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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFyjRoyDrR
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAUQsJF8ZB
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8839JFwVEq
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5uW0iGXmi
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw9kNFiF63
Well, that sucks.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nW7lmwQrP
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoJaAycKyp
My point is, I generally don't like company.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtg5dcuGcG
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8EHFek4MY
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwTvIkhNxL
"Yes, Emma, you can."
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzzR4oCR2w
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQABVnkLI4g
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHQYIsgKfu
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnHh1ru380
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3v7qHvD9t
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26fOz9xLfE
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KgsBWg12O
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDPVcqW740
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUFfVGjQts
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllHSTbk75t
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ9illv5Mp
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ETGwYG03O
***
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphFURIF4ux
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGmyPPG99G
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHSTTamUot
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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQineca7toG
"Hey, Emma," he says.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqLMOtckYN
"Hey," I reply.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWF8Md1l7D
"You're good at chemistry."
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1KfjfQI5u
"How do you know that?"
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn0B6pG7un
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZbxxpgRT8
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyASx46lFzq
"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."
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35jMIbGGTA
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?"
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJdSovkGAG
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsclYnBg11
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb3a586RyX
"Yeah, I don't mind."
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrhS3qglO2
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQNYPZYRgr
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6sXmLjaLc
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgLjP2Jl9j
"Wait!" I call to him.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6WmWPCAaw
"Yes?"
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNfDv4AfHA
"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.
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7By70aX6v
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpvTArNV5W
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YMz2C16kR
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTrE1xcqsi
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nbtTvxbig
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTRPMlRt5Z
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl20SSgBpVk
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifvcO8Rzdh
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKzHWS4CKS
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLG6VYeAIz
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDdHZ3YHJY
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBeam6Tycl
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6CMjE5xoC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFY0TdZMYk
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQED9r0e7MY
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6cr6t4DOO
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34nMGG18ty
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORpXd2M6E2
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc3u32NPSB
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxAuiVaMSU
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQyGKXMYEh
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYQliRWqkl
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZmtweqoif
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVzufMb9eS
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCnQvQLdZh
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaumOyIZYpE
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DqUUGXxpC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu2xcxDZw3
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uoHxz81xs
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetsKbC16Qj
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41UWil5R5o
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Av9pCKAGN
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc3ihAvMbR
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqWQp5qsed
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fKHhyqy0p
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJponTbJsxy
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLretQsqjKJ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnihIDZPOE
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV3YNDkFSX
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVsxvZjjxp
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35AFWLbqWJ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VIdiUPoZb
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI71wGwViq
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSoEXcg2ty
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lIu6wriyo
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4PfvkrbqH
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAi9TfcSqC
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B0sfFnPNz
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIoJDhWYXA
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hj127f75m
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTPWaS3Fhe
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui4MzC2kMu
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxIPN4o8Wn
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAtAyUQ6iH
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03yVKr0Z71
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv2GuxEAgY
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNSr80iafH
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfJP8Duy8m
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHn4zEMi6B
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesC8ZhlX1e
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI04NgM8YPY
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk55lP9tLN6
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcLRJxlOQL
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FLNaRHzSx
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFP3GCOoaq
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6EU4dmVEH
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuHYxfeAbg
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjRkltEQGv
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡultf1MMmHj
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYYYpgAktm
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaS5KXkzuL
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwUEWWGI3W
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz4mZOpXQd
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOJo7F2euv
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3B7ZhmWnx
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ovJRusHjQ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxr7jMNEOp
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE4AWvTOA0
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO5zdcsVCF
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5VsWxwfdG
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PBUPrnwkJ
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61DwYUidhi
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0G1zD80zV
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUbtbOpM0y
868Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdTcN3UqTO
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.
ns216.73.216.176da2
