THE RECORD: From Behind The Camera, He Keeps Watching
CHAPTER 1: The Granny (Part 1)

Izzy Crawford's.

A name that will always be on the list of the most ostracized people throughout North Oakmont Senior High School. Crawford the curtain-face, Crawford the idiot, Crawford the mute and there are many more special calls labelling his last name. In essence, he was one of a row of invisible losers and was shunned for being useless.

Unfortunately, that's my name.

I choose not to protest. One of the best options when you're part of the minority is to be quiet and accept. Live like Casper's ghost and you'll be fine.

Not without reason I say this. There are a lot of minorities like me trying to get out of the pitiful hole and try to get into the majority, but what? Not only used as lackeys labeled ‘hands right’, they are actually used as toys. Downgraded, exploited. That's a bit of a consequence for the greedy minority.

And so, I want to stay hidden. Shut up when they are insulting and just accept that they are satisfied until bored. Izzy Crawford is a name. Being labeled with a stupid call doesn't hurt me in the least.

But fate always acts like a bully.

Suddenly my name was spoken of everywhere. In national news, in newspapers, on social media. ‘Izzy Crawford, The Girl with the Eye of God.’ That's how they label me now. It's worse than ever. I almost laughed when I heard how they called me God's people when I was not His obedient servant at all.

All of this happened because I was the only passenger to survive a major accident that ever happened in Pittsburgh. It's quite confusing because I'm not a passenger at all. Didn't even set my foot on the bus. But I choose not to protest, journalists always need spices so that the work is interesting.

What makes me object is that the news has been spread everywhere. I, the invisible loser, was now in the limelight because a CCTV video from the scene revealed my identity. Worse, the footage was leaked and spread on social media whose reach was wider than I had expected.

Some even edit the video by adding music like I am a superhero or human from another country. There are also those who call me an alien and a time traveler from the future.

Ck!

No comment, but I quite understand why they call me that. From the CCTV footage, I was seen about to board the bus before walking backwards. There should be a grandmother there. But as it turned out, I walked backwards by my own will.

No old granny with one plastic full of onions.

No one pulled me off the bus.

There are no buses full.

The seat was empty and had only nine passengers.

I glared at the video for the first time and wondered what I had seen. The thought was immediately distracted by curious journalists.

Of course everything I did in the video explained that, I didn't go in for some reason, and that was because I knew what was going to happen two minutes later. I knew the bus was going to collide with the next line 12 bus and everyone was going to die.

That's how journalists spice up the news.

F*tck.

Let me curse.

My problems, which have been many, are now piling up because the police and journalists are always approaching at every opportunity because I am a living witness. That's what they said.

It was impossible to make them listen to me. They won't believe it. They'll think me crazy and spice up the news with other weird labels.

So all I did was lie that I missed something and decided to go home. Of course they do not heed the information that does not sell it, but it is all enough to drive away their pretentious brains.

It's just that my world is turning 180 degrees.

My school friends– ah, I'm not close enough to them to call friends– I mean, those who are in school with me are now looking at me like a celebrity. Well, say it like that. Although a strange and curious gaze instead of being adored was given to me, I quite felt like I was the center of attention throughout the school corridor. Now, I'm being 'seen' and it feels really unsettled.

“Hei, Crawford!”

Nah, right?

Said what?

I haven't thought much, one of the majority is calling out to me.

Because I didn't want to find trouble, of course I stopped. Now in front of me stood the most majority. Primrose Couper with two of his four dates. It's not important, actually, but I'll briefly introduce who's falling for the majority.

The girl who had just greeted me was the chairman. A live streamer on Youtube with a number of followers that almost reached two million. School celebrity. Icon. With her hands in front of her chest, the blonde looked at me with a judging look. I don't know what he's going to do to me, but whatever it is I'm sure it's going to have to do with his Moutube, because now I'm also an impromptu ‘celebrity’.

My hunch says, this is not going to be good.

“He's not Crawford, Rose. He's the eye of God.” The one who just spoke was Delilah Ford. Primrose the most loyal number one dwarf. Among others, I dislike him the most. Other than that she was pretentious, Delilah was the one who used to say me the most. Just as he had just done by calling me God's eyes.

“You are so disrespectful Eli, what if suddenly he curses you into a stingray?” This ridiculous joke of course came from Ethan Moore's mouth. It was Delilah's lover who always called the girl Eli. Actually, he's always like this to everyone, so I don't think too much.

“You shut up.” One word from Rose made Delilah and Ethan shut up. “We have to be nice to Izzy. He must be traumatized by yesterday's events. Are you okay?” ask Rose. That question sounds very insincere. Of course I know. Anyone knows that. Just look at his witty smirk.

Even so, I nodded in agreement.

“Good then. Actually I wanted to tell you something. Ah no, I want to ask for help but not now. Learn to focus yes, rest a lot and do not think a no-no. We'll talk about it later,” he said before patting me on the shoulder with an attention-grabber and walking away with his two messy dates.

Although that just happened nothing, but I know I've been marked.

“I heard that there was a head rolling towards him at that time. Isn't that terrible?” Someone behind me whispered.

Yeah, of course you are. I can't even sleep because of that.

And I guess, what Primrose would plan to do would have the same effect on me.

...***...