James - I'm listening.

Tyler - I overslept.

The two looked at each other as Tyler had a smug smile that annoyed James. They quickly headed to their classroom where they found the teacher who had already started the lesson. He looked at them disappointedly but also tiredly from how often this happens.

The teacher - Boys, one Monday I want you on time, one. I already have the feeling you're doing it on purpose.

Ethan - We have a valid excuse.

The teacher - And I don't want to hear it, I don't care which of you three overslept this time, just sit in your seats and the class just started anyway, you haven't missed almost anything.

Tyler - Should we write an apology?

The teacher looked at them even more tiredly than the first time and simply waved his hand in a gesture to not bother.

The teacher - If there was any benefit to writing it, you wouldn't be late anymore.

The three sat at their desks, snickering. The class was going slowly and while Ethan was wondering when the class would finally end, suddenly a sharp pain hit him in the eyes and at that moment the bell rang.

The teacher - Alright, we'll continue the lesson in a bit.

Alex hurried to leave and bumped into the teacher who told him to be careful. He quickly went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, but there was nothing. He rubbed his eyes and it seemed like it was just a speck of dust. He turned around and for a second with his peripheral vision he saw something white in his eye, but didn't pay attention to it. What could he do? He returned to the classroom where his friends stood confused by his sudden departure.

Tyler - Ethan, what's wrong with you, why did you shoot out of the room like that?

Ethan slowly sat down in his seat.

Ethan - I don't know, my eye suddenly hurt sharply, I'll visit my cousin tomorrow to make sure it's nothing serious.

James - if you don't feel well, you better leave.

Ethan looked at him tiredly, as if he had said something stupid.

Ethan - bro, it's Monday, I don't think anyone feels good.

Tyler - He's right.

James looked at Tyler, who had grabbed his chin and was looking as if he himself had said it.

James - you two are not serious.

Suddenly the teacher entered, marking the beginning of the second class. And the day slowly passed, but not Ethan's pain. After the last class he left together with Tyler and James, who didn't stop talking about how much they wanted to go to the 24-hour fast food restaurant "The Fairy".

They got in Tyler's car and Ethan sat in the back seat.

Tyler - bro, are you really okay?

Ethan, lying on the back seat, looked at him with one eye, annoyed.

Ethan - dude, I'm telling you again, it's Monday, today they're keeping us until evening and we have disgustingly much practice, the only good thing is that we'll go to "The Fairy" and they don't have the right to give us any assignments or homework today.

The two looked at him worried but didn't intend to annoy him more and set off. On the way Ethan started not only to have huge pain in his eye, but also started to see things - white lines, as if drawn by an angry artist who had plunged his brush, started to swim around him. He started to notice things he hadn't noticed before, somehow as if all living beings appeared brighter and stood out even among the trees and suddenly it stopped - all the torment except for a slight pain in his head from all that squeezing of tension.

Tyler - Ethan, we've arrived.

Ethan got up and got out, then stretched.

James - looks like you really needed some rest.

Ethan looked at them with that look that said (I told you so). They went inside, talking about how badly Monday is actually made to keep them until late in the evening. The restaurant was big with a large yard, inside it was cozy, and in summer they put tables outside too. They sat at the usual table where they sit.

James - Bro, it's not enough that they drain us all day, and they also put classes that it's not a good idea to leave.

Tyler - I'm telling you, they want to finish us off at a young age.

Ethan, still distracted by what happened in the car, let them get nervous like every Monday and started looking at the tables. The restaurant was lively as always - tables full of the same companies, sitting in the same places just like them. A girl appeared in front of them with black hair and blue streaks and quite a few piercings on her ear and one on her lip.

Ava - Hey, guys, what will you have?

Tyler - For me a tortilla and orange juice, and for James a water, because he's gotten fat.

James slapped him on the head, then locked his arms around his neck, choking him while he was laughing.

Ava - Yes, for both of you the usual. You, Ethan?

Ethan - Yes, for me too.

She nodded and headed to the kitchen.

James - why did you do that!?

Tyler - Enough, dude, she laughed, found it funny.

Ethan - bro, you've liked her for three years, just tell her already.

Tyler - or at least take a step forward, try to ask her on a date.

James, looking disappointed in himself, leaned on the table.

James - You know what I'm like, these things aren't for me, when I see her, I forget how to speak.

Tyler - Pull yourself together a bit, she won't turn you into a frog if you try to ask her on a date, she's not a witch.

Ethan - or drink your blood.

James - I can't, bro, it's too hard.

Ethan and Tyler leaned back, slightly disappointed by their friend's helplessness. Suddenly Ava, carrying their food, appeared and placed it in front of them. Tyler looked at James, who was trying not to look stressed.

Tyler - Hey, Ava.

Ava - Yes, what is it?

Tyler - could you show James how to play basketball because it's not worth it and it's not fun to play against him?

Ava looked at James, who barely squealed with desire to stab Tyler.

Ava - Yes, sounds good. Arma and Siu are on break and I have no one to play with, it'll be fun to help him.

James swallowed and said the lightest thank you.

Ava - No problem, I'll text you to arrange when.

After which she left, and James instead of making another attempt to dismember Tyler, he grabbed Tyler by the shoulder and with a frightened look told him that he would pay the bill. They ate and talked about the approaching vacation when Tyler remembered something.

Tyler - dude, now that you mention it, I have a girlfriend, James is in the process, and you're spending another year without even casting an eye on anyone.

Ethan raised his head and finally diverted his attention from the tortilla he was eating like a hungry Viking.

Ethan - Bro, I've told you, when I feel it, then.

James - you've been saying that for three years, you haven't even liked someone, even just to cast an eye on some girl, and I'm not better, but at least there's a girl I like!

Tyler - Honestly I'd start worrying you're gay, but you literally don't cast an eye on anyone, I've seen animals that check out more girls than you.

Ethan - That's not the most important thing in life.

Tyler - yes, but it helps with quite a few things, and if not now, when?

Ethan - there's time, tomorrow is unclear.

Tyler leaned back angrily - no, bro, you've helped both of us enough to return the gesture, I think Mia sent me the profile of a girl she's doing her investigation project with, I think you might like her.

He reached for his pocket but realized his phone was left in the car.

Tyler - damn it.

Ethan - forgot your phone again, right?

Tyler - it fell somewhere in the car again, I'll be searching for it all evening again.

Ethan - give me the keys, I think I know where it fell.

Tyler looked at him surprised.

Tyler - and how do you know?

Ethan - it always falls in the same place, I'm starting to feel sorry watching you struggle.

Ethan took the keys and left the restaurant. The restaurant's parking lot was strange and scattered - there were several parking spots in front of the restaurant, and then there were ones that were made along the path to the forest that also surrounded the restaurant. Each parking lot was surrounded by trees and with two lamps that lit it. To their misfortune they had parked exactly on the one that had one broken lamp. Ethan quickly opened the car door and found Tyler's phone in the same place where it always was. He picked it up and locked the car again. But the moment he turned around, he felt nauseous and dropped the phone, and as it started, so it stopped, then he bent slightly down to pick it up. But suddenly a hand appeared that took it before him, it was followed by the face of a girl he didn't know.

The girl - hey, are you okay?

Ethan - Yes, I'm just a little tired.

She looked at him with a look that impressed him. Her eyes were different - one was brown, but the other was blue, and perhaps the most noticeable blue he had ever seen in an eye.

The girl - sure you don't need help?

Ethan - no, no.

She looked into his eyes as if there was something strange about them.

Ethan - do I have something on my face?

The girl - no, but they're a bit shiny, you might be getting sick.

Suddenly from the path that connected the parking lot with the other parking lots, several people came out whom he recognized as being from the companies in town.

Lena - Luna, what's going on, are they giving you trouble?

Luna - no, no, I just helped him.

She turned to him sharply.

Luna - you better go to a doctor when you can.

After which she waved to him and joined the others who entered the establishment. Not long after, he also entered and sat at the table with Tyler and James, who were pondering what to do during vacation.

Tyler - Hey, bro, how does it sound to spend a whole day inside the camping zone of the forest?

James - Yes, we'll call other people and we can organize quite a few people.

Ethan - I have no problem, I just need to tell my father.

Tyler - Hey, did you find my phone?

Ethan took it out and handed it to him smugly.

Tyler - Bravo, you're a lifesaver! But I don't need to show her to you, she came in a while ago.

Ethan looked at him confused.

Ethan - you mean she's from that company?

Tyler nodded and leaned back.

Tyler - the girl with the two different eyes.

Ethan looked at him for the first time as if he didn't agree with his suggestion.

James - I like this expression.

Ethan - no, ugh, you know what, let's just leave, it's getting late and we have PE tomorrow.

The three got up, paid the bill they knew by heart, and went home. Ethan entered and saw a note from his father telling him he'd be gone for two days and that he'd left him pocket money for that time. He threw it in the trash and immediately entered his room, collapsing on the bed. But he couldn't fall asleep.