Slowly, tentatively, I walked into my first class of the day. Of course, I was early. I'd rather be early than face the embarrassment of walking into class late on my first day. Been there done that; don't want to make that mistake again. Being pegged as "loser who doesn't know her way around the school" doesn't fit well with "new girl". No matter how simple the students think their school's layout is, it will never fail to confuse me.
I set my bag down next to the desk I planned to sit in. Instead of sitting down straight away, I decided to take a minute to take in my surroundings. The classroom was simple; the occasional high school room. Posters were taped to the wall, consisting of proverbs, quotations, and other nonsense relating to literature. Considering this was English class, I wasn't surprised. Unlike my old, original English teacher I had, all of the others were mainstream and insufferably uncreative. Just a glance at the room and it'll tell you everything about its Overseer.
I yawned. Sunlight peeked its way through the closed blinds, giving the room a sort of warm feeling to it. Absentmindedly, I smiled. The warmth reminding me of my home- my original home. The home I grew up in for most of my life. I stood there, eyes gone distant, as I reminisced of my friends, home, family, my life. All up until that day. That cursed day I will only refer to as doomsday.
I squinted into the light, as doomsday rolled through my head like a movie. As I unwillingly watched, I could feel my heart breaking all over again. The seemingly innocent rollerblading trip. Watching as my friend convinced me into trying a trick I didn't want to try. Watching as I started, gaining confidence when I realize that I'm not doing so bad. And that's when it happened. My confidence persuaded me into doing something way out of my league- a trick only the professionals would risk trying. I ended up falling, face slamming into the concrete. I heard the distinct crack of my nose breaking, but that was just a minority compared to the injury I hadn't realized yet.
It took me until I was sitting up and covering my nose, in panic, before I realized what else happened. My face didn't just slam into the concrete. It slammed right onto a rock. And that rock happened to be positioned in such a way that I ended up losing my right eye.
I frowned, fingers grazing over the glass eye in place of the one I lost. After the accident, I received the condolences of my school, but it wasn't very long until the torture started. This, and for many other reasons as well, is why I had to keep transferring from school to school. I couldn't stand it, the torture. Each new school providing a small glimmer of hope, that maybe I'll finally be accepted again.
"Um, excuse me!" A rather snotty voice snapped at me. I jumped, startled out of my thoughts. I turned my head, all the way to the right, to look at the person of who confronted me. She gave me a look, a look that clearly stated "who the hell are you". "I believe that's my seat there." She pointed to the seat I had originally planned to sit in. "I suggest you move!" I frowned and mumbled an apology, before lifting my bag and walking over to the other side of the room. The girl rolled her eyes as I walked by and took her seat.
I sat down in the very back of the room. I could hear the students snickering, gossiping, laughing, and chatting like it was any other day. Only they weren't chatting about any other thing. They were chatting about me. I sighed, knowing this would be the norm until I finally lose my "new" status. Which, hopefully, will be soon. Verbal abuse was never my cup of tea.
The atmosphere suddenly changes, and all attention is moved from me, to the couple that just entered the room. The girl that had snapped at me dropped her purse in a lame attempt to trip the blond girl who had just entered. The blond craftily avoided and walked past. The snobby one then quickly pushed her purse out of the way as the boy walked past, giving him a flirtatious look and tossing out a few pick-up lines. The boy ignored her, gaze fixed on the blond in front of him. The snobby girl frowned, and then gave a blond a glare.
I followed them with my eye, noticing they were heading towards the same, empty area I was in. I frowned, expecting to get chewed out. My hand readily grabbed my bag, but the two sat down across from me without a word, the girl sitting in front of the guy. I leaned back in my chair, amused by their act.
The guy glanced at me, causing my gaze to stray from the two. They were eerily quiet. Almost as if they didn't need words to speak. Despite my curiosity, I ignored the two. Knowing that it's none of my business what those two are up to.
I unzipped my bag and pulled out my beloved sketch pad and the bag of pencils I always carry with it. My fingers grazed over the cover of the sketch pad; I sighed quietly but deeply. I flipped through the pages, the numerous completed pieces of art until I reached the one I was currently working on. I stared at it. It was of a girl, in a beautiful dress, out by the shore of the ocean. The dress and her hair were suspended, as if being blown by the wind. Her hand was up, and her eyes were closed. Her head was tilted to the side, as if she was kissing someone. But, on the right side of the paper where the boy should be, was just a shadow. There was a light outline of him, but he was shaded in along with the whole right side of the paper. Just as I saw it.
I frowned and continued working on it, putting details to the dress and the girl's hair. I could feel eyes watching, and I knew without looking it was the couple next to me. In an attempt to block them out, I bent over to search for my iPod in my bag. As soon as I did, the girl decided to speak finally.
"Did you draw this?" she asked. I sat back up, my search postponed, and looked at her with a slight nod. Apparently, it was enough of an answer for her, because she continued. "It's really nice. How come the right side is all dark?"
I shrugged. "It's complicated," I whispered. The boy looked at me, his eyes full of understanding; it almost took my breath away.
"May I see it, please?" he asked. I hesitated, wondering if I should let him have hold of one of my most prized possessions. And, as if he read my mind, he said, "I understand if you don't want me to." He smiled kindly. "I'm an artist myself. Well, I used to be." I nodded and pushed the sketchpad towards him.
"Don't…." I paused, and then decided to change my words. "Please be careful with it." Without replying he carefully picked up the book. I watched him cautiously, ready to take it back at a whim's notice if I feel a threat. Surprisingly, though, he handled the book with such care, such gentleness, it was almost as if it were his own. A smile pecked at the corner of my lips, relieved to see cooperation in my requests. He slowly looked over all the pictures.
"They're all the same. The left side as clear as day, but the right side shadowed. Why is that?" he asked. I shrugged and looked away. Not willing to give up my so obvious secret just yet. He nodded. "I see." And with that, he gave me the book back.
The way the girl looked at me then, it was almost as if she knew everything about me. Her gaze was so full of sympathy, it almost made me cry. The boy nudged the girl and the look disappeared. "My name is Ever," she said. "This is my boyfriend, Damen." She smiled.
I gave a small smile back. "My name's Sephira." And I felt like I had made my first friend.
