A rich montage

But somehow, the chaos seemed to slow around me, like watching a film reel unspool in slow motion. To my left, I spotted Dave Burmaster, shutting his locker as he prepared to head to his next class. His jet-black, spiky hair pointed defiantly toward the ceiling, matching his sharp, angular face and pointed chin. A few silver earrings glinted as he moved, and his outfit a long black coat draping over heavy boots marked him as a New Wave devotee, his fashion a testament to the music that defined him.

I could almost hear The Cure’s Fascination Street playing in his mind. I shared his love for the music, though my look was far less bold. To my right was my friend Damian Quansah. I’d just finished physics and was on my way to English; our usual post-class chat would have to wait.