As the morning sunlight crept through the blinds, piercing the silence, Vesper groggily opened her eyes acknowledging the start of another dreadful Monday or rather a dreadful week The shrill alarm clock echoed in her mind, a harsh reminder of the chaotic day ahead.
Vesper couldn't help but think, "Ugh, back to that crowded, noisy prison again," recalling her countless pleas to her mom to ditch traditional school for homeschooling, only to be met with stern reminders that "Education requires sacrifice, and besides, keeping you enclosed won't help improve your condition".
With a sign, Vesper lazily walked into the bathroom to prepare for another gruelling day at school. It had been roughly a week and two days since her last incident, and she'd spent those free days visiting her therapist after her conversation with her godfather. Vesper had begun accepting many things she never would have considered before.
"Vesper " her mom screamed from downstairs.
Vesper's mom was overjoyed about her recent progress in therapy.
Rachael, her therapist, had challenged her the previous day.
_ _ _ _
"Tell me, Vesper, do you homeschool ?" Rachel asked
"No, mom disagrees with it totally; she says home schooling won't help," Vesper replied
" Great, then how do you get to school?" Rachael inquired
"Mom drops me off," Vesper said, unsure why this was relevant
"When do you arrive at school?" Rachael pressed.
"An hour before arrival time to avoid the crowd," vesper answered.
"Does the school open up for you?" Rachael asked, surprised.
"Not really," vesper admitted "Mom's colleague owns a share in the school company, so I'm giving free access and the school is also aware of my condition."
"Okay then, how has that helped you "
"Can't really say, I still do have panic attacks but I think it's less since I keep my distance"
"I'd love to challenge you"
"To what "
"Glad you asked" Rachael said as she stood up from her sit and went over to vesper "firstly I'll be taking this" she added and gently removed her hand gloves. Vesper felt exposed, as of her skin had been peeled off.
"Give it back, I don't like my hands being exposed" vesper pleaded.
Rachael calmly replied, "Calm down, vesper. Here's what we'll do: I challenge you to attend school without these gloves. If you succeed, you'll decide whether to arrive at school with everyone else or take the bus."
_ _ _ _
Vesper laughed, sensing a glimmer of hope
Downstairs, vesper's mom called out again
"Mom, it's still early; why are you screaming?" Vesper asked.
Vesper attended one of LA's most prestigious high school, renowned for it's perfectly customized uniforms. Her Raven black curly hair cascaded down her back, contrasting beautifully with her snow-white skin.
"Walk faster, don't act like you're on a catwalk," Sofia said
"Mom" vesper exclaimed.
As vesper descended the stairs, she noticed Julian and her godfather were absent
"Where's Julian and GF" she asked
"They left" her mom replied
"What do you mean 'left'?" she asked
"I don't know" she said. As soon as she was done making her vegetable eggs she served them to vesper with four slices of bread and tea
"So does that mean Julian won't be coming to school" vesper asked again
"V, I don't know" her mom said as she helped her style her hair into a ponytail
As soon as vesper was done eating her mom helped her up and took her to school.
Once vesper arrived at School, she waited in the car as she had arrived late until the hallway cleared. Without her gloves, she carefully avoided touching anything or anyone
"Watch your steps, sickly human" a female voice sneered
Vesper knew it was Lyra without looking, moreover she was the only one free enough to do silly things.
"Apologize" Lyra sidechick, Jena demanded
"Why?" Vesper retorted.
Lyra's friend, Ama, chimed in, "what do you mean 'why'?"
Vesper sneered
"What's that supposed to mean" Lyra asked furious
"Listen Lyra, I didn't hit you did I? And I'm also in a hurry to class right now, I have bigger problems so entertain yourself" vesper said
"Ohhh I see she didn't wear her protective gloves today she must be wondering how she'll move around school" Ama said but vesper just ignored her and walked away, Lyra was so furious with vesper's attitude that she immediately opened the bubble tea in her hand and turned it all open on vesper's head.
Okay that's it, everything has its limits and if there's anything vesper hates more than being touched is being stained. She turned and was about to lash out on Lyra when a familiar figure walked in
"Vesper" he said as he approached her
"Good morning Ethan" vesper said
Ethan noticed the bubble milk tea stain on her shirt and asked "How did that happen?"
"Your girlfriend spilled bubble tea on me" she said
"I'm sorry" Ethan said "Here" he added handing her his handkerchief.
Hell no !
Vesper refused "Thanks Ethan, but if you really want to help, make Lyra apologize."
"How dare you, I would never apologize to her" Lyra said
"And Ethan it wasn't even Lyra's fault" Jena said
Ethan intervened "Lyra, apologize"
Lyra begrudgingly whispered, "I'm sorry."
Vesper feigned deafness
"I couldn't hear you," she said
Lyra repeated, "I'm sorry."
Ethan's involvement had visibly unsettled Lyra.
"Thanks Ethan," vesper said
As vesper walked away, Mia appeared.
"Here" Mia spoke handing vesper hand gloves.
Mia had heard about vesper's deal with Rachael and was prepared.
"Thanks love" vesper said as Mia helped her put them on and escorted her to the wash room to get herself clean, they were many things Vesper didn't like and part of them was touching what others touched, eating from others plate or what others touched, wearing what others touched or had worn.
And this part few days she has broken quite a large number of her very own rules first she ate from Ethan thermos, and now she's here using their schools washroom honestly Vesper didn't understand herself anymore when her and Mia were finally through with what they were doing they both left the washroom and went for their third class vesper has already missed two classes today and she arrived late for the third one. After every class for the day has been over, normally the school usually dismiss by 4pm and her mom came to pick her latest at most 4:30pm because her mom knew she doesn't like crowd so she came the earliest she only came thirty minutes late when she was either stuck in traffic or had something really urgent on some occasions her mom would come 4pm on the dot mainly because she had been waiting outside the school building
Today however was different Rachael already asked vesper's mom to come one hour late which was when the basketball practice was done because she wanted vesper to stay in a crowded environment a little bit
"When is auntie coming" Mia asked. Mia had basketball practice today and had skipped several practices because of vesper lately she couldn't afford to miss more or she'll be kicked out of the team actually they had basketball tournament for girls and she was part of her school girls team and most importantly she really wanted to attend as she was one of the best players
"She's not coming anytime soon, Rachael had asked her not to, I'll go with you to watch your game" vesper said and Mia's eyes sparkled as her lips curved up in a very beautiful smile, honestly Mia had always invited vesper but she always turned her down Mia never pursued it knowing her condition but now thanks to Racheal v was going to watch her game
At the basketball room, many people moved around but most of them were on their schools jersey the girls wore a brown jersey with the school name written on it and numbers on everyone, mia was 21 a number perfect for her while the boys were on black jersey with similar writings admist the crowded environment Vesper sighted someone he indeed looks good on sport jerseys with his Juliet fawning all over him , Lyra wasn't dressed in a jersey rather she wore her short cheerleader outfit which provokingly suit her, vesper wasn't here for them so she ignored them and found a secluded space for herself.
She was engrossed in her book when a familiar voice spoke which made her to avert her gaze from the book took off her headset to look at the figure before her, Vesper wasn't the type to admire but she couldn't lie to herself this person looks extremely handsome on this outfit it captured every part of his body well she quickly threw the thought out of her head and spoke
"Ethan" she said
"Yes , what song were you listening to" He asked
"Girl on fire " she said simply, the volume was really low or was it his voice that was really loud she really didn't know.
"Can I?" He said gesturing if he could sit beside her. Ethan had only knew vesper for a little while but he was sure he liked being around her, he knew she was sick or rather he heard it from Lyra but he didn't believe till he noticed her and did his research then it was confirmed.
Vesper thought for a long while before nodding motioning for him to sit two sits away from her maintaining a distance.
End of chapter six ✍🏾📖📚❤️