Lea
After a couple volunteers finish reading a few pages of Romeo and Juliet, there is a class discussion as to whether or not Juliet should have agreed to marry Romeo.
Unlike in my previous lessons, I sit quietly at my desk, staring at nothing but the whiteboard a few meters in front, and do not contribute to the class discussion.
Mr. Sepriars – sensing my lack of enthusiasm – throws a few questions my way, but I answer them as quickly as possible before returning to my silence. I’m not usually like this, actually, I’m never like this.
However, everything that’s happened in the past day has been surreal. I’m still in disbelief that I don’t have my own home to go to tonight.
Fidgeting in my seat, I accidentally knock over my pen, which lands on the floor with a quiet ‘ping’. A few faces turn in my direction to see what has happened as if I’ve accidentally dropped a nuclear bomb.
Oh come on people, it’s a pen, stop looking at me like I’m a criminal; it’s not my fault I’m clumsy.
Clumsy…
My thoughts go back to yesterday night when River was teasing me for my misfortunate trip in the Parkers’ living room.
“Right, class, homework!” Mr. Sepriars claps his hands together excitedly, and I resist the urge to groan as I retrieve my pen.
I don’t want homework right now. I need some food and some sleep. That is all.
I turn to the first page of my planner. Underneath the lines that I’ve randomly scribbled on, I reluctantly write ‘ Friday – English Homework’ and wait for Mr. Sepriars to continue talking.
“Since we’re on the topic of romance, I would like you to compose a poem with the title ‘What love is’.
The poem should be at least three stanza’s long and should be completed without any assistance. Overall, it should be under the genre of romance.” Well, duh.
He pauses his speech as the bell rings to alert us it’s the end of school. “You’re dismissed.” He finishes.
I start to pack up, returning my stationary to my pencil case and sliding Romeo and Juliet back into the plastic wallet in my folder.
Burying everything into a bag that Marissa kindly allowed me to borrow, I push myself off the seat and walk into the aisle between the desks, only to freeze in my place.
River’s foot is touching mine, our arms are side-by-side, we’re squished between the desks either side of us, and I don’t dare move.
***
River
Busy in conversation with Ky behind me, I feel someone oddly close to me to my left. Twisting my head, I see Lea’s petite figure beside me, of course; I knew I would bump into her at school eventually. I sense my leg against hers, my fingers only inches from hers, our arms smothered together; we’re both trapped in the aisle.
Stepping backward to allow her to move further down the aisle ahead, she offers me a quick apology before walking out of the room.
“What was that all about, mate?” My eyes turn to meet Ky’s who is standing beside to me.
“Oh, nothing. Just some kid who helped me out at the library.” I reply, unbothered.
“Dude, you go to the library?” Jake asks from behind me, sounding shocked that I would do something like that.
Jake and Ky couldn’t care less about education or what grades they get in their end of year exams. It’s sad actually, because they’re pretty clever.
This is mainly because both their families are loaded, so, they don’t feel the need to work if they’ve got all the money they could ever want.
But, that’s what makes me different to them, I like working, I like getting good grades. Deep, deep, deep down, I’m a nerd.
I guess that’s something Lea and I have in common. Well, I’m guessing she’s a nerd anyway.
“Yeah, I needed a new book.” I wave my Romeo and Juliet copy in their faces.
I’m not lying. I did go to the library yesterday after school to get a new copy of the book, since I lost the other one. However, I obviously didn’t meet Lea there, I just looked for the book, checked it out, and went home.
“Whatever man. Are you going to the party tonight?” Jake asks.
Instead of looking at me, his eyes are fused to Rachel Darey’s backside as she leaves the classroom, I have to snap my fingers three times in order to bring him back to reality.
Meet Jake, the player who’s probably slept around with more girls than those who have befriended me on Facebook, and that’s a lot of girls.
Then, there is quiet and innocent Ky, who is most definitely the complete opposite of Jake. He has only loved one person before in his life, and I don’t think he’s over it.
“Who’s party is it?” I ask.
Just as Jake is about to open his mouth to speak, his lips seal shut straight away. My eyes narrow at him in curiosity, then turn to look at Ky.
“Who’s party is it?” I question again, this time hoping for Ky to answer me.
“Nick’s,” He says, an icy feel to the way he says it.
My fists clench in angst at just the sound of his name.
“No, I’m not going,” I grit my teeth.
“And why the heck are you going?” I aim the question at Jake, regretting it instantly. My problems aren’t his problems, he can go wherever he wants.
“To get free drinks and trash his house,” Jake replies.
My fists unclench at his response. I shouldn’t be angry at him, he doesn’t feel it the way I feel it. And he doesn’t hate Nick the way I hate Nick.
As soon as we walk out of the classroom, Georgia skips towards us, through the crowds of students in the corridor, and wraps her arm around mine when she reaches me.
Tugging at my hand, she pulls me lower while standing on her tiptoes and plants a rushed kiss on my cheek. Great, I’ve got strawberry scented lip gloss stuck to my cheek.
“How was English, babe?” She questions as we begin to walk at a faster pace through the corridor. A few students move aside to allow us to pass.
“Okay,” I answer through a yawn.
It takes a certain mood to keep up with Georgia, and right now I’m not in that mood. These days, I don’t really want anyone’s company apart from Jake and Ky’s, and more often than not I just want to be alone.
“Did you hear?” She begins her regular gossip session that the boys and I have grown accustomed to. Sometimes it’s alright listening to the latest news of our school, but like I said, I’m not in the mood. “Nick has personally invited some girl to his party, I think he likes her.”
Just the mention of his name makes my mood dive even lower.
“Who?” Jake asks.
“I’m not sure of her name,” Georgia shakes her head and shrugs.
I hope whoever this girl is, she’s clever enough to stay away from him.
I place my books into my locker, only leaving my planner in my school bag, and gently close the door shut. I’m suddenly curious to find out whom Nick’s ‘girl’ is, and whether all this gossip is actually worth all the attention, especially from a curious Georgia.
“Why’d you care so much, you afraid she’s gonna take your spotlight?” I ask her, teasingly.
“I don’t care. I just…” Her unfinished sentence trails off her tongue and I lose her attention to something else in the corridor. My eyes follow the same direction that hers are glued, but I don’t get what she’s staring at.
“There she is,” her eyes are fixated on whoever she’s talking about.
Maybe not a curious Georgia, but a some-what jealous one.
“Where?” I ask.
“There,” She points discreetly towards the opposite side of the corridor, towards a girl who’s busily rummaging through her locker, a girl that is…Lea!
She’s pointing to Lea! Innocently standing at her locker, placing the necessary books into the metal cabinet and then shutting it with as little sound as possible, Lea is completely oblivious to the fact that we’re talking about her.
“You mean, Lea?” I ask surprised, turning to Georgia to make sure she has pointed at the correct person.
“Yeah, you know her?” Georgia nods.
“She helped him out at the library,” Jake answers Georgia before I can.
Lea now turns away from her locker and starts to stride down the corridor, carefully dodging around people who get in her way.
I watch her back intensely until she eventually disappears from my view. I feel the need to advise her not to go to the party; Nick’s intentions are never good.
He’s just going to use her, that’s all he’s ever done. He uses people, and doesn’t take responsibility for his actions.
I think you should tell her not to go.
“I need to run, see you later,” I call towards the boys and Georgia, before following after Lea.
***
Lea
As soon as I reach the car park, I spot Marissa leaning against her red
Ford that’s parked on the front row, her phone that settles in her hand is pressed up against her ear and she’s in deep conversation with whoever is on the other end. When she spots me, she waves for me to come over. Once I’m close enough, I can hear her speak through the phone.
“Yeah, she’s right here,” Marissa speaks, outstretching her arm to hand me the phone.
“Who is it?” I mouth towards her.
“Your mum.” She mouths back, and I take the phone from her clasp.
“Hey, mum.” I greet through the phone.
“Hi sweetie, so are you sure you want to stay at Marissa’s house tonight?” She questions.
At lunch, both Marissa and I agreed that she’ll convince my mother to let me stay at her house for the night, since my parents would never let me go out to a party, ever. Marissa’s parents are both doctors working the night shift today, meaning we’ll have the whole night to enjoy.
“Yeah, I’m sure, don’t worry.” I feel a little guilty for lying to her, but sometimes what they won’t know won’t hurt.
“Okay, well, I’m sorry if this sudden move has put you off a little. It’s only temporary until we find a permanent house.” She sympathises.
“Mum, it’s fine. Don’t worry. I have to go now, but I’ll talk to you later.” I quickly change the subject before she gets into the flow of her ‘parenting lectures’.
As I listen to her shed her goodbyes, and a list of precautions I should be aware of to make sure I don’t get killed or kidnapped tonight, I sense someone behind me.
I look up to see Marissa’s surprised expression as she stares uncertainly at whoever is hoisted very close to my back. I twist around to face whoever it is. Bad idea…
They are far too close behind me, so when I do turn around, I end up smacking my head against their chest and tripping over my feet, landing butt first on the pavement. Straight after slapping not only my butt but also my palms against the solid, rough ground, I wince in pain and embarrassment.
“Oh, fnck me.” I cry, still sat unmoving on the pavement, rubbing the dirt off my hands and onto my trousers.
Well, they technically not your trousers.
“Language!” I hear my mother shout through the phone that is now sprawled on the ground beside me. My eyes widen, remembering she’s still on the phone. I quickly reach to press the end call button.
“No thank you, clumsy.”
Uh oh. I know it, I just know it’s him.
The embarrasment is revealing itself as a bright blush on my face. Mortified, I don’t look up, but out of the corner of my eye I see his hand outstretching towards me. My eyes dart to his to see whether he’s being serious, or playing an annoying trick on me.
However, I’m terribly surprised; he’s smiling, his expression angelic as he holds his hand out patiently to accept mine.
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