secrets kill.

joel ketchman. sixteen, junior, the opaque, skater.

[joelketchman-blog]

dianawilton: 

Diana smiled and instinctively blushed when he called her pretty; despite who she was now, a part of her still existed as the little, insecure girl in California who would have died for a compliment. Emotions were fickle, and Diana wasn’t sure exactly why or how, but she could feel her sadness fading from her face; her smile relaxed and was more genuine, and this time, it actually brightened through to her eyes. She sat down next to Joel, “Perfect, I haven’t been out to see a movie in forever, it’s exactly what I need. Well, as long as they don’t play ‘E.T.’, there is no way I wouldn’t cry if we watched that,” she said with a soft laugh. The bus began to move and Diana looked over at him, “So, where were you coming from before we ran into each other, anyways?

Joel noticed the way Diana’s face seemed to change. It made him want to smile too, how happy she seemed in that moment. He made space as Diana sat down beside him. “True, E.T. is sad as hell.” Joel said. The last time he’d seen that movie was in Chicago, with his sisters. If it was playing, Joel was sure he would cry too, but for different reasons. Remembering things like that often sent him in a downward spiral. Joel didn't want that to happen in front of Diana. “But I’m honestly good with anything as long as I can eat as much buttered popcorn as I want.” He threw her a crooked smile. “I was just at the skate park. And what about you? You didn’t have any plans on a night like this?”

[joelketchman-blog]

dianawilton: 

Back in California, Diana used to spend hours dreaming about living in a different decades. For a while, she wished she lived in the 70s, and could picture herself existing then, almost living in a rose-coloured haze full of freedom and bell-bottom jeans and driving old cars with the roof down. She didn’t think about it as much anymore though; for she was living her own 21st century fantasy. How could you long to be in a different decade when you currently were ruling this one? But still, talk of previous eras made her happy; not in a surface level way, but deep down. Like an inner nostalgia that warmed her at the core. Diana stepped on the bus and smiled at Joel, “I’m up for it, but I don’t want to disrupt any plans you have…” her voice trailed off. She hated feeling like a burden.

Joel noted the way Diana trailed off, and he made up his mind. Seeing a movie with her could be lots of fun. “I’m not doing anything for the rest of the night. And besides,” Joel continued, “I always have time to see a movie with a pretty girl.” He hadn’t meant it in a flirtatious way. Joel just hoped that something, anything, would cheer her. He hated to see people sad, especially people like Diana, who had it all. Joel had been one of those people, before his life went to hell. Joel smiled as he hopped on the bus after Diana.  He grabbed a seat, and gestured to the one next to him. “So, what do you say?”

[joelketchman-blog]

dianawilton: 

Diana was grateful to see a familiar face; she didn’t know Joel well, but she recognized him as another Junior. She thought perhaps he was in her Sophomore English class but her mind at that moment had suppressed her ability to recall. Diana looked down for a moment, trying her best to collect herself. “The 80s really were a great decade for movies… Any chance you know what they’re playing?“ She paused for a moment before continuing, still speaking quite softly. “I’d love if it were either the Princess Bride or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off tonight…” her voice trailed off. “You catching this one?” She said as the bus pulled up; she hoped he would be, the company would be much appreciated.

“The 80s were pretty great,” Joel said, smiling, “My dad used to-” Joel’s breath caught. The words had just come out. He hadn’t meant to say it. His father had told him about the 80s more than once, about how cool they were, and how much Joel would have enjoyed them. The memory had simply resurfaced, and there was nothing he could do about it. He shook his head. “Never mind...I forgot what I was going to say.” Joel took a deep breath at Diana’s words. Was Diana Wilton really asking him to see a movie with her? “Uh, I’m not sure what’s playing, but we could check it out if you’re up for it.”

[dianawilton]

Diana needed a break and she was desperate to do something to get her mind off Austin. He was gone and graduated now, and she felt she was nothing but alone in Mauve. She knew she’d be fine and that she’d move on soon, but still, she felt as if a part of her had left the state with him. So, she sat at a bus stop waiting to go somewhere — anywhere — but home. A bus came towards the stop, “Do you know where the number 7 goes?” She said to another person waiting for the bus.

[joelketchman-blog]

Joel had a habit of losing track of time. Today, he’d been at the skate park, when he’d realized he should be home. Still, he’d been reluctant, and had instead ended up sitting at the bus stop, skateboard in hand, waiting for a bus. To his surprise, Joel saw Diana Wilton sitting there. Of course, Joel knew who he was, despite them never having really had a conversation. Everyone knew the girl - she was popular, a cheerleader, with a gorgeous house and a senior boyfriend. Joel snuck a look over at Diana, recognizing the expression on her face. Joel had spent enough time trying to hide his sadness to know what it looked like on other people. As the bus pulled into the stop, Diana finally spoke. “Yeah,” Joel said, giving her a concerned look, “I think it goes to this old movie theatre that basically only plays movies from the 80s."

[franklindstudents]

TRIGGER WARNING: gang activity, crime, shootings, robberies, rape mention.

JOEL KETCHMAN is a SIXTEEN year old CIS-MALE in the JUNIOR class. He is known as the OPAQUE and is often found hanging out in the SKATERS clique. JOEL’S yearbook picture looks a lot like NICK ROBINSON.

“This is real. This is me. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Joel Ketchman was born in Chicago, Illinois as Joel Klein. The youngest of his siblings and the only boy, Joel was always treated differently. He was his daddy’s world. On the weekends, they would work on cars and shoot hoops in the park. They’d even take day trips to go fishing. Joel’s father worked a lot, he was always on the phone, yelling and cursing at two of his employees. When Joel was ten, he noticed all of the crime that seemed to surround the family. His father was always talking about shootings and robberies. It seemed to be stuff from the movies, especially when Joel’s father was arrested. It was a normal day, and then the front door of their million-dollar home came crashing down. There was yelling and screaming, and Joel ran right for his mother. 

Joel found out that his father was involved in an extremely dangerous gang. The Feds had been trying to track this group and were attempting to arrest all of the members, but due to the size, they couldn’t. Witnesses to the gang’s activity were going missing, getting killed, and being robbed and raped. Joel, his two sisters, and his mother entered the Witness Protection Program to protect themselves and the testimonies that they were all going to be able to give. The Klein family turned into the Ketchman family. Joel and his sisters practiced writing their new name over and over and over again for weeks. Joel would look in the mirror and practice saying his new name. Joel Ketchman. Joel Ketchman. Joel Ketchman. 

Joel Ketchman now attends Franklind High School. He’s lived in Mauve for five years under his new identity. He made new friends, but never invited them over. He joined teams, but never followed through. He hated getting his yearbook picture taken, and he’s had bad dreams for years. He always gets asked where his dad is or if his dad would be attending his sporting events, but he always said no. When he would screw up, people would ask if his dad taught him better, and honestly? He didn’t. His father would take him fishing and play basketball with him, but he wasn’t a great dad. He never offered any advice or words of wisdom to his young son. In the last year, Joel has completely blocked people out. He went from being popular and on the basketball team to barely being present during school. He picked up skateboarding and spends more time at the skatepark than he does in his own home.  

JOEL KETCHMAN is currently OPEN.