Impersonations

JOHN'S POV:

I quickly make my way to the living room, my heart beat just a little faster than normal. It's ok, nothing bad's happening.

Right...?

I quickly run into the kitchen and find Serenity awkwardly putting her hands up in the air as if she was in some type of fighting pose and staring at the floor. Phew, she's ok. My heart calms down as I look at her curiously.

I wonder how I would've explained to my parents if she wasn't.

As I look over to the floor, I spot Charcoal, our family black cat, sitting silently and watching Serentiy while tilting her head. Oh, the cat scared her!

I chuckle slightly and smile at Charcoal. Then I pause. It has been such a while that I've had a genuine smile and chuckle that I almost forgot how it feels like.

When I look back at Serenity, she's staring at me as curiously as the cat. I plaster on a sheepish smile as I wall over to the cat.

"Does Charcoal scare you?" I ask as I pick the cat into my arms. She's the only one I let touch me and I'm the only one she lets touch her. She's kind of similar to who I really am - distant and untrusting. But she's not a monster, if course.

She just shakes her head while pouting and then crosses her arms.

I do my best to stop my kind smile turning into a devilish one, since I might freak Serenity out.

After a moment of me petting Charcoal in my arms, I ask another question. "Do you not like cats?"

At this question, she frantically waves both of her hands in front of her as if to say 'No!'. She then takes her notebook and pen and the writes something down. 'It just startled me.'

After seeing her note, I just nodd silently.

When I look at the floor, I spot rat at Serenity's feet. I wonder how Charcoal didn't notice it. I set the cat back down one the floor, Serenity watching me all the while. Charcoal isn't doing anything. Fine, I guess I'll have to get the rat myself.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. I get slightly irritated but then let it slide as I look up. Serenity is looking down at me with a weird expression. She then backs away from me. It takes me a moment to realize that I just crouched down in front of her for no apparent reason and am just inspecting her shoes.

Slightly embarrassed, I stand up quickly. "I saw a rat!" I say, and Serenity freaks out and jumps away. Maybe I shouldn't have startled her. The rat doesn't move an inch.

When she looks down, she frowns and shakes her head while pointing to the floor as if to say 'No, there isn't.'.

I look at her, confused. "I'm pretty sure there's a rat..." I say calmly as Iook back down at the floor, but I'm seriously panicking. Am I hallucinating?

I once again crouch down to pick up the rat. I'm going to have to wash my hands after this. I can feel it's surprisingly soft fur and it fits easily in my hands, but it's not moving at all. Is it dead? But how did it get there, then?

Suddenly, it just disappears into a puff of white powder.

"Did you see that?!" I ask Serenity as I glance back at her, but she seems to be staring at me like I'm a crazy person. Apparently she didn't.

After a long silence, I smile brightly. "How were my acting skills?" I ask innocently, pretending to have faked seeing the rat. "I reenacted one of my favorite scenes in a movie. I just wanted to see how you would react." At first she silently stares at me, then she smiles brightly and claps her hands quickly as if congratulating me. It makes my fake smile even broader. "Thanks..." I say gently.

That is when I notice that her smile really lights up the room. Just for seeing smile, I find my big fake smile turning into a genuine small smile as I look at her strikingly beautiful face grinning for only one person - me.

Then my thoughts sour. She's not smiling for me, but for John Lenos, the kind and friendly guy. Not for me, and probably never for me. So many people have smiled for that guy, but not for me. Is it weird to get jealous for a part of yourself? Is it?

"Woah! Do that again!" A tall and chubby 12 year old boy tells the scrawny 11 year old. His eyes are full of wonder as he regards his classmate with his big, round and dark brown eyes.

The 11 year old boy does an impression of his favorite actor once more, and the 12 year old laughs wholeheartedly.

"Wow, Kenzo! I didn't know that you were so cool! I would have befriended you a long time ago..." He pats Kenzo's shoulder, grinning.

Kenzo's knows this is a compliment, but he can't help being perplexed.

Would he get friends if he does impersonations of people?

I break out of my daze when I feel someone tapping me repeatedly on the shoulder. Without even thinking twice, I grab that person's arm and fling it away from me. I glare at the figure in my blurry haze.

They weren't going to hurt me again.

When I finally come to my senses, I see that the figure in front of me isn't a faceless foe, but Serenity.

Her eyes are glistening with suppressed tears.

"I'm sorry..." When I take a step towards her while reaching my hand out slightly, she backs away quickly. "I didn't mean to-"

I expect to be cut off by a sharp retort, but instead I am met with a gentle and yet heartwrenching smile playing at her lips. It leaves me speechless. I retract my hand as I stare at her in astonishment.

Every person that I've shown my true side to would either glare at me or scold me, but she just... Smiled.

She then waves her hands in front of her as if to say 'It's ok.'

Serenity turns away from me, and starts walking away slowly. I glance at Charcoal who's now chilling on the couch, and I see that even she is shaking her head in disapproval. Then I remember something.

"Wait!" She stops in her tracks, but doesn't turn around to meet my gaze. "I still need to give you a tour of the house, so..." She doesn't do answer, but she nodds and starts walking. I follow in suit behind her, then passing her so that she can follow me.

The whole tour goes by awkwardly, with me trying to make 'conversation' but failing miserably. Part of me thinks that she's being a little dramatic, and part of me feels bad.

She must think I'm a monster now.... Though that wouldn't be far from the truth. I guess that isn't good for my school reputation though, is it?

With everything that happened, I forget all about the rat. But I can't help but feel like the rat WAS real...

***

The next day, Tuesday...

"What?!" I stare wide eyed at my mom.

"What 'what', it's just natural that you'd be walking with Serenity to school!" My mom stares at me while holding her handbag in one hand and resting the other on her waist.

Although inside I'm reluctant to agree, since I normally jog to school and because of what happened yesterday, I suppress my feelings and agree, forcing a small and kind smile. "Sure."