I was sitting in creative writing bored out of my mind as the teacher gave time for us to complete our writing assignment I finished in study hall yesterday. My phone battery was unfortunately at 4% since I forgot to charge it last night so I couldn't even scroll on that to pass the time.
I stared at the wall and tried to think about how my senior year has been going. The past few weeks of school went by in a flash. Nothing of real importance was happening in any of the classes quite yet, but I also wasn't able to find anything out about my mom. Since her clinic is a thirty-minute drive from home, I can't even snoop around there.
I debated asking someone for a ride, but my friends are also so busy planning out what colleges they want to attend and acclimating to the new year that I can't ask them for a ride either. Ride services and taxis aren't really available when you live in the sticks either. So I was at a stall.
However, the more I thought about things, the more I wondered. Could the danger Remy warned me about be related to my mom? He seemed to know something, but he also seemed hesitant to share. It would certainly explain his group's fascination with me. Today, I want to make a better effort to speak with him at lunch; as much as I like Claire, she isn't someone I can use to figure this out.
BBRRIINNGG!!
I uncharacteristically zoomed out of class so I could make it to lunch on time. My enthusiasm to gain new information caused me to forget basic school etiquette and I ended up sitting right next to Remy, as opposed to my normal seat across from him. He flushed a deep pink and started fidgeting with his hands.
I internally hoped that he isn't mad at me for stealing Nolan's normal spot, but he looked up at me and gave a shy smile. Now that I think about it, he seems more embarrassed than angry.
    "Hi, Remy. How are you?"
    "I'm good. How are you?"
    "I'm great!"
I realized I have no real idea of how to keep a conversation going, so I reached down and started eating my sandwich.
"Um, we have English together right?"
"Yes."
"So what are you writing your research paper on, Elora?" He fidgeted with his fingers.
"The Epic of Gilgamesh."  I set my sandwich down for a moment, and moved my eyes up to meet his.
"The what?"
"The Epic of Gilgamesh. It's the first story in history to ever be written down. Before it, all stories were told and remembered verbally."
"Wow. What is it about?" He was still with his body facing me, his large eyes like black holes staring into mine.
"Grief. Gilgamesh lost his best friend Enkidu and searched all around for a way to bring him back to life."
"Did he?"
"There are two different endings recorded for the book, in one he did but in the other he didn't. My paper will mostly be focused on the historical impact of the story though."
"I'm guessing it's not a true story since it has two different endings."
"Oh goodness no. It literally describes a woman who turned her ex-lover into a wolf, well some scholars argue it's a werewolf but that's not really important right now."
"A werewolf! You have to tell me more!" Remy jumped out of his seat but ended up doing a weird squat motion above his seat instead. I contained my laugh but ended up making a strange face, but couldn't stop staring at him.
"There really isn't much more to tell than what I have already said. It was just a short mention in the book. Are you into wolf mythology?"
"Yes. Me and my brother Roman were named after the Roman myth about Remus and Romulus, the twins raised by a wolf who founded Rome. Aside from that I have prided myself in studying everything I can about werewolves throughout history."
"Oh wow. I had no idea. I guess you would be interested in werewolf mythology."
"Yes, I pride myself on being a master of Greek and Roman mythology. I've never heard that Gill story before though. Where is it from? "
"It's the Epic of Gilgmesh, and it's from ancient Sumer. Have you ever looked into Norse or Celtic mythology? They have stories about werewolves too."
"No, I haven't. " Remy looked down, a light pink flush returning to his bright face.
"Yeah." I said softly.
"Where did you learn all this stuff from?"
I clenched my teeth for a moment before responding, and fidgeted with my fingers pulling on my skin until a hangnail formed and started to bleed.
"My mom. She's super into mythology. I grew up reading her books about ancient myths. What are you writing your paper on?"
I wanted to shift the topic away from my mom. I can't help but feel sad though, I haven't spoken to anyone so naturally in a long time.
"Self-sustainable farming."
Self-sustainable farming? I wonder what kind of people are interested in self-sustainable farming today. Is he the friendly self-sustainable farmer who wants to save the ocean and clean up the environment, does he believe the government is watching him, or is he preparing for an alien or zombie apocalypse to hit? I wonder if he will think I'm weird if I ask? Whatever! I am weird and it's better he find that out now than have to keep up a mask whenever I am with him. I shifted my body fully toward his to mirror his own body's position.
"So why are you interested in self-sustainable farming?"
Please be an alien believer! Please be an alien believer!
"My family owns a cattle farm and we are always looking for ways we can expand. Besides, it would be better if we didn't have to go out so much. Safer that way I suppose."
They are the sustainable farmers that want to avoid the government listening in. It would have been so much more interesting if he believed in aliens!
"Oh, yea. It's dangerous out here." I played along hoping it would spark him to share more.
"Well, not so much here in Graythrope, but out by Gnawville. Especially near the creek by the city border. It used to not be so bad but it's gotten worse over the last year."
Gnawville? That's where my mom's clinic is. Now I know for sure that it has to be. All I needed now was an excuse to go to the creek with one of my friends, but that could be easily arranged.