Chapter 2 - PAPER - ONE

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GABRIEL'S POV

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Bang! Bang! Bang!

I could feel my head thump against the locker.

Each blow trying to show the overwhelming sense of dread I feel at the thought of attending miss Poppins class.

Ugh!

I groan and let out a sigh of frustration.

Like who the F**k thought it would be a good idea to put History for the first three periods and on a BLOODY MONDAY MORNING at that.

I just wanna sleep.

The slamming of my head reverberated throughout the crowded hallway and sure I was getting some judgemental looks but so what? I couldn't care less...I was having a meltdown.

THIS WAS AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS!

Deep in thought, I kept trying to figure out how I'd landed myself in this mess.

When suddenly a book appeared in front of me, blocking my forehead and bringing me back to the present.

With an abrupt pause, I slightly lift my head my eyes instantly connects with a black leather note book that could only belong to one person I know.

As my eyes trail up the pale hand still holding that notebook, I lock eyes with my one and only best friend, Colin.

His usual lethargic face held a trace of amusement. As his brown colored contacts which glinted in the light bored into my honey colored eyes.  I didn't need to be a mind reader to know what his thoughts probably were.

Stop being an idiot.

"You might want to stop doing that," Colin clicks his to tongue, his voice light and teasing.

"Otherwise, you might end up dumber than you already are." 

I let out a groan, completely disregarding his insult and turn to him.

Internally I cursed my own idiocy whilst contemplating about all my life choices that brought me to this ghastly point.

"It's official I, Gabriel Colt am an Idiot."

"Well isn't that news." Colin says with scoff.

"I might as well be stupid, Honestly, that must be the only reasonable explanation as to why the hell I took up History." I say, gritting my teeth.

"Like there was Geography, Astrology heck even Politics ANYTHING would have been better than History."

Similarly to finding an oasis in the middle of a desert. I throw myself dramatically onto him. My fingers clinging onto our schools universal cream colored vest face dripping with woe.

I resembled a man seconds a way from being slaughtered. Desperately clawing at its last life saving straw.

"COLIN. SAVE. ME."

Instead of getting the comfort I expected I received a smack right across my head.

"OUCH!"

I jump back as my hands fly up to cradle my bruised head, while shooting the lethargic Albino an aggrieved look .

Colin tsk-ed replying my look with soft' idiot shaking his head in disbelief his shoulder-length snow white hair swayed lightly with his movements as his vanilla scented shampoo lingered  lightly in the air.

"I don't want to know but I feel like you'll tell me anyway so I'll act like I care." He resigns. folding his arm tiredly, as his shoulder rest lightly on a random locker.

"Now spill. what's today's drama all about?"

"I want a concussion."

"You want a concussion?"

Colin stared at me. His eyes probing, trying to judge if I'm mad or just stupid.

"You know what sorry I asked." And not a moment later he gave me a dismissive shove as he shouldered past me.

"Besides there's a much faster ways to get a concussion that doesn't include your fat head making a dent on my locker."

Within seconds Colin pressed his thumb on the side of his locker and with a whoosh instantly obstructing my next words of refute.

leaving me to stare at his slightly dented locker in dismay. "You know what I denounce our friendship."

Colin pauses, shooting an I DON'T GIVE A DAMN look whilst he takes out his History notes for class.

With a slight creak, he closes his locker turns around and walks off not even a moment later. Striding purposefully towards the classroom not bothering once to look back.

I eagerly follow him down the hall the squeaking sound of my sneakers blending in with the noisy bustle of  students.

Running ahead I pace backwards in front of Colin words flowing out from my mouth like a waterfall, while  gesticulating wildly with my hands.

"I mean, I know History is important and all that, but damn why on Monday morning? Sure it's an elective but it's like the school is trying to torture us or something. The system is rigged I just know it...I'm sure it's all her fault she just hates me...like what did I ever do to her? it's not like I murdered her dog or something...does she even have a dog?"

I continue to ramble as we head to class while Colin walked silently, looking two seconds away from giving me another smack on the head.

Reaching the classroom we were met with the loud chatter of students going back and forth.

laughter rang as wild paper balls flew around. Groups of different kinds huddled together in different parts of the class.

In short - it resembled a zoo.

Upon our entry I was greeted with different

"Morning Gabe."

"What's up Gabriel."

"Dude how's it going."

"Morning."

I sent a wave or shot a smile back then turn back to the 5'7 Albino at my side realizing he wasn't there but seated at his desk back slouched on his chair.

I race to the seat next to his conveniently tossing my book bag onto my desk and turn to him.

I continued to rant clearly not noticing Colin sighing in exasperation.

"Look, I get it, okay? Monday mornings are rough. The system is bad and blah blah blah...It's been less than an hour in school Gabe and you're going to give me a hemorrhoid if you keep on going on and on about it," Colin muttered pinching the bridge of his nose his gold rimmed glasses lifting up a bit.

He shot me a side eye. "Just try to focus and get through the class, and then you can complain all about it over lunch to Eden, okay?

I grumble something under my breath, but nod deciding to have a heart and spare him of my dramatis.

.

.

.

That only lasted for five seconds before I started to talk again and this time it was about our witch of a History teacher Miss Poppins. 

"Like why the hell does she hate me?"

Colin sighs in exasperation mumbling "I'm never getting silence am I."

I shift restlessly on my seat, now completely facing him  "No seriously  I really wonder why she hates me" I whine completely ignoring Colin once more and start complaining.

Colin scoffs with a sarcastic "I wonder why?"

"Right!" I nod.

"I'm completely loveable, I swear I didn't do anything!" I insist, My voice indignant.

"All I did was answer a simple question when she called on me, and she got all huffy about it!"

Colin raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. His back was slightly hunched over hands rummaging through his jet-black messenger bag.

I stick my hands into my side pocket and fish out a small white colored candy placing it on his desk and not a second later he picks it up and while unwrapping it he spoke his voice as exhausted as usual "Come on, there's gotta be more to the story than that. She wouldn't get this worked up over a simple answer in class."

I sigh dejectedly, slumping even further in my chair. Raising my hand I stick out three fingers "That was it I swear on your three cats that was all that happened."

Colin pushed the vanilla flavored candy with his tongue making the side of his cheek bulge like a hamster and glared at me with a look that screamed disbelief "Don't swear on my cats you freak."

My lips form into a slight pout, my whole body still slouched on my seat but raised my two hands up in surrender. "Jeez I promise I seriously didn't do anything."

"..."

"Okay maybe these's that ONE time in class where I told her that we could all see her hairline receding and that her wig isn't fooling anybody."

Colin stares at me with disbelief  then proceeds to burst into a rare laughter his body trembled as his pale white cheeks flushed a faint red "so you borderline told her she was bald... Dude no wonder she hates you."

"It was completely her fault, she asked me what I was looking at." I say in protest

Colin rolls his eyes, hitting me with he candy wrapper he was previously toying with his fingers "ever heard of lying."

"But my mum said it isn't good to lie."

"Well congratulations now Miss Poppins hates you."

Before I could quip back the bell rang followed with the sound of heels smacking on the floor as the she-devil herself strolled into class. I couldn't help but scrunch my face up in discontent.

Colin snorts his finger nails tapped on the desk habitually" if you continue to stare at her someone might misinterpret that you're is interested." He teases.

I spun my head to Colin so fast I wonder how I didn't get whiplash my face morphed in disgust at the mere thought "ME interested in HER heaven and Earth will have to fall before that happens."

With a loud smack, Miss Poppins dropped a bunch of heavy textbooks. Everyone's attention shifted to the front as she said, "Settle into your seats, everyone."

Collective groans were heard throughout the class followed by the scratching and scrapes of tables and chairs which screeched around the room.

Miss Poppins rolled her eyes . "Suck it up I also don't wanna be here."

She spun around to start class but not before shooting me a stink eye which I gladly gave right back.

Colin sports a slight smirk his face as listless as ever but his voice held amusement. "You can just see the hearts flying around."

I shot Colin a sweet smile "if you don't stop your candy privileges will be revoked."

Colin's eyes widen slightly in disbelief he looked seconds away from cardiac arrest "You wouldn't dare."

I looked Colin square in the face my smile sweeter that honey my expression screamed TRY ME.

"Okay class turn to page 371 and lets revise the last exercise starting from...."

History class was a blur all I could remember we're something relating to the post-colonial era? Honestly, I was more interested in annoying Colin in-between class while he was  dead set on Ignoring me.

Three periods passed at a snail's pace and by the time the shrill sound of the bell rang I was so happy to have  survived with my sanity intact.

Lunch period rolled in soon bringing in a tidal wave of hungry students. With my hand clasping at Colin's wrist, I weave through the swarm of bodies while dragging an unwilling Colin behind me. Pushing through the double doors of the cafeteria, the smell of food assaults my senses.

The chatter of students fills the hall, along with the occasional clang of utensils. It's like a battlefield, and I'm on a mission to claim my spoils of war.

From where I stood I could see a slightly tan skinned girl with short black hair and silver-blue highlights waving manically at us. Eden prairie.

That's the only girl I know who could rock silver-blue hair and still be energetic at 3am in the morning.

Colin and I reach our usual table and me being me I plopped into my seat and let out an exaggerated sigh, as if the weight of the world were on my shoulders.

Colin rolled his eyes, but sat down beside me.

Eden grins in amusement. "Hey, hey tell mama bear what got your sunny smile upsidedown?"

I heave an even longer sigh as half of my body dramatically splayed onto the table "Mama bear. Your son needs some love since  Colin is too stingy to give me some."

Colin snorts his body reclined on the blue plastic chair, fingers drumming lightly on the table bored of the entire situation. Eden Just rubs my back with a short laugh asking what the hell happened.

I open my mouth about to respond and pour my heart out to complain when Colin chimed in, "Don't mind him, he's just sulking because Alexis didn't come to school today."

Eden chortles while I could feel myself blush a furious red. I sputtered and stammered as I tried to deny the accusation. Eden kept in giggling, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.

"Oh come on, it's okay to have a little crush," she teased. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about!"

"Yeah a crush of three years is definitely nothing to be embarrassed about." Colin ridicules.

All I could do was bury my head in my hands, trying to get a semblance of my dignity back.

"Leave me alone I'm already suffering already as it is."

"Why don't you just confess to her?" Colin suggests while Eden nods in agreement.

I stare both if them deflated "Do you think I haven't tried?"

"Well FYI I have, but everytime I do I either clam up, stutter like a complete Idiot, or chicken out if it."

"So you're a complete failure is that what your saying."

I shoot Colin a look but nod regardless.

"Well how about we change that hmm?" Eden grinned, her eyes lighting up with mischief.

"I've got a fantastic idea," she said, clapping her hands together. "This way will surely help you to confess your feelings to Alexis, without you completely embarrassing yourself."

I sat up, interest piqued. "Really? You think you could help me?" I asked, voice full of hope.

Eden nodded, her confidence unwavering. "Of course!"

She bends down low like it was a secret "Guess what's next week guys" she asks with a massive grin.

Colin and I look at her like she is an Idiot. "Monday?"

Eden's smile deflates a little and looks at both of us like we're stupid "Okay let me rephrase that. What date is next week Friday?" Eden asks once again.

I Furrows his brow in confusion but still answer "14th, so?"

Eden flings her arms above her head in exasperation looking completly done with this situation. "I expected Colin to be ignorant but I didn't expect you too not to get it."

I shrug nonchalantly while Colin hits Eden with a pea from her plate.

Dejectedly she collapses in her seat saying she's friends with idiots. Glumly she asks what month it is.

"February"  Eden nods frantically regaining her energy, "so February 14th is what?" she asks slowly like she's explaining to children.

Colin and I both sat there in silence for a moment, our minds clearly working hard to process what Eden had just revealed.

Suddenly, I shot up from the table, my eyes wide with realization. "Valentine's Day! It's on the 14th of February!" I said, as if I'd just cracked the code to the universe.

Eden rolled her eyes, giving me a patronizing pat on the shoulder.

"It's the perfect opportunity!" Eden enthused, clapping her hands together in excitement her blue eyes shimmering in delight. "You could do something really romantic, ooh like bring her flowers or chocolates or something!"

I chew my lip, brows furrowed in thought. "What if I make a fool of myself?" I say, a hint of worry in my voice.

"When haven't you made a fool of yourself?" Colin asks while stealing Eden's chips from her plate.

She glares threatening at him but doesn't do anything while placing a checkered black and white nails on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring smile.

"You'll never know if you don't try," Eden said, her voice soft and reassuring as she gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "But at worst, you'll be able to say that you put yourself out there and tried your best. The universe just might be kind and she might feel the same way."

I let out a slow breath, absorbing her words. "You're right," I said, my voice firm with resolve. "I need to do this. For me. For her."

Determined, Eden I start to brainstorm on the perfect way I could confess.

Colin looked at both of us skeptical "May I remind you that Gabe freezes whenever he wants to confess. So all that chocolate will be useless if he suddenly becomes mute."

Eden looks like she's just realized something and Furrowed her brows. I grin at both of them. "And who said anything about me telling her?"

Eden looked confused while Colin looked increasingly convinced I was an idiot.

"So you're not going to confess?" Colin asked.

"I never said that either," I replied. "But who said anything about doing it verbally? I'll tell her about my feelings through a letter."

I grinned as Eden screamed "Yes!" in excitement, completely ignoring the fact that we were still in the cafeteria.

I could tell she was already picturing a romance novel-worthy scenario in her head. Meanwhile, Colin was looking more and more like he wanted to bang his head on the table.

"Are you serious?" he asked, sounding resigned to the idea that I was, in fact, quite serious.

I shrugged, not wanting to give anything away. "You'll just have to wait and see."

"You're impossible," he groaned. But I could tell he was secretly waiting to see the drama of it all.

"Ooh, I always wanted to make a love letter! It's going to be amazing. We must make it the best, most cheesy love letter known to mankind. We need glitter, for sure. And maybe some doilies. Oh, and it has to be written on pink stationery. We'll make a love letter that will put any other to shame. Our words will be so moving, they'll make even Shakespeare cry." Eden's eyes were sparkling with excitement, and she was practically bouncing in her seat.

Colin just shook his head and sighed.

I laugh, as Eden kept frantically throwing idea after idea at us.

Colin kept quite. Silently munching on a sugar free biscuit he got from got from God knows where but his twitching eyes told me he was listening.

"We could make it into a boat or try finding some gold paper ooh or make it into a frog but that's kinda weird a heart too common or..."

"Heck why not a plane?"

"Colin cut in, interjecting Eden's ramble garnering both our attention.

"A plane?" Eden asked tentatively her head tilting slightly to the side in thought.

He nods "your going with weird ideas right? then why don't you go with a plane and be like 'oh you flew straight into my heart' or 'love's in the air' and all that kind of lovey-dovey shit?" His tone was deadpan, but a small almost negligible smirk crept across his face as he spoke.

Eden's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Hey, hey, that's a great idea! Gabe could make it look like a little paper airplane and write a sweet, heartfelt letter its cool and original just the type of cheesiness we're looking for."

I grin widely "well I have no objections to that, let's do it."

Eden shoots me the same goofy grin clearly enjoying this more than me while Colin tentatively bit his biscuit eyes flickering between Eden and I.

"You know I was joking right? And why do I feeling that this will blow up eventually in your face?"

I let out a scoff "this plan is totally fool proof." 

Colin pointed a pale finger at both of us. "You're on your own with this one," he said. "Just don't come crying to me when it all goes horribly wrong."

I just flashed a grin wagging my eyebrows. "Spoken like a true pessimist," I said. "Just you wait, I'm going to make this Valentine's Day one to remember."

"Next week Friday I'm going to confess to Alexis how I feel."

"And there's nothing possible that could ruin it."