Damien has been avoiding me for the past few days. It's Friday, and he only speaks to me when absolutely necessary. When I tried to talk to him, he simply said "I'm not talking about that shit with you," and "Give me my fucking book, Emma." Well, he's going to be stuck with me for the entirety of the weekend. He can't avoid me forever.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAnNpvOKZenF
I'm in chemistry class, staring absentmindedly in the direction of our teacher, Mr Chin. He seems animated, enthusiastic about whatever he's talking about, but still, my interest isn't piqued. I'm incredibly bored, as I am many days at school. I'm not actually concentrating on him; that is, until I realise that he's talking directly to me.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAozRDQBcPnh
"Emma, did you hear anything that I just said?" he asks, sounding somewhat annoyed. I.want to tell him to fukk off, but realise that that probably wouldn't be in my best interest.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA6YIhnCM8Ed
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
540Please respect copyright.PENANAfkdoUoBC2X
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
540Please respect copyright.PENANAaHOPD0s1Xw
Well, that sucks.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA4vAWeBxshB
I don't have any friends, I don't like anyone. Mary-Anne Rosenberg used to be my friend in third form, but we weren't extremely close; therefore, when she transferred to a private school, I didn't try to maintain contact with her. My eyes always made me some interesting freak to stare at, and I hated it. Still do.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA6yckc5z4CM
My point is, I generally don't like company.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAI72aNN7eUp
I really don't want to do this, but I'll survive. I've done group projects before, and it didn't kill me. I'm still alive.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAK9wxYtVRhK
"Do we get to choose who we have in our group?" I ask him. I really hope that this isn't a question that he's already addressed, because I don't want to be that person that causes the teacher to repeat themself. However, when I look at Mr. Chin, who's already slanted, narrow eyes narrow even more at me, I realise that more than likely, I'm exactly that person in this moment.
540Please respect copyright.PENANARbZuUb0xRx
"Yes, Emma, you can."
540Please respect copyright.PENANApGM6jPM42X
I spend the rest of the class dying to be set free, and when the bell finally rings, signaling the end of the day, I am the first one out of the classroom, heading to the bus stop. When the bell at the end of the day rings, everyone can just get up and go home. It's the one thing that I like about my school. I feel like a slave who has just been emancipated, but I also suffer the dread of the fact that I will be forced to return to this place the following Monday. Now, however, is not the time to think about it.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAydVHHwREe6
The bus, as always, is hot and filled with body odor, and the smell of sweaty people at the end of the day, but I'll generally used to it.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ7rol6GZj
However, the man in front of me is greener than anybody that I have ever smelled before. He smells as if he doesn't use deodorant, and he's spent the whole day working in a field somewhere. The classrooms are usually filled with the scent of sweaty teenagers by the end of the day, but I can handle it. The bus usually has even smellier people, but I can handle that, too. But this? This is torture. I have heard the argument, over and over, that you shouldn't judge people based on their natural fragrance. However, this is not the 1800s. In today's day and age, we are not used to this.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAaxSQ9yAni4
"Jesus Christ," I mutter under my breath. It feels as if I'm standing there for hours, even though it's appropriately 20 minutes to the bus stop nearest to my house, and about another 10 minuets to walk there.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAyDBjpxCuUJ
When I finally get let out, I take a deep breath of air, relieved to be let out of that bus. I walk home, but Damien isn't here. His shift is 9 - 5 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while being 9 - 2 on Mondays and Thursdays, because the deli closes early on those days. Saturday's and Sundays have different staff working there. Therefore, I have until 5 pm until my brother gets here. The curtains are drawn, causing the room to be draped in darkness, and I take out my chemistry text book to do some work. Since I completely zoned out in class today, I figure that it will be best to revise some stuff. Last year, my CAPE grades were good; I got a 1 in both Biology and Spanish, but got a 2 in Chemistry. I also got a 1 in Communication Studies, which was compulsory. I chose biology and chemistry, because I want to either become a marine biologist, a zoologist, or, a veterinarian. I've had a love for animals once I realised that they generally don't care about my heterochromia, that they won't judge me for my eyes. I also want to be a vegetarian one day, with the exception of lion fish. They're an invasive species, so I don't feel guilty eating them. Damien actually showed interest in my grades. He was so proud of me that he took me on an island wide tour on a cruise ship, something that he knew that I've always wanted. We shared the same room, but I spent a good 20 minuets crying softly in the shower one day, because of how touched I was. Every time my brother does anything uncharacteristically loving or kind for me, I cry. Whenever his coldness becomes too much for me, I also cry. I have shed a lot of tears over him.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA076k7KylG0
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAy5ihKeotO0
"Em," he calls out to me. I know that he's more than likely brought food for me. I get up and go down the stairs, meeting him in the living room. "Here," he says, handing me the a brown paper bag, then moving past me to go upstairs. Before he can get too far, I grab his arm and pull him to me. At least, that's what I try to do. He barely moves. So instead, I go up to him and hug him.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA5Qc5pFHP42
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAfMHClsYn2R
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAIynRZDMFn1
Neither of us talk after that, and neither of us have to. We just stand there, embracing each other. In this moment, each other's love is all we need, even if our relationship is not the best.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAcnqo0h2Q0n
540Please respect copyright.PENANAwtysW2vCQr
***
540Please respect copyright.PENANADJ02LYjgne
540Please respect copyright.PENANAdczOT6jcF0
I am sitting in the classroom by myself, thinking about my relationship with my brother. My future. My stories. Life, in general. It's lunch time, but I don't feel like eating today. Instead, I feel like sitting here by myself, and tuning out the rest of the world. It's something that I've become very good at, both in and out of class. And I'm enjoying my me time. That is, someone comes to sit beside me, in the chair to my right. I,don't like that. I don't like it at all. I mentally refer to this as "me time" for a reason.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAslxJKDaOZa
I turn to look at this person, and see that it is a boy from my chemistry class who has come to sit beside me. I recognise his face, but I don't know his name. I don't really make much of an attempt to remember any of their names. He has dark skin, big lips and a big nose, high cheekbones and a beautiful jawline. He is beautiful.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAfjVWvHWhq6
"Hey, Emma," he says.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAxUhHg1p1iT
"Hey," I reply.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA20POUmVARZ
"You're good at chemistry."
540Please respect copyright.PENANAjK6aCeOAQN
"How do you know that?"
540Please respect copyright.PENANA9xOGQxRUnX
"You're on the high achievers list," he says. I forgot that the list of all of the top 10 students in each class is stapled to the notice board.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAX38cEVhAKd
"Oh, uh, well yeah." My average is consistently I, the 90s. Unit 2 is easier than Unit 1, so I'm sure that I'll get a 1 this time.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAk1APcRcYkC
"So I was wondering if you'd like to be in a group with me. For the project, I mean. I'm not that good at chemistry, but I will do everything I can, I swear."
540Please respect copyright.PENANAw9EGfadJfG
I have no real friends, and I'm good at chemistry, so good that I could probably do this project all on my own. Because I have no legitimate reason to turn him down, I simply say "Yeah, sure, why not?"
540Please respect copyright.PENANADq6MtL7xvp
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAOOLBPm8SE4
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
540Please respect copyright.PENANAmt0PaNGMDM
"Yeah, I don't mind."
540Please respect copyright.PENANAxoUfNA6DWC
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
540Please respect copyright.PENANAjAy8iypqsj
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
540Please respect copyright.PENANANlnmKQUgzV
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
540Please respect copyright.PENANAwHiYKOLBPE
"Wait!" I call to him.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA03zMqndyXU
"Yes?"
540Please respect copyright.PENANASLmOPvWBtf
"What's your name?" I feel terrible for asking; after all, he knew mine and I don't want to offend him. However, I need to know his name if we are to do this project together.
540Please respect copyright.PENANA1h4ZS0n2OU
540Please respect copyright.PENANAmx8ik0vrWz
540Please respect copyright.PENANAyJCYWX4sRL
540Please respect copyright.PENANAYfH8ac1gZF
540Please respect copyright.PENANAatcH5jwatA
540Please respect copyright.PENANAAuYLCZwn7P
540Please respect copyright.PENANADr9uxRpo8E
540Please respect copyright.PENANAQZXLsBbkP8
540Please respect copyright.PENANAgBxQTX3fnN
540Please respect copyright.PENANABiTlAEsA6d
540Please respect copyright.PENANANyfqEHBTHI
540Please respect copyright.PENANAn8ifLHibXq
540Please respect copyright.PENANAEH3IdqOHqZ
540Please respect copyright.PENANAF3oK1gaRPQ
540Please respect copyright.PENANAVz9zIjftAB
540Please respect copyright.PENANAuyc5Ey8wes
540Please respect copyright.PENANAD3GOoF6hge
540Please respect copyright.PENANAqaNWJXWgVS
540Please respect copyright.PENANAj9GfdG6rMK
540Please respect copyright.PENANAvFBT4X5Ch2
540Please respect copyright.PENANAv5EreiNO8F
540Please respect copyright.PENANAn5tKuFrDao
540Please respect copyright.PENANAtKsRb5vzK1
540Please respect copyright.PENANADCvWhsHP1K
540Please respect copyright.PENANAboI3MGHgLZ
540Please respect copyright.PENANAQJsEJCLV4S
540Please respect copyright.PENANASJ7NFZbaF3
540Please respect copyright.PENANAKuDsOaCKhX
540Please respect copyright.PENANAA1VK5euRtX
540Please respect copyright.PENANAUKO3Kue1Pq
540Please respect copyright.PENANAtyiFYEgGEm
540Please respect copyright.PENANA26IiBgJKJt
540Please respect copyright.PENANAGSKCtLtXuf
540Please respect copyright.PENANAirFenFFu4R
540Please respect copyright.PENANAvJh4BZHwpc
540Please respect copyright.PENANALnzUrJ62RK
540Please respect copyright.PENANAMY9qvaesow
540Please respect copyright.PENANAmpyUimiWj8
540Please respect copyright.PENANAbapBZuuMnO
540Please respect copyright.PENANAPsso3f3duq
540Please respect copyright.PENANAfiL9eMwpie
540Please respect copyright.PENANA2t4DX2oh71
540Please respect copyright.PENANA0pBLoTWhRn
540Please respect copyright.PENANAvmBEQbO0u2
540Please respect copyright.PENANA7nTDYQlb5N
540Please respect copyright.PENANACnFeU2s1Xp
540Please respect copyright.PENANA7glxjX7EG9
540Please respect copyright.PENANAWRULm75cFZ
540Please respect copyright.PENANA7huXxWfK8g
540Please respect copyright.PENANAwu3UWJE239
540Please respect copyright.PENANAtZyrUSO1rS
540Please respect copyright.PENANAJnbVYRT6aW
540Please respect copyright.PENANAsg7fiTx8kN
540Please respect copyright.PENANAPS3tTeRgxo
540Please respect copyright.PENANAfvfbPlaw66
540Please respect copyright.PENANApdAlhrHIqv
540Please respect copyright.PENANAenokGW4ty7
540Please respect copyright.PENANA3K5C6tDZks
540Please respect copyright.PENANAU5y05MMHcX
540Please respect copyright.PENANAMNmCnUpuyn
540Please respect copyright.PENANAzARuEJhBBc
540Please respect copyright.PENANAh2jCrhsj8K
540Please respect copyright.PENANApXzXEIzOht
540Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8P3tmCSUP
540Please respect copyright.PENANAkwxd5Tn0jm
540Please respect copyright.PENANAnsPbtXV9C7
540Please respect copyright.PENANA5hgDKej3di
540Please respect copyright.PENANATEUewiIKhg
540Please respect copyright.PENANApscX4qSrn0
540Please respect copyright.PENANAyHxeiRriQm
540Please respect copyright.PENANAciNYXigM5S
540Please respect copyright.PENANAMIKcYA9CcT
540Please respect copyright.PENANA71i4jAJfKJ
540Please respect copyright.PENANA1SXxmt0eEf
540Please respect copyright.PENANAaJLGYR09a5
540Please respect copyright.PENANALV4mzwUMWl
540Please respect copyright.PENANAPX6THefaRW
540Please respect copyright.PENANAvkqgAhn1AV
540Please respect copyright.PENANAsAbNHwOFkX
540Please respect copyright.PENANArNBwgnGrah
540Please respect copyright.PENANAjmkDcTXxAP
540Please respect copyright.PENANA7PUP519tSc
540Please respect copyright.PENANAVE8uova8Zj
540Please respect copyright.PENANA5JAZ77iDMm
540Please respect copyright.PENANAwR01ZkbDkg
He doesn't look offended by the question. He simply answers by saying "William, but you can call me Will, or Bill," before doing a soldier salute, then turning around and walking out of the classroom.
ns 108.162.216.4da2