I walked down the school corridors with quick steps mentally praying that I wasn't too late. I had chemistry for first period and Mrs Field could be pretty strict with latecomers. The corridors were all empty but it wasn't too much to hope. I wished Sam had this class with me. We had only a few classes together. He always had this way of being calm in nerve-racking situations. I don't know how he does it.
Reaching my destination, the playful chatter which came from inside informed me that old Mrs Field was absent. A miracle indeed. I smiled in instant relief and turned the door knob. With my smile intact, I stepped in and immediately there was a hush, the class became dead quiet. What now? I mentally groaned. It's not like this was a first though.
"Morning". I said awkwardly not knowing what else to say. They stared at me like I just spoke in a foreign language, like I was an alien. Did I grow horns out of nowhere? I fought down the urge to touch my head. I mean I wanted to confirm that I was still normal because the way they were staring at me made me to start doubting my own normalcy.
"What's she doing here?" Catch, one of those self-conceited jocks that every high school had opened his mouth and in a bored tone asked a girl sitting beside him the most ridiculous question of the century.
"Duhhh, ask Google", I almost spat out but I bit back my tongue and plastered a too perfect smile on my face. Who knows maybe being meek will make these idiots change their manner towards me. Better I be on my best behavior since I was gonna be here for longer than I thought, (Parents' refusal to change my school of course).
I watched in amusement as the girl whom Catch questioned straightened her spine and pushed out her chest which showed a generous part of her cleavage, she then looked up at Catch through her lashes. "Dunno, maybe she lost her way". Ah, this one's a hopeless flirt.
"Umm... I have this class". I stepped in for myself. Why didn't he ask me when I was right in front of him?
"Sure you weren't looking for the bush? " Catch asked and he had the guts to sound purely curious.
The class snickered.
You know what I wished for the most at this moment? A magic wand. I would have loved to turn Catch into a rabbit and he would be the first ugly one.
Again I pushed back a retort and laughed aloud, "Ha! ha! ha! Catch have you always been this funny?". But he was already flirting with the girl whom he asked the ridiculous question.
With a red face I quietly moved to an empty seat at the very back of the class. I let out a ragged sigh, so much for been meek.
I dropped my bag on the desk and dropped into my seat with great momentum.
No, no, no!!
In what seemed to be happening in slow a motion, I felt myself losing balance, my arms flailed wildly looking for something to hold onto for support but it was already too late. As if gathering incredible speed and putting an end to the slow motion I crashed onto the floor with the force of a mule-kick. I clutched my bottom which received the full impact of the fall.
The raucous laughter started, first by one person then they became two, then three and as more people realized what had happened they joined in. The laughter echoed fueling the fire in my veins. Someone had moved my chair just in time to cause this great joke. How can a person be so mean?!
I stood up angrily and roared at everyone who had their big mouths open. "Shut up!"
They kept shut, quite surprised. "Yeah you fucking heard me right. Close your godforsaken mouths you idiots, they are as useless as their owners since nothing good ever comes out of them". I wasn't going to swallow this one. No I wasn't going to let this one pass.
"Who did it?! Who moved my chair?". I looked in askance at the mocking faces of the two girls, Lara and Rose at my right and left respectively. They were the only ones closest to me to be able to pull of such.
"It wasn't me. Ask Lara". Rose shrugged.
"It wasn't me either". Lara couldn't care less. Really eh!
I was about to give them a piece of my mind and make them feel only a little of what I was feeling when the door bursted open and Mrs Field hurriedly walked in. Everyone became composed pretending like nothing happened. Pretending like I haven't been wronged. Again. Except me of course, I remained on my feet fuming even more.
"I sincerely apologise for my lateness. The traffic was unbelievable. I'm terribly sorry. So today we're going to be writing a test". She paused and looked round. Her eyes passed me and as if they noticed something, they came back and rested on me. "Any problem Miss Hamilton?"
"No!" I snapped. She was taken aback. So was I. Never have I ever in my whole life as a student been disrespectful to a teacher. I was losing it. Totally.
"Good. If sitting isn't too much trouble, would you consider it?" She sounded so cold and disappointed that all my anger dissolved into embarrassment. I brought that one upon myself. No I didn't, it was no fault of mine. Holding my chair tightly, I sat down warily.
***
"I thought I'd find you here". I heard Sam's voice before I felt him plop down beside me on the library's sofa . I mumbled a reply without looking away from the Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet I was reading. I was in the process of drowning out my sorrows in the only place in school that gave me joy. Ironic right? Drowning my sorrows with a sorrowful story. But it wasn't just the story, it was the smell of the book. I don't know but the smell of old books had this calming effect on the body system or was it just mine? Sam snatched the novel away from my hands. "What? Romeo and Juliet? How many times have you read this book?"
I paused to think, "Twenty two times".
His crinkled his nose in disgust. "What are you?"
I laughed, "A girl?"
"Are you sure?"
I arched my brows at him not sure where this was going. "Don't I look like one?"
He sat up straight and studied me with those penetrating gray eyes. His intense gaze travelled from my face and rested on my boobs and the corners of his lips curled in a lopsided grin. I felt my body heat up. "Well you do, just a little bit lacking in some places".
"What?!" I was incredulous. I looked down at my chest and wrapped my arms around them protectively. My boobs were just the perfect normal size for your information, not too small not too big. I couldn't believe his nerves, he looked pointedly at my chest again and I grabbed a cushion beside me and threw at him but of course he caught it laughing. "Eyes up. Pervert".
"The truth hurts". Sam shook with laughter.
"Keep it quiet you both", The librarian scolded.
"You heard her". I whispered. "Give back my book quietly".
"What are you doing here? Don't tell me you're skipping classes now". He still held on to my book. I reached for it but he moved it away from my reach. I got tired and gave up.
"I have this period free. What about you, what are you doing here?"
"I heard". He said simply and without doubt I knew what he was talking about. News travel really fast in Olive High so of course he must have heard. Besides, I was already a hot topic without what happened today. " I came to... you know just check up on you and see how you're doing". He gave me a small smile. Sweet, sweet Sam, I thought.
"I'm okay". I shrugged. At the worried look on his face I smiled weakly. "Really Sam, I'm fine. All this this did not start today, I'm a strong girl, that's one thing they don't know". Sam looked amazed. I frowned. " What's with that look?".
"Oh my God. When you become so mature". I chuckled. " You're even laughing! You're not gonna cry?"
I clasped my hands behind my head and relaxed against the sofa. "I'm done with the tears. Even if I want to I'm not sure they'll flow"
"Well for the record I already took care of the culprit, I reported her to the principal".
My ears perked up. " Really? Who was it? Lara or Rose? I bet it was Lara. The girl is a bitch".
"Actually it was Rose's idea but Lara did the deed".
"I'm not surprised they are both bitches".Then as an afterthought, "How did you find out?"
"I have my ways baby". He did a one-sided shrug.
I chewed on my bottom lip thinking what on Earth I've done to them. I've asked myself countless times and the answer I kept coming up with was "nothing".
Sam took my hand and squeezed it. " I'm sorry Alex". He looked like a guilty person. I was puzzled.
"Why? What did you do?"
He shook his head. "Just know that I'm always here for you. If you ever need anything, if you ever need to talk, to vent, to cry, anything at all just call me and I'll be here, Alright?"
My throat tightened up. I loved my best friend. My only friend in the world, the only person who has stood by me from day one. I nodded yes to him my eyes glistening with unshed tears. I was touched, here is someone I don't deserve but know I'm blessed to have, someone who loves me unconditionally.
"Hey I thought you said you were done crying".
Overwhelmed by my emotions I threw myself on him in a hug. He chuckled quietly and patted my back. I pulled away slightly and kissed his cheek as a thank you.
He froze. I pulled back and searched his face. His face registered shock.
"Sam are you alright?"
"Ye..ye..yes". He stuttered and his cheek was tomato red. My jaws dropped open as realization hit me.
"OMG! Sam are you blushing? You're really blushing". He was so cute. He couldn't even look at me, I clapped my hands laughing. All this because of a kiss on the cheek! "What? I'm I the first girl doing this to you?" I teased.
"Don't be absurd. You just took me by surprise". He defended crossing his arms and looking up. "First girl indeed, why would you be the first?".
I smiled and nodded my head in feigned understanding. Let's confirm that. I moved closer to him flirtatiously. His eyes widened and he moved away. I moved closer to him until he was at the edge of the sofa. He had nowhere to move to again unless he decided to stand up but it looked like he was glued to his spot. I placed my hands firmly on either side of him and leaned in.
He licked his lips, his eyes darting all over the library. I almost laughed. What's he doing licking his lips like that, did he think I was going in for a kiss?
That didn't sound like a bad idea though.
My eyes dropped to his wet pink lips. Abruptly he pushed me away. "Stop it. You're being so perverted".
I laughed. I never would have guessed Sam had this cute side to him. He stood up and hurried out. My laughter followed him. I totally forgot that I was in the library. Oops the librarian was approaching me with a glare. I didn't even allow her to reach me, I stood up and ran after Sam.
***
I laid on my bed working on my maths assignment. A knock came on the door.
"May I come in?" Dad asked from the other side of the door.
"No".
"I'm coming in anyway".
"I knew you would".
The door opened and dad came in. He sat on the bed and was quiet. He was hesitating.
"If you're about to ask me how school today was, forget it. It wasn't nice. Oh wait, I forgot that you don't care".
He took a deep breath. "Alex I do care. We do care. That's why we made that choice, that's why I'm here right now".
"Okay". I was tired. I didn't want to argue. It's not like my argument would change anything.
"You need to know why you are treated the way you are treated. If they were all nice to you at first and then all of a sudden they changed to the opposite there must be a reason. Don't you think so too? Have you checked yourself?"
I couldn't believe this. " Are you trying to say that I'm at fault here?"
"No honey. I'm just trying to say that sometimes we make mistakes or have bad habits even we ourselves are unaware of. We are only human you know, so it's normal. That's all I'm saying".
"How come I never thought of this?" I was being sarcastic but he completely missed it.
"I know right" He smiled. "I'm glad you do understand. We're good right?" I gave him a fake smile and he was really glad. I almost felt guilty. "How about a makeup hug?". He opened his arms. Now this was something I couldn't pretend to do so I passed.
"I'm solving maths dad I need to keep my head straight. Your cologne is quite strong".
" Oh right. I'll leave you to concentrate then". He stood up. "Be down right in time for dinner".
" Sure".
He went out. What he said actually stuck to my brain. What if he was right? My fault? No I don't think so. If it was actually true that I drove everyone away, why was Sam still with me? Surely he would have told me if there was something wrong about me that I needed to make right.