Fae(ces)

Acquaintances

I'm not too good with faces. It's not usually too big of a deal, I remember hair color, mannerisms, most importantly, I remember that the person who sits next to me in History is a boy named Joe. Or at least he calls himself that. Sometimes I'll run into people who seem to know me, but I don't recognize them. Acting polite and friendly until more information is given gets me through those encounters.

Except for when it doesn't.

Collage being so big is a mixed blessing. On the good side, lots of places to rest and study, personal space is easy to claim, and you're able to avoid certain people called Joe with ease. On the bad side walking between classes can be a hike, it's easy to get lost at first, and there are a lot of people potentially called Joe who could recognize you in passing. Striding along the pathway through the park I shrugged my bag into a more comfortable position on my shoulders. Head down, I walked quickly enjoying the spring sun.
"Hey!" An almost familiar voice called out from the left. Pausing I look past the low chain divider between the path and the grass. Laying in the shade of the largest tree was a lanky boy with longish curly brown hair. In front of him lay a history textbook with sheets of note inside. He smiled brightly waving at me.

    Waving back I smiled but tried to keep walking. For the life of me I couldn't tell where I should know this guy from.
"Hey!" He called again, "Want to study with me?" He gestured at the papers. My smile cramped slightly as dread rushed through me. He seemed to know me. Not just know me, but know me well enough to ask me to study with him. Standing just inside the divider between sidewalk and park, I hesitated trying to decide if I really had to step over the metal chains into the grass. Being rude is unforgivable and if I know him then I should at least chat a bit right?
"I don't have my notes today..." I step back a little.
"You can borrow mine! Just come on over!" He patted the grass next to him. With a resigned laugh I stepped over the chain. 

The sun had set at some point. Blinking quickly I looked back and forth. My feet were firmly planted on the concret again, facing the chain dividing grass from path. Ahead of me a lanky boy with curly brown hair waved goodbye. Purple flashed in his eyes while he licked his lips. His tongue seemed just a little too long, and notably split at the end. Shaking my head to try and clear my mind I waved back before walking away. Quickly. Checking my pockets I found three acorns and a sheet of paper covered in delicate notes. Reading it I found it was a deeply detailed account of Reconstruction after the Civil War. Unfortunately it seemed to be from the perspective of a disgruntled tree, but the writing was beautiful. Checking my bag I discovered my biology notebook missing. Turning my head slightly I looked back. A haggard looking man stood facing the tree, at the trees base a lanky woman with curly brown hair laid flipping through a biology textbook, pages of notes strewn about.

Yeah, being friendly and polite doesn't always work.