I lightly twirl a stray piece of dirty blonde hair around my finger, my eyes focused on the black board, and listen to the noises of chalk squeaking.
I was the odd ball of the class, everyone dressing in the latest fashion, and I look down to my dress of purple with it's sixties style, and black bell bottom jeans, the old sneakers, finally my bangles on both my arms, and the final touch to my miss match outfit a blazer with a hood sawn to it.
I look around the class room, and catching my reflection in a window. My eyes looked dark, the late night and too much eyeliner to cover my pale foundation. I placed a hand over my black lip, no one noticed from the make up. I then see Veronica Donovan.
"Miss Carlin, can you tell us the reproductive cycle of the average bull frog….?" his voice bitter showing it wasn't the first time he asked me the question, and I looked to my empty space next to me, and I rubbed the side of my face.
"Five years!" I answer not sure of my answer, and I knew it was wrong from the look in his eyes glaring down on me.
"Well if you spent a little less time partying, and started doing homework Miss Carlin, you might scrap a passing grade!" he then moved along to another victim who knew the answer.
My eyes find hers again, but she never looked back at me. I didn't really get along with her; she was the kind of girl that tried to show she wasn't where she comes from. I used to be best friends with her. There was a more likely chance of me going to college on grades alone, than us ever being friends again.
The bell rings, and I pickup my bag, it was the type I can fling on my shoulder walking out the lesson quick I before everyone else did, I wasn't content to staying in one place too long.
I then see him standing outside the door, his hair cropped short, he stood taller than me, but then me being a mere five foot three, he stood at six foot two, and my eyes surveyed his ripped jeans, tight white T shirt, and I glare.
"Oh Lil, don't be Mad." his voice smooth, but with a rough edge, and I start walking away from him.
He grabs the hood of my jacket lightly pulling him back while other students pile out of the class room, he holds me tight against his chest.
"Ok Lily, I can explain!" his voice calming me, I could smell the aftershave he used, and last night joint on him.
"Ok Lincoln Burrows, you have five minutes." my voice is cool to calm the frenzy my heart is going at.
"Well want to skip next period?" he asked I didn't want to do this, but hen I had gym next, and I see Veronica glaring at us.
"Ok." I snapped trying to avoid the drama.
Lincoln and Veronica had been on and off since middle school and I was just the best friend. I didn't know why I was best friends with him, when according to my father he got me into nothing but trouble.
We walked our normal route of the high school, I kept pulling at one of my bangles, I remembered the events of last night, it was to celebrate Lincoln's seventeenth birthday, and I end up getting into a fight with a psycho girl.
Now getting to the football field we carry on walking slowly to the shaded group of trees, and I now take out a pack of smokes offering him one, he takes it from me carefully.
"Look I didn't mean to, well…" his voice is stammering, and I know that his trying to find the right words to speak.
"To tell me I'm the best friend ever, and then leave me at Mark Jacobs's part!" I looked to the Zippo lighter he was holding under my nose, and I lift the cigarette to the flame taking a pull to light the end.
"I didn't mean to, it's just Veronica…"
"Lincoln!" I then raised my hands after cutting him off, "All you do is run after her, and I am sick of it!" my voice was a short temp ready to rage, and Lincoln kept still with his own lit cigarette.
"She really needed me…" he tried to defend his actions, but I wasn't sure if he truly meant it.
My hand lifted the cigarette back to my mouth taking a deep pull, and I feel the smoke fill my lungs, and I slowly exhale not replying.
"I thought you were hooking up with Jason…" he finally spoke, leaning against a tree his blue eyes watching my response, and I could tell he wanted to know the answer.
"No, I'm not hooking up with anyone." I then placed my hand on my hip, my whole face felt taunt my body was feeling the worse from the fight I got into.
"Well 'cos of someone telling Becca Lawson and she tried to beat the crap out of me!" my eyes could have burned him with my inner rage getting its taste of freedom, and I kept thinking it was his fault.
"Becca?" he then stared at my face, "didn't think she had it in her…" his voice sounding amused.
"Well it's nice to know you care!" I spat back at him feeling my adrenaline pumping in my ears.
"Lil you know I didn't mean it like that." Lincoln moved closer to me, and I felt my guard building to stop him.
"Well its ok I broke her nose, and she gave me a black eyes, and a busted lip." my voice calmed down, and Lincoln placed a careful had to my cheek with a smug smile.
"Now that would have been so hot if I saw that!" he joked making it clear that I couldn't be mad at him.
"Lincoln Burrows you dog!" I spat laughing hard.
The truth is I was never mad at him too long, he was my best friend. I couldn't think of a reason to keep a grudge, but I just couldn't understand why he was so nice to Veronica, then I remember a good reason. Blue eyes, black hair and curves in all the right places.
It was one of them facts I always faced that fact that I was the friend, and I was happy with being just that, or way?
"Well if you're lucky, Scott might let you see the video of it…" I add with my normal drift of a tone, and Lincoln rubs his hands greedily together before finishing his cigarette. "Oh you can count on that." he smiled bigger and wrapping his arms around my waist starting to spin me in circles. I giggled forgetting the fact that I wasn't really that angry, he was Lincoln.
Walking back to the main building I feel better about the rest of the day, I smiled pulling my hood up and Lincoln pulled it back down, I snort and pull it up again.
"Why do you insist on hiding your face?" he asked getting to my locker first, I twiddle the combination in, as normal it's jammed.
Lincoln laughed while I slam my fist in the right spots on the locker, "I like to have an air of mystery." I slammed again and the locker opened with a click.
"Or you don't want people to see how your eye looks." he corrected, and I crinkle my nose.
"Ok shut your face." I snap finding my English books, and then shut the locker, "you coming to class?" I asked never knowing if Lincoln ever had an intention of attending a class today.
"Can I sit with you?" he replied push me lightly with his hand catching me before I bumped into someone in the crowded hall.
"Linc you not wanting to sit with your precious Veronica…" I sound like a airhead waffling my hands around myself.
"No I think I've got to make it up to you…" he smiled.
"And copy my notes!" I added watching his face fall, I laughed.
"You know if you keep act like that I'll skip." he said in his own defence, and then walking away.
I reach out grabbing his arm, and then pull him back towards me, he comes back willingly.
"Ok you can copy my notes…" I pout watching his eyes study mine with a satisfied smile.
"You know you love Me." his voice crisp, and I sigh thinking how he spoke of love so simply.
Getting to Lincoln's locker he opened it quickly, and I can see all his junk in there, and my eyes fall on a picture of myself him, and his little brother Michael. I could remember that scene, and how we jumped around the small garden, Lincoln chasing me and Michael with a water hose.
I see her approach, and my stomach sinks again. "Lincoln you coming to English?" she asked her voice was the same tone, a mix of snooty and deep loath when ever I was around.
"Yeah I'm going with Lily." he pointed me out, and I lift a hand waving it, and then placed a finger in my mouth I could feel my nerves rising, and the need to hide.
"Well I was thinking we can sit together…" she was leaning closer to him, and I could sense her need, I use this time to turn and look down the hall to avoid looking at the kiss.
"Veronica, I'm still sitting with lily." he finally said, and I could hear her soon sigh from the finished make out session, and I push my hands into my pocket playing with my smokes.
"Lincoln, what I tell you about smoking." she then laughed, "it's not good…."
I dig my fingernails into my palm, as I start to walk away; I really wasn't in the mood to listen to the bicker of Lincoln and Veronica.
"Lil wait up!" Lincoln shouted after me, and I hear his sneakers squeak on the ground behind me, he skidded to a stop holding my shoulders to stop himself from falling, and then crushing me into a trophy case.
"Linc!" I now feel the air pushed from my lungs, and the smell of him filling my brain, and I tried to keep my feet firm on the ground.
"Why do you two not get on any more?" his question snapped my attention, I didn't like it when he asked this.
"Linc, really we are going to be late." my attempt to skip this conversation, I spent most of my time avoiding that question.
"No I mean, one minute you're fine, then you're moody." he then watched my eyes from under my hood, did he think he would get the answer that simply.
"Look I don't want to be the third wheel while you make out with your girlfriend in the hallway!" my nails digging so deep into my palms I could feel the tiny beads of sweat dripping making my hands damp.
"I'm sorry, I mean…." he shrugged, and I tried to control my temper, I wasn't going let her win.
I knew that she only did this as a way of showing her victory. Veronica loved to have Lincoln, and at times I wondered why she wanted to hurt me so much, then I remember that night, and then know why.
"I'm just not sure what I am to you Lincoln." my voice dull, and I looked to the class room coming into view.
"You're my best friend Lillian; please don't be mad, I promise no more making out in front of you…" he held his hand up, "Scouts honour!"
I laugh pushing him closer to the class, "you never were a scout!" I spit out, and he joins in laughing.
"No but Michael's one…" he then smiled following me in the class.
Then English class was the same, and a part of me wished I'd skipped this lesson. I find a folded up piece of paper on my note book, and I smiled opening it o the sly.
Want to come round mine tonight?
I look over the note before picking up my pen, my eyes turning to see Veronica, and her friends staring at me, then the note on my desk.
Is she going to be there?
I try not to push the pen too deep into the paper, and I couldn't control the sudden feeling of lumps rising in my throat. The last thing I wasn't was to sit round playing chess with Michael while Lincoln and Veronica made out.
I slid the note back to him, then paying attention to Miss Bostel talk about the themes in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Lincoln quickly glanced towards Veronica, then back to me. His hand finding his pen, but kept his eyes up and I looked down to see the note back. I open it quickly to see.
No she's got glee club, so just me you, Michael has chess club.
Please come, I'll order pizza!
I laugh lightly to the note, I knew fully well now why Veronica wasn't so happy, in all the after school activities, and homework, me and Lincoln did spend the most time together.
I picked up the pen, and kept my eyes forward, then thought to myself how Lincoln and I have mastered the note passing game.
FINE! Temp me with pizza, better have soda and you win, dope head!
Lincoln opened the note, and then lightly nudged my feet with his, his hand lightly touching my arm.
"I always win Lil…." his eyes wide pointing to the clock, "want to pick Michael up for me please."
I then turn seeing her sick smile, "yeah sure!" I snapped now looking to the piece of paper.
You know you love me.
I tuck the note away and again the sinking feeling continues…