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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZeKy5ju2u
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVxI3elBp3
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbCeIO0Fv9
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsjtNCJOPB
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQPW9l8mf3
Well, that sucks.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWooTkqaqc
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGHmL2cxtb
My point is, I generally don't like company.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgA6P5ZavX
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAEqG0JSlL
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4Ad6tBdsM
"Yes, Emma, you can."
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNwSFeqd6F
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllzCeDMvg0
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm5IfMLJvE
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtdZdRSzon
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO8T1oo8KU
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ad3ZG4KWc
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cng455wkg
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhSA2WNoYG
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx0u8jHxOy
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKayAIzg0N6
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR8arc7GxY
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNbGKsvEML
***
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtRFfLcHI1
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG4RUd6m0K
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aoyyH0DDV
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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9hP6rn8rs
"Hey, Emma," he says.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWyZMHHDhi
"Hey," I reply.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtIVAD43js
"You're good at chemistry."
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCefOxfxFyM
"How do you know that?"
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcxborCfhy
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn8vV4HvF2
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ALPBjuNAR
"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."
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmC8FyxkxH
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?"
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTCRDl7rax
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt7nP1K1r0
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EwZMb8Rxw
"Yeah, I don't mind."
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu74go8QI0G
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ52vFhJP3
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2r45taBdE
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenptNh9y5G
"Wait!" I call to him.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡounECnTtk2
"Yes?"
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRuCFqdJ33
"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.
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRtQHzVp7f
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftMxg5mIkk
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgUJsLJTcJ
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMJw1atS4M
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2ZBUOHai7
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuzDvnYlQG
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eFwr59Tq6
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1nc8OFjSK
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnJjL2Tx2V
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJmIOdvu51
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWewPdzJHnH
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzICwElFqH
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk3y3q8IX9
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V98OVasV5
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqwghLx60R
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qzVZmkKvR
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNTqVKkzn7
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp7oauZN3n
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8QN4ctPKU
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSl1yICZ4l
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gmvqm426Z
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTYO2d3hin
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtI1gjFTqb
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsyhRdKoMO
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxANP3W7RjP
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSnd9U0NGQ
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNi3KrkcD7
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTu4S5cpAo
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlGQbpnake
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOT8rXyEYq
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwpfGgfZgc
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3UzEV93sm
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRI3tYVw1r
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxtop4TVCX
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQLjL0Q7Ja
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLHgnGd4a3
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhjEUsGvls
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI1oSlLdQV
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7dtMWSJkd
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XGROeSOT6
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatp2rocKsS
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLPxdiYMwz
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyE4uLsRP8
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y9pMR9po3
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W77HEF0qy
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriUaypCBdQ
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfON1bxERK
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8aASdJZZa
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUzGySTH4x
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lz4VPu2vs
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qiSQGmFca
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBxosjgmkp
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JHWGZexyz
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAB3yCzNvF
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4bmOXYkW3
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchLcZXxhHB
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD8ci9ynaE
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ASebh0UtX
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRnIAqNqHK
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjxzzVbjJQ
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Icxao4SQQ
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqZUMIz6pN
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiFp7Hqpnm
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBlzW0Veev
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJfLkP2thy
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8urUwwx0f5
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW56VdJ8w9
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0LiRRw3Lo
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEZ1TFGVW5
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn1LnDFARI
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC932Mj5ZDU
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaJk3FYAQx
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCPQcDocpo
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7pbdpOPtp
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKo8qs1At6
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZYZtIwodd
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2bXwbE405
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T7hNbJUhH
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnO4YYiFvP
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCheP8kq4C
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFtW6cGtOg
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP36nfK1q6p
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOPMRaLITc
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi460QqOx9w
926Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBctlRzqWjG
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.
ns216.73.216.238da2
