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 how I was.
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.
She was very protective but was also my biggest bully. I really tried my best to 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 I just wanted to escape.
The school and my friends were my only refuge during these difficult times. My group called ourselves "the island of misfit".
Many of us in the group were a bunch of social butterflies and outcasts 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 gangsters.(Nate).
We were definitely an interesting bunch.
Being at such an age fueled by pubescent hormones, 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, especially at home. I personally didn't want to find love and 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.
I didn't expect to be so smitten by someone.
Because of how 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. I might as well be a lone wolf and keep my head low.
The teacher was unfortunately very bland and he appeared 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. personally, I didn't really care. 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.
This girl had definitely caught my curiosity and I finally looked to see the owner.
My heart may have skipped a beat as a struggled to finally respond. "Thank you."I giggled bashfully. "I'm...umm.. 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 gothic aesthetic was unique, yet had its charm. The jet black color of her nails, the shiny silver rings that adorned her fingers and the multiple bracelets around her wrists.
What had really drew me in to her was her eyes. Even with the way she lined her eyes to appear more catlike, I couldn't help but to stare for a moment as there was something peculiar about her eyes. I couldn't quite figure out.
"I have to ask" I finally spoke while mustering the courage to continue. "What's with the lunchbox?"
"Oh this?" She maneuvered the lunchbox closer to her so she can open it. "It's my purse." There was braided cord that was fastened to it like a shoulder strap.
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.
"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 note card." She laughed playfully and quickly covered her first name on her card. "I'm Cerulia. I go by middle name."
"Cerulia? 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. Like the wrestler."
"I get that a lot lately." She seemed a bit annoyed, but became even more annoyed when the attendance roll call was being done and the teacher reached her name.
"Candi Kane"
"Here" She raised her hand to and while the other covered over her face in embarrassment. "I go by C.C"
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 that she was named after a Christmas treat.
She bit her tongue and made a look of disgust. "Yeah. My parents thought it was really cute. That's why I go by C.C"
After hearing my name she rebuttaled. "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.
The class went on we couldn't help but tease 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 already had her Gameboy ready to play but instead we chatted a bit longer. The summers bright sun light had hit her eyes just right and I was finally able to see a rare beauty reveal before me. She had different colored eyes. Her left eye was green and the other was a very warm brown.
I had never seen such a feature in people before.
It was indeed at that moment I had become smitten.