May 19, 2015

I'm not really into flashbacks and reminiscing. I like living life in the moment. Life doesn't offer regrets, only lessons and that's how I've lived my life. My very short life. But you know what, I'll make an exception for you. I mean, there's a reason why you're here. You want to know me. You want to know about me. You're interested in my life, although I can't really understand why. It's always been pretty mundane. Well, It was before I met him. Let me tell you a bit about myself before you start snooping around in my memories. I am Zendaya Coleman. I'm a senior at the Palisades High School in Los Angeles. Yeah, I live in L.A. Lucky me right?

I'm a good student. I have a keen interest in social studies and English but my true passion has always been in the visual and performing arts. Drama, music, you name it. I was never that much of a dancer, unless you count hip-hop. Which most people don't. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here.

I've never been the most popular student in school but I've always worked well with what I've been given. I'm stubborn, ambitious, cautious, dependable. A true friend to those who take the time to get to know me. Am I describing myself in a way that is appealing to you? Would you like to know more? The good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly? I know why you want my story. And I'll start you off with the day I met him.

September 20, 2013

"That's not a solution for math. That's some sort of a spell by numbers."

"Very funny Spencer. Excuse me while I choke on your wit."

"Hey! You asked me to tutor you. And I graciously said yes. It's not my fault that you suck. so. bad."

"I have dyscalculia."

She saw Spencer looking at her like he would a two-headed dog.

"It's a real thing. It's like dyslexia but with numbers… Stop looking at me like that!"

She cracked a smile as he started grinning. That picture perfect movie star grin of his. Spencer had been one of the first to befriend her when she was a freshman. She had, of course, immediately signed up for the drama club and Spencer was one of the stars. He was tall, extremely handsome, smart and popular. Still, her association with him didn't rub off. She didn't become popular just by being his friend. She didn't become popular at all. And she liked it that way. She had her circle of friends; Dom, Deja and Trevor. They all shared the same interests. She liked having a small but trustworthy group of friends.

She saw Spencer's fingers moving inches way from her face. She had zoned out. Again.

"You're not gonna do that in your audition, are you? I didn't spend valuable time training you only for you to go down in a blaze of glory."

"I'm not a seal, you didn't train me. You helped me realize my potential. And stop squeezing Bon Jovi song titles into every conversation."

"Never! It's my life. Have a little faith in me."

"Oh my god stooooooop."

"Jon is the ultimate artist. A singer, songwriter, actor."

"That hair though."

"Don't diss the mullet."

"How is it that you're as popular as you are?"

"It's a mystery isn't it? I've gotta go. I'm gonna go outside and lay down in a bed of roses."

"Dork."

"See ya Deer."

He winked at her and walked through the door of the classroom they had occupied themselves in. Watching him walking away pinched at her heart. They didn't get a lot of moments together, where it was just the two of them. Someone always surrounded him. Friends, admirers, you name it.

She knew it was highly illogical to have a crush on one of her friends, especially an older, popular, way out of her league friend who had every girl, and lets face it, some of the faculty, throwing themselves at him. But she couldn't help it. He just had that something-something. That "je ne sais quoi."

Zendaya had never had a crush before and for years she thought something was wrong with her. But this had been instantaneous.
He had been the first person to say hi to her when she walked into the drama club, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
That's what he called her. Deer. In her head it was dear but the way he said it, like she was this cute, little & irritable thing, made her realize that it was just deer. A funny and cute nickname filled with brotherly affection. She just hoped that these feelings would subside and if they wouldn't … Well, this was his last year at the school. He'd be gone soon and then she wouldn't have to see him everyday.

The bell rang and Zendaya grabbed her things, making her way to one of her favorite elective classes, psychology. As she walked into the classroom, she noticed that her usual seat had been moved to make way for a table and a chair. A new student?

"Take your seats everyone, we have an exciting lesson today: Sigmund Freud vs. Carl Jung, the master and the pupil."

The groans around the room could probably be heard around the whole school.

"Now, before we start I wanna ask Valentin Chmerkovskiy… Valentin? Where did he go?"

Zendaya looked at the door just as a boy walked through. A boy? He looked like a man. He was wearing a white t-shirt with a photo of a girl on it. It looked quite retro. He had on blue pants. On his head was a beanie that the teacher immediately told him to take off. When he did she saw that his hair was gelled to infinity. He had a bit of a beard, which was a rarity for the boys in the school. As she stared at his face she suddenly caught his eyes. Green like emeralds. And now those same eyes were staring right into hers, like they were staring through her skin straight into her soul. This boy was a contradiction. Hipster from the neck down, pretty boy from the neck up, with eyes that exposed more than he probably wanted.

"Valentin is a …"

"Val."

"Right. Val is a new student. He's a senior and is transferring here from …"

The teacher frantically looked through the papers in her hand trying to find the answer.

"New York. I'm from New York."

"Yes. Of course. Do you have anything you would like to say to your new friends?"

Zendaya could see Val struggling not to roll his eyes.

"I'm good."

"Alright. Not much of a talker I see. That doesn't matter. Our class is all about the mind. Take a seat, we put one right next to Zendaya. Raise you hand Zendaya."

She raised her hand without even thinking and felt a little embarrassed when she saw him looking at her with a bored expression. He sat down next to her and she noticed that he didn't have a notebook or any sort of stationery.

"You're gonna need this. For notes."

She handed him a piece of paper and a pencil. He looked at her for a moment and then grabbed the things from her.

"I'm not much of a note kind of guy though."

"Well, this is definitely a note kind of class so you better change your way of learning. And normally people say thanks when given any kind if help."

"I never need any help."

He smirked at her and she felt her cheeks heating up. He was insufferable, she could already tell that this was going to be a long semester.

"So, what kind of a class is this? I've already finished all of my core classes so I'm basically just doing electives. I just put a cross next to a bunch of shit so I don't really know what I'm getting myself into."

"We're not supposed to talk during lectures."

She saw him raise his eyebrows and opening his mouth before turning his attention to the person on his other side, a perky blonde cheerleader named Coral Brigitte.

"Am I going to be seated here for the rest of the semester?"

She heard Coral giggle, probably batting her eyelashes while responding with a yes in a baby voice. How dreadful she was. She could hear the glee in his voice when he responded back.

"Well, at least I don't have stale bread on both of my sides."

Yes. This was going to be a long semester.