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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5mytedfDH
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQdhz51U52
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcPD0gWm1P
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBZE1eG3lY
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW1Nz7F7DR
Well, that sucks.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSjZEQgjlZ
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB84nlH3vp
My point is, I generally don't like company.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVIOXnHxdy
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoD70FTjKk
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqBEQ3LZZM
"Yes, Emma, you can."
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4VRDfKYp0
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP784mDHMP
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dh71XvWvi
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gPXlmHj3i
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKtbs3m9qv
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgHPpyfKW1
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvB7ZNzLSn
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHYEDraagv
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojUZN6rbaL
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERa4cJ7aW4
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCM4LsQ9Gq
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1f61XHc3p
***
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeU8QKUbms
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFUvHpRExT
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUQouXtNgt
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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0rYPrUaVL
"Hey, Emma," he says.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDNM6uZ37Y
"Hey," I reply.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7h176yUz5
"You're good at chemistry."
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaDpKIgKW5
"How do you know that?"
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tEWwJ1nFc
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLBmJdcWnu
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzOleUwcB0
"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."
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtpqUrFEb1
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?"
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRXXWNcub1
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLa6lI44Fs
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxG9qsAJhm
"Yeah, I don't mind."
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde766lS2yU
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYenZ9dGa4
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQsnaMwFvr
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAQatpGKIM
"Wait!" I call to him.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16xZ20BOVl
"Yes?"
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcnmroHUuv
"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.
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKBUArI7mx
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx36IKgwMkD
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQo6Jo9wJU
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0ZTZWnQlF
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDesOfFy2w
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n96exyA69
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFBT3fsvuW
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKRPcztLsB
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV29xhcel7r
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IbaBp3SEp
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZvC2jpXqV
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELRLsLNKDh
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANjGIoQ9JP
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXNaJ17XA0
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3nBSM7BuB
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXHR0S2GiX
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUu7xPf0Wl
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq5HCGzrrE
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU3pApo9It
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YEAxTSdJk
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbarxsyGPdw
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEeyY6iHCo
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPZhZo6ixJ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhvUZQg4YJ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iiMNEXpav
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVieA2C9tc
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Uc1Mt2jw
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nk9mdOimw
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NaaAiDSq
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzp0q11tSQ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW7rGoGReN
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTl9tnE0iD
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAou9ngfl7
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcSCPOwtNY
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xv3i1NiFM
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlSxcTxJfK
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YjZtiWs7y
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO4IEIu3oa
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIVQ4DpLdz
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgAdgYugT
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTT8G2PnDa
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJP2YzljeV
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHLo9FeOH2
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLOffQEvo9
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J2Gxx8XNc
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuUYE4G6rl
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBTJppFnUq
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjimqxxOd4
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmGYH52ISU
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRdmmuqe5O
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW4k35yu5W
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡov63QrfRq9
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTeHpMQ7YO
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ImZ3AqEIZ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fToPbezzQ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23i35Fkznm
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlWQ9XIW9l
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqrKqRjt5q
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrI59NTCvf
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWaTyJrNTs
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpEyq2B42v
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdhnlzuBDE
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh18CaqzVp7
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZvSTc1Oqz
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqKpXOFzyf
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ880E1oBtFl
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkdeGuloPZ
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcvbqKkOxk
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cHNXewRMO
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGqUQHZSNz
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxoEOeqqGp
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45g4UbJUip
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKw32JLVmp
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2BmQpIZmn
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79GbBLiqRN
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszZyvZtPpy
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUfYjp4091
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDiIgComdx
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI7OFHqGG4
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw4mR2XpTI
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOwR6rf384
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3te1MEELhw
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EoQidJXiU
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicJbtstb0r
851Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHfwMvA1V1
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.
ns216.73.216.0da2
