After Chemistry, I had Art class with Emma and Caleb. It was always one of my favorite classes, as it gave me the chance to express myself creatively. Today, we were working on a mixed media project, combining paint, pastels, and collage.
Emma was working on a portrait of her dog, while Caleb was painting a landscape. I was still struggling to come up with an idea, so I decided to just let my intuition guide me. I started by sketching some abstract shapes and lines, then added layers of color and texture until I had a vibrant, chaotic composition.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I felt a sense of satisfaction at what I had created. I gathered my supplies and made my way to the cafeteria for lunch.
I scanned the crowded room, searching for Emma and Caleb. As I made my way to their usual table, I spotted James sitting with a group of his friends. He caught my eye and waved me over, but I pretended not to see him.
As we entered the bustling cafeteria, the aroma of pizza and fries filled my nostrils. I could see the lunch line snaking its way around the room, and the tables were already filling up with students.
Emma and Caleb headed straight for our usual table, while I hesitated.
As I scanned the room, I caught sight of James sitting with a group of his jock friends. He was laughing at something someone said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. For a moment, I felt a twinge of jealousy. Why did he get to have such a carefree life, while I struggled to fit in?
But then I shook off the feeling and continued towards our table. As I passed by the preppy girls' table, I heard snippets of their conversation. They were gossiping about some drama that had unfolded over the breal, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
Finally, I spotted our table in the corner, and I made my way over to it. As I settled into my seat, I pulled out my lunch and started to eat.
As I sat down with Emma and Caleb, Caleb immediately started talking about his new project for the school's robotics club. He was always so passionate about his inventions, and it was infectious. Emma listened patiently, nodding and asking questions.
As for me, I wasn't very interested in robotics, but I appreciated Caleb's enthusiasm. I took a bite of my sandwich and glanced around the cafeteria, noticing how different cliques and groups seemed to stick together.
Just as I was about to finish my sandwich, someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned around to see James standing there, a grin on his face.
"Hey there, Ada. Mind if I sit here?" he asked, gesturing to the empty seat across from me.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. I wanted to yell at him to go find another seat, he had already annoyed me enough today. But then I noticed Emma's giddy expression and I shrugged and gestured for him to sit down.
"Sure, why not," I said, trying to keep my tone casual and not annoyed, I mean why couldn't he have sat anywhere else.
As James sat down, I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly he seemed to fit in. He started up a conversation with Emma and Caleb, asking about their interests and hobbies, and before I knew it, they were deep in a conversation.
But after forever, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. James grabbed his tray and stood up, flashing me a grin.
"Thanks for letting me sit here. Maybe we can do it again sometime?" he said, before walking off to his next class.
"Anytime!" Emma chirped happily.
He waved goodbye and joined his friends as they headed to their next class.
After lunch, I had Math class, which I wasn't particularly excited about. I found math to be tedious and uninteresting, but I knew it was important for my future studies.
As I entered the classroom, I saw that James was already seated at my table. My heart sank as I realized that he was my assigned partner again. I had been hoping to work with Caleb, who was much more easygoing and less arrogant than James.
I took a deep breath and walked over to the table, trying to keep my expression neutral. James looked up and grinned at me, but I just rolled my eyes and pulled out my textbook.
The class was on probability and statistics, and the teacher started the lesson by giving us a word problem to solve. James immediately took the lead, confidently explaining his solution to me.
I listened politely, but I couldn't help but feel annoyed at his know-it-all attitude. I was perfectly capable of solving the problem myself, but I didn't feel like arguing with him.
As the class went on, I found myself getting more and more frustrated with James. He seemed determined to take charge of the lab, insisting on doing everything his way. I tried to speak up, but he kept cutting me off.
By the time class was over, I was ready to scream. I gathered my things and practically ran out of the room, feeling angry and embarrassed. Why did I have to be stuck with someone like James as my lab partner? It wasn't fair.
As I made my way to my next class, I couldn't help but wonder how I was going to survive the rest of the semester.