A hot morning in Hollywood. Another ordinary day about to begin.
I wake up at six in the morning, as usual, get dressed, put on a purple tank top and some skinny jeans. Trina is taking me to school, since I don't have my licence yet. It sucks to have her drive me. She's always late, and complaining about every single thing she dislikes. She's also a terrible driver.
We get to school, and I run to my looker, since the bell's about to ring. I grab my books while mumbling a song we were listening to on the radio.
"Hey Tori! How are you in this fine morning? Really hot isn't it? Oh, I love it when it's hot. One time, my brother told me it was so hot his skin started melting. Do you think skins can melt Tori? I'm kinda worried. You know-"
"Cat! Hi! No, I don't think skins can melt." I give her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you'll be just fine."
Cat Valentine. The most bubbly, crazy energized girl I've ever met. She sighs, relieved that her skin will not melt from the heat. I wonder sometimes if she really is as innocent as she seems to be. I get the feeling she isn't.
"Oh, hey Jade! Tori just told me skins can't melt from the heat. What do you think?"
Jade.
My train of thought is suddenly disturbed by the mention of that name. My breathing gets stuck in my lungs, probably resenting the presence of the scary, pale goth.
I turn my head away from my locker, and there she is. The devil herself. She's standing in front of Cat with the most bored look she could master, rolling her eyes. I take a few moments just to watch her. Her black hair is curled at the edges, as usual, with some dark blue strings in it. She's wearing black boots, tight, very tight dark jeans and a black top that shows a little too much cleavage. I instantly advert my eyes, scared of getting caught staring. That would be weird, and Jade would not like it. But damn, she looks kinda hot in those clothes. Scaring, as usual, but pretty.
I realize I shouldn't be thinking so highly of a girl who hates my guts, but it's not like I can help it. Everyone in their right minds can tell how pretty Jade is.
"I think you should stop boring me with nonsense so early in the morning and go get me some coffee." Jade says, with a bored tone.
Cat, used to those remarks from the goth, smiles and with a "kay kay" runs out to the cafeteria to get the devil some coffee.
Suddenly her face turns to me, who's been watching her the whole time.
Her intense, angry stare, catches me off guard, her eyes holding mine with such intensity that I feel my heart flip a little. Wow, I'm really scared of her.
"Quit the staring Vega. I'd like to keep my breakfast at my stomach, thank you." And with that, she storms off to class, not even bothering to look back.
I can't help also the disappointment that invades my insides. That girl is just so frustrating. She makes a point of saying nearly every day how much she dislikes me, even hates me. I don't know what I did to deserve that kind of treatment. All I ever wanted was for us to be friends. I guess I'm never gonna get that.
People always bug me about it. They want to know why, even with all the bickering and constant insults she directs towards me, I still insist on being her friend. I can't really tell why. I just know that my mind constantly flutters towards her, like she's this intense magnet that attracts everything and everyone, sucking them inside this bowl of fear mixed with admiration. I don't hate her like she claims to hate me. But I am, indeed, scared of her. That girl is just so intimidating, and also so intense. She can suck all the air out of you just by staring. And that is, I admit, frightening.
Lost in my thoughts about Jade, I find myself already entering Sikowit's class, taking a seat on the front row, near Andre.
"So! Now that every human being is inside, let's get this party started. Torey, Jadey, up here, now." Our crazy thing that calls himself a teacher orders, and I do as he says.
Jade, with a groan, gets up and stands besides me, staring at the floor like it's the most interesting thing in the world.
"You guys are astronauts, also you're lovers. You've lost control of your space ship and are about to die in a crash! Action!"
I frown immediately, so does Jade, but hers is more murder looking.
"NO way I'm-" Jade begins, with her deep, angry voice, getting interrupted right away.
"No complaining also, Miss Jade, stop being a gank, now go! And action!"
We both look at each other. And there goes my heart again, threatening to break out of my ribcage, while my stomach does a little flip. Why does she have such an effect on me? Although, maybe that girl has that effect on everyone. Her murderous looks can probably scare even the most bad ass on earth.
I watch the way she eyes me. Her green eyes have that kind of determined sparkle that I've always admired of. But somewhere, in between those green orbs, I see something.
I see a different kind of glow. Maybe it's the room's light, or something. But I still see it. It's somehow, a twist. It's shines confusion, hatred, or maybe, it's something else. I can't put a finger on it, but her eyes give away a deep struggle.
An internal battle, between her body and her eyes. They betray her. They reach out to the depths of her soul, catching a lost, lonely little girl, and portray it, for everyone who would look closely enough. They unsettle me from head to toe. I can't help, but wonder: do my eyes betray me too?
And, as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. It got lost between the orbs, diving in between that green sea, and melting right into the black hole in the middle.
And right at that moment I knew.
She's hiding herself.
What is she hiding?
