"I started this school last year anyway, which is probably why you've never seen me," I said as I struggled to get my thumb to cover Chris's.
We were still in the process of 'getting to know each other' and we'd have to switch partners multiple times now and everytime, only Chris and Darwin would give me some entertainment.
Now we were playing thumb war and he's won so many times that I've lost count. At first when he suggested we play, I almost had a heart attack from the thought of holding his hand but I managed to keep it together.
Just then he managed to pin down my thumb again for the thousandth time. I groaned and glared up at him, only to catch the grin on his face, making my lips twitch in effort to hold back the coming smile.
I failed. Laughing lightly, I pulled my hand out of his, "It's cause you have larger thumbs. It doesn't even count," I pull a face at him and he laughs. "What grade are you in?" I ask him, playing with my grown out nails. I always loved my fingernails because they're so pretty when I let them grow, but then one of them breaks and I have to cut the rest. I can't have one nail shorter than all the others or one longer than all the others. It bothers me.
"12." He says briefly. I look up at him, shaking my head, causing him to laugh, "What?" He asks when I kept shaking my head at him.
"I envy you. I wish I was in 12th grade. I hate high school. I just wanna leave," I told him truthfully. I really want to leave. I hate this place and I just want to leave and go off on my own.
"Why?" He reaches over, pressing the tip of his finger against my nail, causing a red crescent mark to form on it when he pulls it back. He continues to do this, while I just sit there with my finger outstretched and watch.
"I hate it here. School, this place, these people," I shook my head, "I just hate it. I wanna go somewhere where I can be alone. No family, nobody to say 'I've seen you before', or people to tell me what to do. I wanna be completely alone." That sounded sad. Depressing even, but I really don't care what anyone wants to think. This is my goal. I just want to go out there and make it in life. That's my main priority. I want to be successful and low key. I want to live somewhere where nobody knows me and I have no one to front for. I just want to be me in peace.
He was looking at me, but I didn't meet his eyes. It definitely sounds depressing, "Not even friends?"
I shook my head, "I told you, I don't have friends."
"So you've never had a friend? Not even one?" He presses, leaning forward in curiosity.
I thought for a second, staring at a small dark spot on his grey t-shirt, "I don't think I've ever really had one." I chew on the inside of my bottom lip, "I stopped calling people my 'friends' after I actually understood the meaning of the word. Right now I'm just focused on getting somewhere in life and most of the time friends keep you from doing that," I bent my elbow on top of the desk and held my cheek in my hand, "The last thing I want is people holding me back because of their so called 'friendship'," I smiled at him, "I don't really need them anyway."
He was staring at me. I didn't know what he was thinking and as he kept staring I started to fidget in discomfort, "What?" I ask lowly.
He folds his arms and lean forward on the table again, "What about me?" He smiled teasingly.
My discomfort melted away gradually and I laughed, "Maybe. If you don't mind moving across the country and moving into a tiny apartment with me then fine." I shrug indifferently though the thought was giving me butterflies.
"Maybe I don't."
I blinked rapidly, disbelief clouding my head, "Really?" I ask, but I knew not to get my hopes up. A lot of people say things that they never really mean. Or they could mean it today and change their minds tomorrow.
He nodded with a smile that I was starting to think was permantently etched onto his face, "Really."
â¤â â¤
By lunch I was ready to go home. I'd just left my second class and was making my way to the bathroom before going to the library.
For some reason the school board decided to change the schedule from six, forty-five minute classes to four, hour and forty-five minute classes. It was a pain in the backside sometimes, but you get used to it, especially if there's a particular class that you enjoy. Not that it was any different last year when I moved here, but the school that I went to before had seven classes in a day so the change was a bit weird for me.
After I went to the bathroom, I was on my way to the libraryâmy safe haven. I never eat lunch at school. At first I used to, and it's not because I have a problem with the food, I just hate going to the cafeteria. It's loud, filled with obnoxious kids, shouting and yelling and making a ruckus and it's just not my scene.
Not only do I hate being surrounded by kids, but being surrounded by noisy kids is so much worse. So I spend my thirty minutes of A lunch in the library, reading a book while munching on a granola bar or something. I really don't mind.
Sometimes I'd bring my own books or just browse the library shelves. It's not always that I find a good book in the school library and that's sad, but there are some really good ones there. I know the librarian has all the good books stocked away somewhere in boxes, but they're usually on a shelf behind her desk, because she's too lazy to put them up, or maybe she doesn't have the time.
I actually liked the librarian though. She wasn't old but she wasn't young either. She was really nice and easy to talk to. She has fuzzy dirty blond hair that she keeps her glasses perched on and dark blue eyes. She was one of the people in this school that I wouldn't mind sitting down with and talking to. She's also really helpful. If you ask her for a particular type of book, she'll go and scoop out as much as she can find, just to make it easier for you.
I got to the library and went in, finally feeling a little bit relaxed. It wasn't empty since there were a small amount of people in here. Three kids were in the computer area on the laptops and some other guy was lounging on a couch to the far left from where I'm standing.
It was completely serene and I loved it. I made my way pass the computer area and to the back right of the library where there was a portion of large desks and chairs set out, usually used for study seems or anyone who had extra work they wanted to get done or some people who have to take tests.
Usually if you came here, you had to have a pass, but since the librarian is familiar with me and knows I only read when I come here, I don't really need one.
I set my things out on top of a table and reach into my bag. I take out a book and my phone charger, then set my phone to charge before sitting.
I sighed in bliss, running my hand over the beautiful cover of the novel. I have been waiting hours to start reading this.
Yes, I am a huge nerd, and I don't care.
I was packing up my things early since lunch was almost over and I was a bundle of disappointment and giddiness after reading a small part of the novel I just started. It was a series and I was on the second book. I read the first one in this very library and I vowed to have the others. It was just that good. It's a bundle of mysteries and plot twists, it's exhilarating and exciting.
School takes away all my happiness, I found myself thinking as I stuffed my charger and novel into my bag and heaved it on my back.
I push my glasses up on my nose and reach for my phone, unlocking it and going on Instagram.
I knew the next class that I have was on the second floor. It was Piano and I think it's in room 410 or something. I reach onto my other pocket and take out my schedule, confirming that it is. I had a couple minutes left so I was going to use it to find that class. It wouldn't take long since I know where the 400s are.
I reached the main hall where the stairs were in a minute and went up them. A couple kids were roaming the halls like I was at the moment, but I doubt they were looking for classes. I passed a small group of people standing by the vending machine.
"Sup, Ariana," Someone called to me.
I looked over and grinned at the familiar faces. I saw them before but I've only ever talked to one person in the group and it was the guy that called to me. And I only knew him because we had a couple classes last year and he was really nice.
I waved at him, my grin still intact, "Hey, Jared," With your fine ass...
My mind is more outspoken than I am.
I pushed through a set of double doors leading to the 'band' wing and immediately spotted him.
Chris, walking down the hall in my direction. A smile spreads across his face the same time it did mine.
I outstretched my arms to the side, "Hey," I greeted him, stopping at the entrance of another hall. The hall that I'm sure my next class his down.
"Skipping class huh," He teases with a grin.
"I should be saying the same thing to you," I said, eyeing his jansport bag that was hiked high on his back. I had to refrain from openly checking him out, but damn he looked good.
He shrugged, "I got lunch," He said, stopping in front of me, but not too close, just a safe distance.
I made a face, "Same."
"So what are you doing exactly?" He said, leaning against the lockers and forcing his hands in his front pockets.
I stopped breathing for a second before taking a deep breath and speaking as I let it out, "I was actually looking for my next class so that I know exactly where it is before lunch ends."
"What do you have?" He asks, leaning away from the lockers and taking another step forward.
"Piano, and I'm pretty sure it's down here," I said, nodding down the narrow hallway that has a flight of stairs at the end behind a set of double doors.
"C'mon," He says, walking pass me down the hall.
I turned and eyed him as he walked backward, his hands still in his pockets and a sexy smirk on his face, "What?"
"I'm helping you look for your class," He says.
I let out a laugh, walking after him, "Don't you have somewhere to be?" I teased.
He shrugged, "Right now, not really," He stopped and waited until I was next to him before he started walking again, "So which one is it?"
"Four-ten," I tell him, looking at the numbers of the doors as we pass by them.
"It's the one at the end," He says, nodding at the end of the hall.
We came to a stop at the door and the teacher was there, sitting at his desk, typing away at his lap top.
"So now what?" Chris says.
I shrugged, "I just wanted to find it. I'm just gonna roam for a bit more," I tell him. I started for the stairs and taking my bag off of my back and adjusting it so that it was in front of me instead.
"You have like ten minutes," He said behind me as we went down the steps.
"We have like ten minutes," I corrected, reaching into the small part of my bag and taking out a kit kat, "Do you really have somewhere to go though?" I ask as we got to the first floor.
He started walking next to me again and shook his head, "Not really, just walking around," I looked up and held my kit kat toward him, offering him some but he shook his head, "Do you see my face?" He retorts.
I nodded. Yeah and it's damn sexy if I do say so myself.
"I don't really eat junk and I'm cutting back on the sweet stuff, cause it's kinda one of the reason my acne gets worse," He explains.
"Do you use something? To get rid of them?" I ask him. I had my fair share of pimples and stuff but I wasn't letting them take away the pleasure chocolate gives me.
He nodded, "Yeah, I went to the dermatologist and they gave me something."
"What was it?" I ask, curious.
"I can't remember the name, but it's working," He said.
I almost pouted. But you look so good with them.
Well, I don't really like my acne either, so I get it.
Soon enough we were on the other side of the school, which wasn't far because the school wasn't even that big. Then we found ourselves going back to the second floor and I'm pretty sure I knew where we were going.
The gym was on this very side of the school and it was two stories high so the second floor had a whole glass wall that looked over the gym.
When we got there, there was a random desk and chair sitting there, like always. You'll always find random desk and chairs at specific parts of the school, because kids drag them out of classes to sit around in the halls. Chris took the seat, while I pulled the desk away from in front of him and hopped on top of it.
"We're gonna get caught," I stated, looking at the kids who were running and playing sports inside the gym.
He shrugged indifferently before saying, "I still can't believe I've never seen you around," He voiced after a moment of silence.
I smiled, "Aw, it's okay," I cooed teasingly, "It's all good."
"I mean, you're a really cool person. It would be nice if I knew you sooner," He said.
I almost rolled my eyes, "There are like dozens of kids in this school that are cool people but keep to themselves. Y'all just sleep on us that's all, no biggie," I shrugged and he lets out a low, amused laugh.
I focused my attention on the intense soccer match that was taking place in the middle court of the gym while eating my kit kat.
"Do you have gym at all this semester?" He asks.
I shook my head, "Next semester."
"Gym is what I have next actually," He says, "Me and my friend were actually just right here when you saw me walking down the hall," He points back down the hall that he was in when we saw each other before.
"Is it that one dude?" I pointed at him, "The one I always see you with?"
He nodded with a laugh, "Yeah."
"What's his name?" I ask, the guy's face popping up in my mind.
They were like super close from what I gathered. I almost always see them together. His friend was dark haired and dark eyed. He wore a pair of thick black rimmed glasses and was a couple inches shorter than him.
Every time I see them together it was just kind of satisfying, because he was drop dead gorgeous, like, full on Abricombre model gorgeous and his friend was kinda nerdy, like me, with a 'twelve year old Justin Bieber' haircut.
"Nate," He says.
"Can I be honest with you?" I asked and he nodded, "I thought you two were together, multiple times," I said and he laughed. He threw his head back, laughing loudly and I looked around to make sure no one was gonna come out and end our little convo-time.
But then I looked back at him and my heart stuttered. He was so beautiful. His cheeks were tainted a light pink and his face was scrunched up a bit as he laughed. His smile was wide and showed two rows of straight teeth.
Lord...
If I had to describe his physical appearance I'd say he was a fine line between Colton Haynes and Francisco Lakowsky and it wasn't fair. He was probably the hottest guy in this school. Who am I kidding, he is the hottest fucking guy in this school. Of course, there are other very attractive guys, but none close to him. At least not to me.
What made him even more attractive to me was the fact that he was a pretty chill person. He doesn't have a lot of friendsâwell not from what I seeâand he's pretty quiet. He smiles a lot and when I see him, talking to anyone, he genuinely looks interested. I never got a bad vibe from him. He just always seemed like a nice person to me despite his 'badboy' look.
"Well are you?" I ask.
He clutched his stomach, leaning forward as he laughed and I couldn't stop the amused giggle that came from my lips as I watched him. He's so adorable.
He snorted shortly and I let out a small squeak, reaching up to cover my mouth as I laughed. Him snorting, must've triggered another funny bone, because he started laughing so hard that nothing was coming out.
It took a while but when he sobered up, and sat back, his face was flushed a deep red and he was taking deep breaths to stop himself from weezing.
"Your face is so red," I laughed, "Thank God, I can't blush. Look at that," I gaped, reaching out to touch his cheek. My hand snatched back as if he burned me with the redness of his face, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," I cringed powerfully at my actions.
Get your shit together man!
He chuckled, wiping tears from his cheek, "It's okay. But no, me and Nate never datedâaren't dating," He said, shaking his head with a chuckle.
I grinned, "I don't know, it's just that, most of the time I see you guys together and I kind of never see you with anyone else so, I've always wondered," I shrugged and started eating my chocolate again.
The bell rang and kids started filing out of classrooms, filling up the halls.
"You not going to class?" Chris ask, sliding down on the chair and putting his long legs on display even more.
"You not going to gym?" I replied and he smiled.
So for the entire time that kids maneuvered their way through the halls, we sat there, talking about everything and nothing. He got a couple 'hi's from people as did I.
I know I said I didn't have friends and I don't. But I had colleagues, acquaintances and people I had/have classes with. Didn't consider them much of friends because they knew nothing about me. I talk to them, because why not? But they don't get the title of a 'friend'.
After about five minutes, the bell rang and I hopped off of the table. Not a second later, Chris got up from his seat on the chair, adjusting his bag on his back.
"Now I'm going to class," I said with a teasing smile and he smiled at me in amusement. He walked next to me as we rounding a corner.
"See you later," He said to me as he parted from me, moving toward the direction of the staircase to the first floor.
I turn my head to smile at him, "Bye."
He nodded, pushing through the door and I watched as they slammed back shut as he was going down the steps.