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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAoUaUuZxjH9
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAl2ZCSWfBZB
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAleXrtl14Fu
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
564Please respect copyright.PENANAP5QtP38VVk
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
564Please respect copyright.PENANAW5d6KSPLDV
Well, that sucks.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAqVFMweDGao
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAPTbishQrQa
My point is, I generally don't like company.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAiIDR7cmCNP
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAhVY0D2mMGv
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA1xhtwkrlbV
"Yes, Emma, you can."
564Please respect copyright.PENANAD3o12Dt8Fv
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA3D03F0Sdbn
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA0F6wNfNHe3
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAL4KvWoNNPv
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA8JNe47DPIY
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAoahLHAQ5jp
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA2G9a5hD5zI
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA2kcZg6z31o
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAf3Y3SeOwCN
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAcvfK8lxZRC
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAb1yQbnRt8q
564Please respect copyright.PENANAQsSttwJI1X
***
564Please respect copyright.PENANAhGPv8LRzII
564Please respect copyright.PENANAfgw8TCoEx7
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAss5EVcaeYV
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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAkZtIu1bfUE
"Hey, Emma," he says.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA5DUKSsIIkr
"Hey," I reply.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA6B8ZYv7apE
"You're good at chemistry."
564Please respect copyright.PENANA5up7W71nuH
"How do you know that?"
564Please respect copyright.PENANAf5ss8CdOFj
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAZIMhsAEjHO
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANADdR1sracqt
"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."
564Please respect copyright.PENANAjhvIZRpKBn
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?"
564Please respect copyright.PENANAYay8plAQZF
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAFw6K4oYN3I
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
564Please respect copyright.PENANA3i94izZPAk
"Yeah, I don't mind."
564Please respect copyright.PENANAaZjHefo7Uc
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
564Please respect copyright.PENANAMZJzGkyRzy
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
564Please respect copyright.PENANASBBF7ZuWVC
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
564Please respect copyright.PENANA4f060J3OMu
"Wait!" I call to him.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAmN1LtV6Ltp
"Yes?"
564Please respect copyright.PENANASBF6yOfBsw
"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.
564Please respect copyright.PENANAr37ck9WDwJ
564Please respect copyright.PENANAOyrkoWvsJD
564Please respect copyright.PENANAeiiKpli57k
564Please respect copyright.PENANAUccbM3W5ge
564Please respect copyright.PENANA3PTpe3xrHp
564Please respect copyright.PENANA6CO3ETssgN
564Please respect copyright.PENANAJMDpUzerb4
564Please respect copyright.PENANAgqrwjk24fR
564Please respect copyright.PENANAToba4bwm0T
564Please respect copyright.PENANATS4mZ5j6Uk
564Please respect copyright.PENANAXA9fWb6V0x
564Please respect copyright.PENANAqwVIfXFRpC
564Please respect copyright.PENANAKso1k3WNbf
564Please respect copyright.PENANA5sHPxvICJB
564Please respect copyright.PENANAj4ktWHpMDV
564Please respect copyright.PENANAtOBD350EnO
564Please respect copyright.PENANAugcnFoj0HB
564Please respect copyright.PENANAxNYF4lFPys
564Please respect copyright.PENANAsR46eEJcAx
564Please respect copyright.PENANAybXGtlxRpo
564Please respect copyright.PENANACtBOQaJ8QN
564Please respect copyright.PENANAycRAmcLPEx
564Please respect copyright.PENANAmdAuxtje4Z
564Please respect copyright.PENANANLPssdFgAo
564Please respect copyright.PENANAbIcCK9rKH6
564Please respect copyright.PENANAbIDdhEAM04
564Please respect copyright.PENANA4ABtANGVw4
564Please respect copyright.PENANACZ1bNEA1DN
564Please respect copyright.PENANASmqdvV0Jh0
564Please respect copyright.PENANAR8XSAbP4Nh
564Please respect copyright.PENANA3vKiTAtEZ4
564Please respect copyright.PENANA0TahaB9ST3
564Please respect copyright.PENANAHfvWD2ykBC
564Please respect copyright.PENANAFzs77ypagR
564Please respect copyright.PENANAaKDPu5Davs
564Please respect copyright.PENANAuYrZmh57C7
564Please respect copyright.PENANAsESPImNs1K
564Please respect copyright.PENANACtLdSrdEWf
564Please respect copyright.PENANAgL35R5ksal
564Please respect copyright.PENANAxkQ2qqANx7
564Please respect copyright.PENANAAqo2A1mN28
564Please respect copyright.PENANAQCNenMpwU5
564Please respect copyright.PENANAKNbdVHf1NX
564Please respect copyright.PENANAz382GzLLpz
564Please respect copyright.PENANAXtYw8pymuq
564Please respect copyright.PENANAE9euG6QpaG
564Please respect copyright.PENANAYw16BtXxFy
564Please respect copyright.PENANAAsVlhjKNc8
564Please respect copyright.PENANAxcpF7mG07D
564Please respect copyright.PENANAGwoP96Vcmr
564Please respect copyright.PENANAWs2qxh3TiS
564Please respect copyright.PENANAcCZwU59Juk
564Please respect copyright.PENANALpCIfoatgy
564Please respect copyright.PENANAVvfQ8EaS3P
564Please respect copyright.PENANA5mPM1me28P
564Please respect copyright.PENANA9d0kIBrJ4c
564Please respect copyright.PENANAbVafn55xKr
564Please respect copyright.PENANAszMluynOfx
564Please respect copyright.PENANASX3fq1I4Lo
564Please respect copyright.PENANAllYZuKbp0j
564Please respect copyright.PENANAoIQcrSPBq0
564Please respect copyright.PENANABAqtwHcgCz
564Please respect copyright.PENANAGP9q4ZvbcU
564Please respect copyright.PENANA2DJipyA9MO
564Please respect copyright.PENANAUC87ScDOTw
564Please respect copyright.PENANAzQlIUTrhzo
564Please respect copyright.PENANAZXWMsdRr9R
564Please respect copyright.PENANAIPYPdcsCLi
564Please respect copyright.PENANAfiWSEBjV1m
564Please respect copyright.PENANALAYW0UUDMa
564Please respect copyright.PENANAGb8frYfrzn
564Please respect copyright.PENANAc0FfKvqGMx
564Please respect copyright.PENANAmru4iLgklR
564Please respect copyright.PENANAXYl0LrlGYQ
564Please respect copyright.PENANApp0PhSDZvj
564Please respect copyright.PENANA5urdCBIcm4
564Please respect copyright.PENANAMCihDjKJiT
564Please respect copyright.PENANAeNQfH3JseX
564Please respect copyright.PENANAE4f7LdR7y2
564Please respect copyright.PENANAUpnXXpUZED
564Please respect copyright.PENANA8DG5ofdKxV
564Please respect copyright.PENANArTqjRXYhdg
564Please respect copyright.PENANAJT6ZQNuYh2
564Please respect copyright.PENANAt3D5rOWbYB
564Please respect copyright.PENANAbvu52SVjQv
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 172.70.178.115da2