"Good morning class" Mrs. Binns greeted.
"Good morning ma'am!" We greeted in response.
"I trust that your animals are getting better?" She asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Today is Friday and you have only the weekend left to nurse the animals back to health.
"I also hope you all have been making use of your notes, as they will help a lot. Is that taken?"
"Yes ma'am." We chorused.
"Open your textbooks to page forty-five." She said, and I opened my copy of 'Everyday Biology'.
Some boring plants, and labelling stood there staring at me, but all I cared about was how ridiculous my outfit was.
"We'll continue our work on Botany, and today we'll be taking direct notes on the plants we'll study.
"We have some of these flowers, and plants in the high school, so we'll be going down there shortly.
"Take your writing materials with you and jot down everything about the Physical Appearance of the Purple Orchid.
"It's texture, color, height, length of stem, buds, root color, smell, and the feel of it. If that has been taken down, then let's get down to business.
"Follow in a straight line, no side talks, or that attracts a minus ten mark." She said and walked out the door.
We all stood up, taking our writing materials with us, trying not to make noises as we followed her.
It was then I had the time to fully access myself.
My hair was partially dry and not well combed, my lips were also dry. I had forgotten to put on lip gloss, and that meant I had to lick my lips all through the day…
I had no scarf to keep my neck warm, I wasn't even putting on socks, and my neck, hands, and feet were starting to feel cold.
Looking around at my nicely, and warmly dressed classmates, I felt ashamed.
I adjusted my hair, and brought some of it forwards, so it could keep my neck warm a bit, but the odd thing that stood out most was the mismatched shoes.
How did I ever manage to do this? I asked myself, and bit my lip hard.
We walked to the high school, and next to the bench, we saw the flowers.
Most people took their seats on the ground, some stood, some sat on the bench, while Mrs. Binns sat on a chair in the shade.
The sun shone weakly on us, and I terribly wished it shone harder.
I took my seat on the ground, brought out my notebook and moved closer to touch the flower…
Okay, the texture is... oof boring!
I stood up.
"Woah what's up with this?" I turned around and saw Mike.
"Hey." I whispered.
"Nice shoes." He said, and walked away.
I looked at my shoes, they were really not at all nice.
I endured good forty minutes of chatting with drake about the boring plant, while sitting on the grass, and managed to write a quarter of the first page.
"She's never going to accept this, Pris." Drake said.
"I've never seen myself liking plants, so I don't know what to write, right now, I feel like uprooting this plant, and throwing it somewhere really far, where I don't have to see its annoying face." I said, and he laughed, then looked at my shoes.
Did they all have to look at the shoes?
I lay on the grass.
"Will you stop looking? If we didn't have Mrs. Binns first, I would have cat-walked to school." I said, and my tummy rumbled.
I would have even eaten delicious hot oatmeal, now I'm cold and hungry."
"Won't you eat in school?"
"Vegetables, beef, salad
Isn't that the menu today? Definitely not my type of food, but still, I'll eat… I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to go for dancing classes."
"They can't kick you out, they'll still need you." He said, and I sighed.
"If you say so."
"Here, copy my notes." he said, giving them to me.
"No it's really fine."
"I insist."
"Don't insist, I don't even feel like writing, I want to sleep."
"I insist on you writing."
"What's it to you if I don't write? My fingers are numb, I can't feel a thing."
"You know, no one's really noticed your lovely shoes, I could help you broadcast it, if you'd like."
"Really? Shut it… I'll write. God, help me, he's even bullying me to accept his help." I said, then smiled.
I sat up and began to write. My handwriting was scrawny, and ugly all because my fingers were so numb, feeling dull and slow.
<<<
"So I'll give you an assignment, I'll need a thousand-word essay on the uses of the Purple Orchid, it's effects too.
"I'll be expecting to see how it is used and what it is uses for. Have a lovely day." Mrs Binns said, and left.
Everyone groaned, and gave pouty faces, then the bell rang.
"That's a whole day of searching the library. Can she hear herself? A thousand-word essay, it's so easy to say. Why can't she try doing it, uhn?
"I'm still cracking my head for a four hundred, and fifty-word essay, and she had to double it up and add another hundred to it, what's wrong with her?" I complained angrily.
"Complaining isn't going to help you." Drake said.
Freddie!
I saw him coming, and hid behind Drake.
"Oh my." I exclaimed softly.
"What's up with…"
"Shush! Just move please."
If he saw me, he'd make fun of me, although I felt like walking up to him and saying something.
At that moment, I wished I didn't stay long on the phone in addition to waking up late.
I'll catch you later, I thought.
I was going to have to do something about my clothes before meeting with him anyway.
We walked back up to class, and while Drake spoke with his guys, I used that opportunity to make my hair look a bit better.
Then, Whitney came and sat next to me.
I was thinking of saying something like 'There's nothing between me and Mike.' when she hugged me…
I was shocked.
"Whitney…"
"Teach me." She said, like she was pouting.
"Teach you what?" I asked.
"How you manage to make Mike relax around you, he's always tensed up when he's with me.
"Sometimes it's like he doesn't even want me there, and I want to be there, I want him to act like he does when he's around you, so how do you do it?"
"Well I don't do a thing, I just act normal." I said, and those words seemed wrong.
It made it seem like I was trying to… I don't know, brag?
"But… most people tell me I act cute, so I summed it up, and I think Mike really likes cute girls, but he doesn't like me, though.
"So maybe you should try acting cute… and dressing cute." I said, at least it sounded better.
I looked at her, she was wearing a cute purple beret with a bow tie on it, with her woolen lavender turtle-neck looking so warm. She had paired her outfit, with black heels, and a tight black mini skirt.
A long silver necklace dangled from her neck, forming a set with her anklet, and bracelet.
Whitney was the hot type, not the cute one.
"Dress cute? How?" she said, and looked at herself.
"Maybe you should try wearing oversized hoodies…"
I looked at myself.
"Huge boyfriend jeans that could accommodate another pair of legs…"
"What?" She asked.
"...and perhaps a cute head warmer to make you look cute, and you could try wearing mismatched shoes too."
"Wait… you're not wearing mismatched shoes, are you?" she asked, and I tried to hide my feet.
"What is this, Pris?" she exclaimed loudly, then looked around, and lowered her voice.
"How could you pair a pink tennis shoe with a white sneaker, what trend is that? Follow me." She said, standing.
"My shoes." I said, pointing, but she dragged me up already.
She took me to the P. E changing room.
"What are you thinking?" I asked her.
"We're exchanging, now."
"What? No, no Whitney…"
<<<
Minutes later…I was dressed hotly.
I tried to move the skirt down a bit, but it wouldn't budge, it was far too tight.
I looked at Whitney... it was a great transformation.
She looked so different… and I liked it.
She let her hair down, patted it and placed my head warmer on it, then she rolled the sleeves of my hoodie…
"Don't roll it up… it's better and cuter when it's down."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah… but"
"But what?"
"I'm feeling a little bit uneasy about this." I said.
"Uneasy about what?"
"Well, the skirt is kind of short… not that I don't wear short skirts but…"
"But what?"
"When I walk, it hikes up and exposes my thighs." I said.
"Are you really serious about that?" She asked.
"Yeah, and it's really tight." I said, trying to adjust the skirt.
I tried to pull it down, but it was just too tight and wouldn't budge.
"This is what is trending." She said tucked the turtle-neck in properly for me.
I looked in the mirror.
"I like how I look in it, but it's just so… I don't know, too short, too tight.
"The turtle-neck is also firm on my neck, it's like it's choking me."
"Oh come on… don't you own a turtle-neck?" She asked, with a raised brow.
"They're not as tight as this."
"Aah, so warm!" she said, putting her hands in the pocket of my hoodie.
"Aah, so cold." I said, and she laughed.
My legs were freezing, my toes were begging to get off those heels, and I bet my nose was pink.
She tucked my hair behind my ear, then placed the beret on it, tilting it to the side.
"It's pretty!" She said, looking at herself in the mirror.
Then we walked to the door.
"I can't go." I said.
"Are you serious?" She asked, with a smile.
"Yeah I am, it's awkward. Everyone's going to notice. The skirt hikes up with every step I take, and when I sit, oh no, it's going to open up." I said, and she laughed.
"It's really no wonder everyone finds you cute."
"This isn't cute…"
"Every guy who sees you in this won't be able to take his eyes off you easily… you look sexy."
"Don't say that. I don't want that."
"Let's go." She said and dragged me out, and truly eyes stuck to me like pins to a magnet.
They were all staring hard, and it was making me uncomfortable.
The worst was in class, they kept on staring, talking and exchanging looks.
When it was break, the boys had a telescope with them, and they were using it to watch me, while laughing hysterically.
I wondered uncomfortably what part of my body they were staring at.
Looking at my exposed thighs, I tried to adjust the skirt once more, even though I knew it was going to be fruitless.
"I'm going… wish me luck." Whitney said.
"Luck." I replied.
As she went downstairs, I walked over to the boys.
"Hey, could you guys borrow me that?" I asked, holding out my hand towards the telescope.
They looked at me all over before giving it to me.
I went to the window side and waited until I saw Whitney, then I zoomed in on her.
She brought out her phone, and made a phone call.
Then a few minutes later, Mike came running, and he stopped in his tracks when he saw her.
He reviewed her and as she jumped on him, he staggered a little.
I laughed.
He probably wondered if he was staring at her or someone else.
She sat him on the bench and held his cheeks up, he looked really shocked and I laughed more.
Then she kissed him, and I handed the boys the telescope immediately.
I was free with no dancing class to go to, so I went to eat.
I sat in the cafeteria eating alone, then went to the library with my biology note.
Not only that, but I attracted a lot of stares and seriously, I didn't think I liked being the center of attention.
When I found an enclosed spot, I sat, dropped my books, then went around to search for a good biology textbook based on Botany.
After finding one named 'The beauty of flowers and their uses',
I took it back to my corner and started to search for purple orchids.
"It'll be good if I can finish this assignment before she asks for it." I said to myself, and started to work, feeling happy.
It was only when the bell rang for the end of the break hour that I opened my eyes, and realized I had fallen asleep.
I looked at my note, and it's blank pages.
I hadn't written a single thing. In frustration, I packed up my books and dumped them in my locker, before going to change into my P. E vest as we were having P. E
<<<
Finally, the day was over.
I stood up to look for Whitney, as I didn't see her in the last class.
She could have been off looking for Mike again, so I went straight to the high school.
I decided to check the back of the school, where I first saw them together.
It was far too narrow for my liking, but after walking a while, it became a wide opening.
I saw some boys, they could have been up to eight, or ten.
They all looked at me all over, and I felt uneasy. It was as though I weren't even wearing a skirt because it was so short.
"Sorry, I was searching for someone."
"It's okay, come chill with us, babe." One of them said.
Was I crazy? Why on earth would I chill with guys who were busy smoking when smoking wasn't allowed in the school premises?
I turned around, and began to walk away quickly.
"Hey babe, come on, we're not hurting you, just share our bed, the weather's cold." one said, and the rest began to laugh.
"Follow me, I like the look of that chick." another with a deep bass voice said.
Was that even a student?? How could a student have such a voice?
Oh, no Whitney!
Were they really trying to ask a thirteen-year-old out?
I walked faster and managed to come out of the narrow way, then came into an opening where I could see the high schoolers walking around.
I quickened my steps, but just then, someone grabbed my wrist, and turned me around to face him.
It was one of those guys.
"Get your hands…" I was saying, but the other guys came and formed a circle round me.
"Wow, didn't know you were this hot." one said using his eyes to pull off my clothes, I felt disgusted.
"She's always wearing large stuff, dressing like a puppy, and those guys are always around her, but now I've got you.
"And you're going down on your knees to service me, right here, right now." the guy with the bass voice said, and I felt I'd have thrown up if I didn't hold myself.
If I was in my clothes, I could have run for it, but even though I tried to, the heels, and the skirt would make me easier to catch, so I decided to play strong.
"Let go of my hand, Now!" I said to the goon holding my hand in my best, and boldest voice, but do you know how I sounded?
I sounded like a puppy!
They laughed harder, and I let my fear show.
"Would you? If you do, I'll leave you alone."
"Can't we just touch her?" Another said, and just then I heard a whistle.
I turned around.
It was Freddie leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, and his hands in his pocket.
Oh, my. Could I be in a drama? A handsome guy coming to save me, then we'd fall in love as he catches me in his arms.
He raised a hand, and made a gesture with his fingers, and the guys parted, making my way clear.
Then he bent his index finger repeatedly, meaning I was to go to him.
I didn't waste another moment, and ran to him.
He took my hand, and led me away, while I tried not to look back, and smile at the guys who were furiously kicking stuff.
His hands were warm compared to my cold ones, he wore a white hoodie, black trousers, large white sneakers and a scarf round his neck, and I stared at him from behind.
I studied his dark hair, his ear, his neck, his chin, and the way he walked and…
I think… I think I like him.
Right then my heart opened like a blooming bud wanting to reach the rays of the sunlight, and the sensation was akin to the fluttering of a butterfly.
I think I liked Freddie not because every girl did, but because underneath the rude, arrogant and uncaring attitude, I saw someone else.
Someone who could be loving, caring, and soft, just not trusting.
The way poppy said he always listened to his mother when she was sad, made me realize he was definitely caring, and the way he wrote, and sang the song delicately for Bianca showed he was a loving person.
While, the way he always never let me get close gave me the impression, he had trust issues.
He probably was like an egg. Hard on the outside, but soft inside.
I liked Freddie, it felt weird to admit it, and I wasn't going to hide it from him.
I was going to show him that I liked him!
Unfortunately, we got to the gate, and he left my hand.
"Don't stop holding it." I said.
"What?"
"My hand…it's… it's cold." I said, with a slight pout.
"What?" He asked again, as though.I had lost my senses.
Then I stuck my hands into the pocket of his hoodie.
"And what do you think you're doing?" He asked, staring at me like I had truly lost it.
"Getting warm."
"Oh… I see." he said and looked at me from head to toe.
"Oh hang on! Wait, here okay!" I said and left.
You know what they say about staring at a thing too long. It falls.
I think Freddie stared at me so much because I almost fell.
I met Whitney in class, laughing and talking to Yvonne and Zenith.
"Whitney! Please my clothes."
"Oh yeah! Thanks so much, they're super comfy. Let's go change." She said.
"Phew."
I felt alive the moment I was back in my clothes.
When my feet touched the ground, away from the heels, I felt like the ground was home, and it was made for my legs.
My hoodie felt so warm, and my jeans gave me so much space between my legs, I did a split right there on the floor.
My head warmer fitted my head so much, unlike that frail beret that did nothing to warm up my head. Being in my clothes truly felt like living.
I looked at Whitney, she looked more like herself, and as I watched her applying more makeup to her face, I felt she and Mera would make good friends.
<<<
From afar, Freddie kept watching me, I bet he wondered about the reason for the sudden change.
"Wh…" He asked, but I explained immediately.
"I borrowed someone my clothes, she needed it to look cute, and so I had to walk around in those." I said, and he rolled his eyes.
"By the way, thanks… for…for back then." I said, as we walked towards the car, which wasn't parked near the school gates.
"You're welcome, I just cannot imagine what you were looking for, dressed like that."
"Well they couldn't have done anything, could they?"
"A girl in my class has been raped once."
"What? How come they weren't expelled?"
"The question is, how come no one knew?"
"No one knew?"
"They raped her, took her nude photos, then threatened to post it on the school blog, you know students check that every morning.
"They also went as far as telling her they'd email it to her parents that she was making porn videos and her parents weren't accommodating so she kept quiet, and no one knew about it.
"Until Shawn found out, and went off with all the big vocabulary lawyers speak. He scared them to death. I promised my father was going to sue them, and my father's not exactly unknown.
"Liam threatened to publish the story in the news, and Hudley said he was going to make sure both school, and jobs were going to be inaccessible to them.
"So anytime they saw us since then, they ran for it." He said and made to enter the car.
"Well, don't feel too good you helped me… because I'm going to pay you back, I'll help you too."
"Really?" He asked, and scoffed. "So you'll save me from a bunch of girls planning to rape me?" He mocked.
"You never know what could happen." I said, and he got into the car.
"You're funny." he said.
"Let's walk." I said, suddenly wanting to keep on talking.
"Am I crazy? Walk? Why walk when we could get there in minutes with the car?"
"I just want to walk, and I told your mother something about you, so it's best to tell you while we walk." I lied.
"What's that?" he asked, trying not to look bothered, but I knew I had won.
He got out of the car, and closed the door.
"Okay, what's it?" He asked, sticking his hands into his pockets.
"Give me time, I have to plan it, don't I? Okay, where are we going?"
"Desires."
"Woah, that mall? Mera goes there, but I don't because their things are far too expensive, and I would rather not waste money."
"Well, you're going there, and you'll pick whatever you want because my mum's credit card is paying."
"What are you going to buy?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Why?"
"My wardrobe's overflowing." He said.
"I'll pick well." I replied, with a smile.
"You don't need to tell me that. I can already guess what you're picking."
"You can?"
"Hoodies, sneakers, jeans, joggers, those dumb stuffs you wear."
"I won't pick any of that then."
"Duh… Pick what you like, don't avoid it just because you don't want me to be right." He said, rolling his eyes.
Then we walked in silence, with me sneaking looks at him at intervals.
He was really handsome, and I wished he liked me too. I hoped I'd see a wishing star because I was going to wish for that.
"By the way…" he said, looking at me, and catching me off guard.
"What, what, what! What by the way?" I asked, trying to mask the fact that I had been staring at him.
" The least you could do is try not to yell at me, I wasn't the one staring."
"Aah!"
"Hey, why scream in the middle of the road? What's wrong with you?" He asked, looking around.
"Get used to it." I replied, and he looked away.
"Oh, I was saying something. Peter asked to give you these." he said, pulling off his silver colored bag and bringing out lots of knitting wool.
"Oh I remember!" I said, collecting the wool, and looking at it fondly.
"You're helping him knit?"
"Yeah, do you know how to knit?"
"I'm not helping, so don't bother." He said, without waiting.
"Rude." I said, flatly.
"Annoying" he replied.
"How exactly am I annoying?"
"The answer is in you." he said, giving me a dreamy look.
He was mocking me.
"Jerk." I said, as he walked faster. "The least you could do is walk slower."
" Not my fault, you've got short legs." he said.
"Aaaah!" I screamed, and he turned around, so did some other people.
"Hey!" He let out sharply.
"Apologize." I said, and he looked at me as though I were delusional, but when I prepared to scream again, he held up a hand.
"Is that what you want? Stop embarrassing me. I'm well known." He said, and I opened my mouth to scream again.
"I'm sorry!" He exclaimed, and I gave a shy smile.
<<<
We got to Desires and 'Oooh' it was freezing, thanks to all the ACs.
We got into the elevator, just the both of us, and I stood there sneaking glances and then…
In the blink of an eye, the elevator shook, and stopped all of a sudden.
I almost fell, and he caught me by my waist, staring into my warm brown eyes, with his cold green ones.
My typical romance movie.
And then, the lights went off.
The elevator had stopped working.
Aaaaaah!