I looked at the sky in despair – I was not even despaired by my lateness, William Forbes couldn’t hurt me much more than he already had. What hurt me the most was the extent of my brother’s hate, how badly he wanted me to suffer.
I sighed, adjusting my bag on my shoulder and tightened my jacket around me. It was not Fall yet but I was starting to feel the definite bite of the wind. Better start walking, Esme.
As I walked, I couldn't help but think of all the new experiences I was going through here – unfortunately none of them were positive. I thought of Archie, my own flesh and blood, who hated me with a passion I didn't think was possible.
Truth be told, I’d never been hated before – at least not that I knew of. I’d been disliked by some girls at school, sure, I’ve been envied when my curves appeared and I started to attract boys’ attention but it only escalated to catty comments at best, I’d never had anyone set out to destroy my life as Archie seemed intent on doing. I gained the experience of having an arch-nemesis and as luck would have it, it had to be my brother.
“Black Panther or Thor?”
I stopped in my tracks, startled but also grateful at the interruption of my dark thoughts.
“Sorry?” I asked turning toward a tall lanky man who I would put in his early twenties- extended two figurines toward me.
He smiled, and it was such a childlike innocent radiating smile that it swept all the darkness away. His startling blue eyes sparkled and I could see his black hair curving around the border of his red cap. “Black Panther or Thor?” he asked again.
A man about the same age appeared beside him – a bit breathless with an open backpack in his hand. “I’m sorry, he never does that.” He turned toward the other man. “Theo! I told you to wait for me. You can’t just go run around like that!”
I rested my hand on the man’s arm to stop him from chastising Theo. “It’s alright, I think it’s a good question.” I smiled at Theo. “I can’t choose like that, Theo. Who are we fighting?”
Theo’s smile brightened even more, and I knew he was pleased with my answer. “Want to play?” He pointed to his bag.
The other man threw me an apologetic glance before looking at Theo. “No, Theo you can’t ask people to play – they’re busy. We discussed this, remember?”
“I don’t mind.” And I really didn’t. I was late, there was nothing I would be able to do now, and I’d have to take whatever stupid punishment my father would throw my way anyway. At least I could be a child again for a few minutes, it would make whatever chastisement coming my way a little bit more worthwhile. “I can play for a bit. What’s your name?” I asked the other man.
“Ah yes sorry,” he blushed, and I found that cute, such a difference from the over-confident guys I kept meeting since I’d stepped into Stonewood. He was a bit short, 5’7” maybe, and his hair was the same shade as Theo’s but his eyes were a deep brown. “I’m Mike and this is Theo – also known as Super TT.”
As if on cue, Theo rested his hands on his hips, back straight, puffing his chest out in a classic superhero pose.
I laughed at that. “Very nice to meet you, Super TT, I’m Esme.”
“Hi Me-me,” he waved enthusiastically. “So, we play?”
I nodded. “Absolutely!”
“Thank you,” Mike said, apparently surprised by my enthusiastic reply. “He grows tired fast, anyway.”
“I really don't mind.” It was the truth, I was looking forward to playing with this childlike man, who clearly didn’t have any hidden agenda or a mean bone in his body. I needed that more than I needed to go home to a house full of rancour and bitterness.
“Okay…” Mike trailed off as if he was having a hard time believing this. He took the blanket out of the backpack and set it down on the perfectly manicured lawn of the park.
I sat carefully across from Theo as he emptied his bag full of superhero figurines on the blanket. “You’re not joining in?” I asked Mike as he took a seat on a nearby bench.
Mike snorted, looking at Theo with mirth, “I’m not wanted when there’s a new player.”
Theo nodded thoughtfully. “What you want, Me-me?”
I looked down at the figurines pretending to take the matter seriously. “Can I mix Marvel and DC?”
“Yes.”
“Are we fighting each other?”
He shrugged. “Yes and I’m very good, my brother BB, we fight every week and I win.”
I smiled looking up at Mike who was taking in the scene with such kindness on his face. “You’ve got a good brother.” Mike was just so sweet and adorable, why couldn’t he be my brother?
“The best brother, I love BB. Two teams?”
I nodded. “You go first.”
And within five minutes the teams were made. I had Wonder Woman, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Superman and last but not least, Captain America. Unfortunately, after 15 minutes I’d lost, but it had been a close one.
“You’re good.” he confirmed, bringing his hand up and patting my head.
“You are too.”
“I know,” he replied, looking down at his figurines and arranging them in some kind of way, talking to them.
I chuckled and joined Mike on the bench.
“You were a worthy opponent” he commented, keeping his protective eyes on Theo.
“I tried my best.”
“He’s not very friendly usually, you know.” He threw me a quick questioning glance before turning toward Theo again. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him socialize like that with a stranger”.
“It’s an honor.” I replied genuinely touched by this. “What’s – what’s up with him?” It felt awkward to ask.
He sighed. “Williams syndrome. It’s a rare genetic disease, and it’s tough but he’s amazing.”
“Yes, he is.” I smiled, looking at him playing with his figurines. “But he is a precious gift no matter what.”
Mike looked at me again, with an added appraisal. “I’ve never seen you before. Are you new?”
I nodded, but I didn’t feel like sharing my life story. “Yes, I moved here quite recently.”
“We come here to play every Wednesday, weather permitting – what do you say about coming and playing with him? It will help him socialise, you’ll become a superhero expert and I'll get to see you again.”
I blushed at the light flirting. It was nice to have someone who actually liked me and not look at me as if I was Typhoid Mary.
“If you give me a ride home then yes.” Sure Esme, ask a complete stranger to give you a ride home. You would have been Ted Bundy’s ideal target!
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Uh yeah, sure, okay. I’ll have to take him back to the centre soon, anyway. Where do you live?”
“Mount Hill.”
This answer made his eyebrow shoot even higher. “Mount Hill?” he repeated, detailing my clothes more closely. He’d probably missed the Brentwood Crest on my red shirt with the jacket I was wearing. “You’re a Brentwood brat?” he asked, and the genuine surprise in his voice sounded more like a compliment than anything else. It was clear he didn’t hold Mount Hill residents and Brentwood Academy attendees in high esteem. Not that I could blame him really, I couldn’t say I was a fan either.