Antagonist (an excerpt)

The best antagonists are the ones we do not see coming. They are unexpected and unpredictable. They are also the ones who we can sympathize with, but yet we can’t condone their actions. Most of the time.

Let us indulge in the rare cases that we not only sympathize with the villain, but we want them to win. Now, unless they suffered from a severe psychological illness as a child, no one ever grew up hoping the evil queens and wicked step-mothers were successful. But sometimes we get a glimpse of the man behind the monster and we see that they deserve to get what they want. With this in mind, pack your things. We are going to go on a trip.

If you are the target market of this book (don’t worry if you aren’t), then you are either in high school or college. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you like to read as well. So, let’s think back to a random day in your high school career. It is a Tuesday, and you are sitting in your homeroom reading an awfully good book entitled “Antagonist.” Unfortunately, your best friend walks in and takes the seat next to you. Now, it isn’t that you don’t love having them around, it is just that sometimes you want to read.

“Hey!” they hiss into your ear, their warm breath blowing on your face, “Put the book down! There’s a new kid!” Reluctantly, you close the fantastic reading material and look over at your friend. “What do they look like?” you ask, “Do they seem nice?”

“Don’t know.” they admit, “I was just walking by the main office and heard the principal talking with a teacher about some kid named Alex.”

You roll your eyes at your nosey acquaintance and respond with another question. “Did you at least hear what classes they are in?”

Your friend didn’t get to answer; however, because as you finished speaking an unfamiliar face entered the classroom and sat directly in front of you. That must be Alex. The teen has blonde hair and intriguing grey eyes that held within them a sense of mystery. They remind you of a character from a book you’ve read, but you can’t recall which one. You are thinking, probably too hard, about the new kid when the bell rings. It is now time for class, so you put away your book and get out your notebook. You would have completely forgotten about Alex if they weren’t sitting right in front of you. At one point during class, your friend slips you a note telling you to stop staring at the new kid because people are starting to notice. You return with a scowl and tuck the note away before your teacher could take it.

Eventually, class ends and you are the first to leave. The last thing you need is for someone to confront you about your interest in the new kid. With your luck, even if you manage to refute any claims, you’ll misspeak and before you know it the entire school will be passing around rumors. You stop at your locker, spin the dial of the lock, and get the things you need for your next class. You shut your locker and whirl around, crashing directly into the new kid.

“I am so sorry!” they apologize as you look down at your now coffee-soaked shirt. “It was my fault.” you stammer, “Why do you have coffee?”

“I need the caffeine.” Alex answers, innocently, “I’m Alex, by the way.”

“I know.” you reply, instantly regretting it, “I am going to go try saving this shirt now. Good-bye.” You felt sort of bad for being so rude; after all, it was your fault. Alex was just trying to find his way around a new school and you had to go and be a jerk. Shaking your head, you enter the school bathroom and began trying to soak up the coffee with the cheap “paper towels” that are essentially just sheets of brown paper bag. “Well this shirt’s ruined.” you groan, chucking the useless paper into the garbage. Taking a breath, you gather yourself and exit the bathroom as the bell rings. You are now late to class.

“You are late.” your second period teacher chastises as you open the door and take your seat. “I’m sorry.” you apologize, “Someone spilled coffee on me and I needed to at least try saving my shirt.”

“Yeah, that was on me.” Alex speaks up, you just now noticing their existence, “I mean, bad choice of words. Sorry.”

Alex really was sorry, as far as you could tell, but instead of forgiving and forgetting, you let out a quiet growl. “Back to thermal dynamics.” your teacher announces, cutting the tension and motioning to the board. You get out your text book and position it so that it conceals your reading material perfectly. You think to yourself how good of a book “Antagonist” is and dive right back into the narrative.

Several pages later, a ruler slams down on your desk and you jump in your seat. “First you are late to my class, and then you pay no attention to my lesson!” your teacher scolds, ripping your book from your hands and holding it in the air, “While I am glad that you are reading, this is not English class. Since you have wasted my time today, it is only fitting that I waste yours afterschool. Detention.”

Flabbergasted, you look around. This teacher never walks around the room unless someone raises their hand; no one raises their hand in science class. Unless, it was the new kid. You look at Alex. They were smiling. That kid purposefully got your teacher’s attention to get you in trouble!

Once class got out, you decided to have a word with Alex. Perhaps if you two could come to a mutual understanding, then you could avoid any more drama. “Hey, Alex!” you call out, walking over to the new kid, “Can I talk to you?”

“Sorry, I have to get to my next class.” they respond quickly, “Wouldn’t want to be late.”

You stop in your tracks as Alex hurries off. Did they just say that? You take a deep breath and exhale forcefully. That dirtball just mocked you for being late! And they are the one who caused it!

At this point, I’m sure you know the antagonist in our little journey. They are going to be the one who we will be sympathizing with eventually. I say eventually because if we pitied our antagonist already, then this story would end rather quickly. Having said my piece, I’ll let you continue the story. You are sitting at lunch with a bunch of your friends. You are telling your best friend the news when Alex walks into the room with a brown paper bag. “Don’t let them sit with us.” you whispered to your friends as the new kid made their way across the cafeteria, “That’s the kid I was talking about.” Your friends nod and completely ignore Alex, who had no visible intent of sitting anywhere near you and did not notice the shunning. They simply find an empty table, and fill one spot with their presence.