Sketchy Memories
My first real attempt at a traditional story. I guess it falls under the flash fiction umbrella with how short it is. I posted this on Pastebin originally, but revised and expanded it a bit for here. I still don't love it but it's a start.
I stood up from the concrete step and moved to throw away what remained of the cafeteria-provided lunch. With my stomach full, it was now time to leave my usual seat on the stairs at the quad's far end. With practiced ease, I snagged my backpack up off the stairs and made my way up. My destination was, like always, the school’s library.
The library—as I had learned after a few miserable weeks—was a place where someone could sit by themselves in between classes and not feel like a pathetic outcast. I didn't know how you're supposed to make friends at a new school in a new state but the library at least gave me a place to belong.
I had been going there long enough to recognize other regulars—not that I knew them by name or anything. The only time I talked to anyone here was when a fat dude sitting across from me dropped his pencil. I hadn't seen him since so I guess I could count him out as a potential friend.
I entered the library and immediately noticed someone new sitting at my usual table. It was a girl, a gray-furred canid of some kind, who was utterly absorbed in her notebook. On her right arm was a fluorescent pink cast. Aside from her, the table was empty.
I just stood there. I barely knew how to talk to human girls, much less anthro ones. There were hardly any anthros in any place I had lived, and their representation at school wasn't much different. I thought about sitting at a different table, but I knew the regulars at the other tables would notice me sitting somewhere else to avoid her. Maybe I should just turn and walk out the door and find somewhere else to be alone for the rest of lunch. But wouldn’t they notice me doing that too?
I was pulled out of my thoughts by the realization that I was standing in place in the library’s lobby for way too long and embarrassment forced my body to act. I instinctively moved towards my regular table and took a seat across from the girl. I hurriedly opened up my backpack and grabbed a binder.
I tried to look focused on my algebra homework, but risked a glance after a moment to see if the girl had reacted to me sitting down. No, she was still heavily focused on her notebook, slowly drawing some kind of monster. Her lines were shaky and sloppy. She scowled down at the paper. It took me a moment to realize she probably wasn’t left-handed.
I moved beyond the bright cast and her race and took in the rest of her. A gaudy print tee, a ratty sweater, and barely-maintained shoulder length hair. She was a geek alright. She was also a gray fox. Were foxes in the canine family? I couldn’t remember.
A table over, someone got up and loudly pushed their chair in, tearing me from my thoughts. If she noticed my staring, she didn't show it. I decided to start my homework—something I rarely actually did when passing the time sitting there—to keep my mind off her or any other troubling subject. Solving for X was boring even in the best of times though and soon I found myself doodling in the margins.
I idly wondered how well I could use a pencil with my own left hand. I tried it and began scrawling out my name. It was a mess, obviously. I did it a few times, each looking like they were done by a drunk toddler. What about drawing? I attempted to draw an alien. Trying to draw with an impediment turned out to be kind of fun.
“Hey”, came a voice.
I whipped my head up to locate the source of the voice. It was the girl, staring right at me. Ah, shit. Time froze as I stared into the girl’s face and realized what it must have looked like I was doing. I was mocking her. Ah, double shit.
I threw my hands into the air. “I’m-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”
“Stop.” she said firmly. There was a moment of silence as she sized me up. “It’s not easy, is it?” she said finally, pointing with her good arm at my paper. I lowered my hands.
“No, it isn’t.” I said.
“I'm getting better though” she said, holding up her notebook. “What do you think?” I looked down and recognized the creature she was drawing. It was an Absol; a lumpy Absol, but an Absol all the same. The creature stoically stared at the edge of cliff—or at least I assumed that was the intent.
“Oh, Absol, cool.” I said, my voice shakier than I'd like.
Her eyes lit up. “Yes! I love them so much.” she said, bouncing a little.
“Yeah, they’re, uh, cool. I had...Sapphire.” I managed to stumble out.
“So did I! The doctors said that this thing should be off by the time Diamond and Pearl are out so I’ll still be able to play them when they come out” she said, waving her cast-bound arm in annoyance.
“Nice”, I said, a goofy affectation in my voice.
She looked at me again with those dark eyes. A small smile formed on her little muzzle. “My name is Liz.”
I returned the smile. “I’m Eric”.