Chemistry:
Noun (u) / ˈkɛmɪstri/
The first thing I felt when our eyes locked.
Crap. I'm late. On one of the first days too, way to make an impression Riley. Wonderfully organized me managed to miss the bus, resulting in me trekking to school on foot and sprinting down the halls to registration. Lord only knows how I made it pass Ms. Hills at reception. Perhaps luck is on my side today.
On that exact thought, I realise I'm about to sprint right past my registration classroom. I slam the breaks on my feet and skid a bit too much for my liking, before landing with my hand on the doorknob and tumbling head-first into the room. I'm on the floor now, which happens so often I really should have formed a resistance to it by now. "Ah, Miss Matthews. Glad to see you could join us." Mr Turners voice is purposefully deadpan, but I can hear the underlying amusement. I scramble up onto my feet and attempt to organise my scattered notes, "Sorry Mr. Turner, I missed the bus this morning." "Well," He counters, only looking up from his paperwork now, "Don't let it happen again or I'll have to send you to your fathers' office." I internally wince, heading towards my desk and rubbing my elbow as I check for bruises. I don't enjoy people being reminded that I'm the principals' daughter but I suppose it could be worse. Up until last year he taught me history as well.
I collapse in my seat and lay my head in my hands, only for my half slumber to be disrupted by a quiet, "Riley." As Farkle clears his throat from the desk closest to mine. "What is it Farkle?" I groan out, wishing for a moment of peace. "I believe that Farkle is trying to alert you of the person next to you Riley." Chimes in Smackle, from my diagonal. Pulling my head out of my hands I turn to the seat next to me to find that the seat next to me isn't in its usual state of emptiness. Instead I find myself face to face with what is possibly the most gorgeous human being I have ever encountered, eyeing me with an amused smirk and bright blue eyes filled with mischief. "You must be Riley."
It takes me a moment to realise that she was actually addressing me, but any reply I could have formed is cut off by Mr. Turner clearing his throat at the front, "Riley, Maya. Maya, Riley." His arms gesture between us as he continues, "Maya is new here. Riley, seeing as you're not part of an assigned pair, I'm sure it's no trouble for you to show her around?" He stands poised, waiting for an answer, but it seems that I have lost the ability of coherent thought. "Riley? Is that alright with you?" My eyes flicker between him and the goddess next to me, barely registering the situation when an unwanted, "I love it." Hurtles out of my mouth. I hear muffled laughter, my friends finding it hilarious as Mr. Turner cocks an eyebrow and walks back to the front.
Lucas leans towards Maya from his desk, "Be careful with that one, those words can lead to a whole lotta heartbreak." I turn around and shoot him a glare. He returns it with his famous cowboy smile and tipped his invisible hat. I rolled my eyes at his teasing, knowing fully well there was no real malice behind it. I hear a snort from the seat next to his, Zay making his thoughts known, "More like a shit ton of rebounds and a month full of dragging your helpless mates along to double dates." I let out my own snort at this, quieting it with the back of my hand, just in time to hear Maya turn her attention to Lucas. "I'll keep that in mind, Ranger Rick."
Maya's impish poking at Lucas's country accent, something he still isn't quite able to shake off, throws the group into fits of laughter. I hear my own laugh among theirs, but my mind was nowhere near them. I'm transfixed in the girl next to me. How the hell am I the only one seeing this? The light in the room bounces off of her golden waves, creating a halo around her face. It lit up the pale, clear skin of her neck and shoulders and I swear it was fixed on her lips, or maybe that was just me. My eyes take in her face before focussing on the blue orbs that I swear had to be made out of pure crystal. I allow myself to get so lost in them that it takes me a while before I realise that the eyes I'm staring into are currently staring straight back into mine
This is probably where I'm supposed to avert my gaze but that is the opposite of what I find myself doing. Her gaze is unwavering on mine and I don't think I could pull my eyes away if I tried. I feel a tug deep in my stomach, making me unable to look away from the girl in front of me and by the look in her eyes she's experiencing the same phenomenon. I feel pulled towards her; like I'm on the edge of a cliff and she's the rushing river beneath me, seducing me until I lean so far I fall or willingly jump. This is certainly new. Perhaps luck is on my side after all.
The moment we shared is cut off abruptly by the bell for first lesson going off. Finally able to regain my composure I move to grab my things. "So, I'm showing you around then." I offer her a friendly grin and silently pray that it doesn't come across as nervous as I felt. It's rather comical, I'm the one who's nervous on her first day, and if I were anyone else I would laugh. "I guess so." She answers wryly and pulls out her schedule, handing it to me. "Lead the way Captain." I scan the schedule and attempt to match it up with mine. We don't have every subject together, but we have enough for me to not be late to every class. But looking up at the clock, I realise we're going to be late anyway if we don't move. I get up and I don't even have to wait a second before she's next to me, which is an impressive feat seeing as she's about 5' to my 5'5". "Where're we headed?" She asks me as we basically power-walk down the halls. "Room 205," I answer, "Chemistry."