Online Love, Offline Hate

Chapter Eight: Kameron

The bus came to a stop and the doors whistled open. Kameron got off the bus, his blue and white sneakers hitting pavement at the bus stop. He pulled out his phone and stared at it for a while.

After a few moments, he straightened up, turned to his left and began to walk.

He was currently on his way to one of museums in the city, Priesthood Municipal Museum. He didn’t know exactly where it was but was getting directions from Google Maps. It was Sunday and of course, he had nothing to do.

After showering and eating, he had tried to pass the time doing all sorts of things. He read books, watched movies, played games in the morning and when afternoon rolled by, he was out of ideas.

He saw some of his classmates leaving the dorm, headed into the city.

He wanted to leave to but where to?

He’d gone to the mall yesterday. Today was a Sunday, there would be no games at the sports centre and he did not know any other place in the city.

Kameron, therefore, decided to take MayRene’s advice and head to the museum. Of course, he had no idea where it was but a quick Google search told him where to head and how to get there.

The app said it would be a 10 minutes’ walk from the bus stop but Kameron was there in 7.

He stood in front of the building taking in the view. Apart from the dazzling and colourful front gardens, it looked exactly how he would expect a museum to look like.

Architecturally awkward and monochrome, the building did not look very impressive. He had half a mind to turn and head back to the school but the thought of boredom and the bus fare made him push open the wooden doors and enter the building.

And he was happy he did.

From the floor to the ceiling, the interior of the museum was a beauty to behold. It wasn’t the polished stone architectural wonder that was Pristine High School. It was more rustic and warm. The dark-red wood that was used for the door made up most of the internal structure.

The displays, the tables, the shelf, even the ceiling was made with the beautiful, shiny wood. It made for a very relaxing and stunning building. Kameron spun around once, taking in the sights. The building design was really beautiful but he imagined the exhibits would be more beautiful.

He stopped his gaping and headed to the front desk. He gazed at the ticket prices and was glad that they were not too expensive. He brought out his wallet and quickly paid for one.

The receptionist explained that in some rooms and at some exhibits photography or video recording was not allowed. It was a self-guided and self-paced tour. Headphones and media players were handed out and visitors had the ability to select the exhibit description they wanted to listen to from the media players.

“And we have a no noise policy. So please try to enjoy the museum quietly.” She handed him the headphones and led him to the starting point of the tour.

Kameron placed the headphones over his ears. “Thank you.”

Kameron decided that since the building had only one storey, he would start his tour there. Climbing the tiled stairs, he arrived at a long hallway with open rooms at opposite sides. He began his tour at the room closest to him on his right.

The room mostly contained exhibits from the American Civil War. Stopping at the first one, a rifle, he searched for the name of the exhibit and selected it on his media player. A deep female voice began narrating to him several facts about the rifle and the type of soldiers that used it in the war.

Pictures were allowed here so he took one and moved on to the next.

The museum looked small but it took Kameron over two hours to fully explore all the items on display. It was well into the afternoon when he returned the headphones and media player to the receptionist and made his way out of the building.

Although he had eaten before leaving the school, the tour made him a little peckish. He decided against eating out and headed back to the bus stop to catch the bus that would take him to school.

As he waited, he browsed the apps on his phone, his gaze eventually landing on the dating app.

“Let me text her. It was her idea to come, either way,” he murmured to himself.

Tapping on the app, he clicked on her profile. Last seen: Yesterday 10:20pm. She had not come online since the last time they chatted.

He tapped rapidly on the screen, typing out a message. Just before he sent it, he reread the message and erased it. He knew from their chat last night and from her profile that she was a serious person. And she was the only person who had accepted his invitation to chat so he needed to be careful.

“Good afternoon. I visited a museum like you recommended yesterday.” He read it, hit send and typed another message.

“It was a lot of fun. I had no idea I could enjoy myself in a museum but I really did.”

“The museum I visited was the Priesthood Municipal Museum. Have you been?”

As soon as he sent the last message, the bus arrived and he returned his phone to his pocket and got on. Kameron did not receive a reply until he was unlocking the door to his room.

The phone vibrated in his pocket. A text notification. She replied.

He pushed the door to his room open with one hand, using the other to swipe.

“That’s nice. I haven’t been to Priesthood Municipal. I’ve only been to the private museums.”

Using his back to shut the door, he leaned against the wood and typed.

“Oh, really. Which of them have you been to?” He hoped that didn’t sound too nosy and added, “Would you like to see some of the pictures I took?”

A vibration. Another text. “I’ve been to Pink and Rose Museum and The Looking Glass Museum. Yes, I would like to see the pictures.”

Kameron tutted. He knew those museums. He had seen them when he searched the Municipal Museum online. They were on the expensive side of the city. The normal bus route did not even get there. And why should it? Everyone who lived there definitely had a car. Or cars.

Kameron tapped on the media icon and a gallery of his recent photos appeared. He selected one of each exhibit and sent it to her. He also had selfies that he took with some exhibits but he did not send them. They weren’t that close.

“There were some exhibits where photos were prohibited. Not many, about ten or so. This is everything else.”

He waited but no response. Kicking off the door, he dressed down and sat at his table. He would study until it was time for the evening meal.

Kameron picked out some books and some highlighter pens, ready to begin his study session when his phone vibrated.

“Nice pictures. Do you want to see the pictures from my museum visit?”

“Yeah, sure.”

His phone vibrated several times in a row. He clicked on the first picture and began to scroll slowly. The pictures were sharp and the museum was ostensibly high class.

“Thanks. I’ll go through them more closely later.” Kameron tapped on the table repeatedly, searching for something to say. “Uhmm, what are you doing? It’s a Sunday. Did you go out?”

He hoped that didn’t sound too pushy. Apparently not. A message came in.

“No.”

Then another message. “I spent most of the day grading assignments.”

“That sounds like fun. Are you done with that?”

“Yes, I am.”

“How smart are your students? What was the highest score?”

“My students are very smart. Quite a number of them had perfect scores.”

Kameron read the message and laughed. She sounded every bit like a proud teacher. His thumb hovered over the voice message button. The last time he sent her a voice message, she had gone offline. He didn’t know if she fell asleep or simply decided not to respond.

He took the plunge and tapped the icon, holding it. He brought the phone close to his mouth and spoke. “You must be a very proud teacher. Do you have a favourite student?”

He released his hold, sending the message. Would she reply?

Apparently not. Her profile immediately dimmed. She had gone offline.

Kameron stared at his phone screen for five minutes, waiting to see if she would come back online. No such luck.

Sighing, he dropped the phone on one side of the table and carried on with his studying.

Two hours later, he rose from the chair, stretching and yawning. It was time for the evening meal. 7pm. His stomach growled in agreement.

He looked down on his clothes. A white shirt and a black pair of trousers. No need to change.

Kameron grabbed his keys and phone and left the room. Doors slammed on his left and right as other students left their rooms as well. The moon shone brightly in the sky illuminating the Pristine High School night life.

He climbed down the stairs and headed to the dining room. All the blocks had one so the students could eat without ever leaving the building. All the students, in their mismatched casual outfits, walked to the room.

Most of them ignored him and he ignored them. The others that didn’t jeered at him and smirked when he walked by; he also ignored them.

Once he got to the dining room, he walked to the front of the room and got in line for the buffet. Walking along the smorgasbord, he picked out what he wanted and took his tray to a nearby vacant table.

Of course, no one would be joining him. Or else, his social status might infect them and then, they’ll also be socially quarantined.

He ate quietly and quickly. And as he did, he couldn’t help remember lunch time at Rivers High.

The food, the students, the environment were all far less extravagant but he was far happier there than he would ever be here.  

Kameron finished eating and immediately stood to leave. No need to stay in the hostility. He picked up his empty tray and walked to the back of the room where the used trays and plates could be dropped for washing.

It was not required to do this. The staff would clear the plates when the students were done but the thought of someone clearing his plates did not sit right with him so he ended up doing the cleaning himself.

Just as he was about to drop the tray on the table, a hand flashed by and the dirty tray was smashed into his chest.

The tray slid down and landed on the floor with a clatter. But Kameron paid it no mind.

He stared at his white shirt, now stained with oil and bits of potatoes. Harsh mocking laughter sounded from behind him but he stood still, staring at the shirt. Slowly, the environment blurred and his vision turned red.

The only thing on his mind was Amy Exner and how much he hated her.

Kameron didn’t bother picking up the plates or the tray. He left them as they lay and turned, heading out of the dining room. He walked the now familiar route back to his room, struggling with tears in his eyes.

What did he do to deserve this kind of treatment?

He’d simply spoken to someone. Had simply introduced himself. He did nothing wrong.

So why?

Kameron had no idea when he started running but he ran, dashing up the stairs and locking his door behind him.

He slid down the door, feeling drained, motionally and physically. He pulled up his knees and rested his head on his thighs, which brought the stain on his shirt into full view.

This was worse than ostracism. He was being bullied.

And God help him if that didn’t bring tears to his eyes.

This was not how he wanted to spend his senior year.