disclaimer: again, i don't own the dark guardian series by rachel hawthrone (although, again, i wish i did!)
this is my story and i love you for reading it(:
Chapter 2:
By the time homeroom was halfway over, I was a sweaty hot mess. I was positive my hair was sticking up in the back, and to make things worse, my previously titled "waterproof" mascara was running down my face. Believe me, when I was done writing my letter to that company, they would never be so bold to title anything "waterproof" again. Thankfully, I had felt it drip down my face and saved myself the embarrassment of having anyone notice.
The bell rang and I felt my heart stutter. What if I see him? I thought. What if he was never even there to begin with? A second voice chimed in. I glanced around and quickly crossed myself. Dear sweet baby Jesus, if I made it through today I would never use the Lord's name in vain again. I hopped off my seat and walked over to where I had last seen Taylor.
I didn't even know why I was making such a big deal of this. It wasn't as though me and Lucas were...friends or anything. In fact, we barely spoke to each other! So what if he was here? I thought. It's not as if it matters. Yeah, this doesn't have to effect me at all. Liar. Ugh.
I wiped my sweaty palms on the front of my jeans and nodded once, to no one in particular. It was resolved. I would just...continue with business normally, and if I saw Lucas, I saw Lucas. If it was even him to begin with, and truthfully, I still had my doubts.
So, if this was a normal Monday, what would I be doing? Ah! That's right! I would be chatting with Taylor and walking with her to our first period classes. Ok, normal...normal. I gathered up my remaining books and walked purposely over to her. Only to watch as she flounced down the hall with Brady Mitchell, her last year crush, of all people. Shit. So much for that plan.
"Excuse me?"
I spun around, eyes wide, at the male voice behind me. No, surely not, it couldn't be...
...it wasn't. This male voice was carrying a lesson plan sheet and a briefcase. I could breathe again.
"Erm, yes?" I wasn't sure exactly what he wanted.
"Hi, I'm looking for the main office?"
"Oh, it's, uh, down the hall and right around the corner." I tried my best to smile, but with my nerves I'm sure it came out to be more a grimace. He flashed me an award winning smile and hurried off in the direction I had indicated.
God, I needed to pull myself together! I took a deep breathe and another different sense of dread filled me. I glanced around and noticed the halls were empty. Double shit. I took off at a jog down the hallway begging the clock to be on my side, today of all days. I skidded to the door marked 109 and whipped it open. Much to my horror, my knee contracted with the door's rebound making a sickening thud. I gasped as the fleeting moment of pain ricocheted through my kneecap right up into my hip bone.
I lifted my head at the burst of laughter from my fellow classmates and met the teacher's stunned expression. She glanced down at her attendance chart, obviously trying to place my name to my face. I stood up straight and felt my face turn tomato red. Ignoring the dull throb in my knee, I attempted to walk as well formed as possible into the back of the classroom.
I felt every single stare. I ran my gaze over everyone in return and felt my spirits lighten a smidgen as I realized Taylor wasn't in this class. Or Lucas. I mentally shook myself, again, and from that moment on I swore I wouldn't think of Lucas again today. I took my seat next to Sammy White, the girl from the bus, and tried to artfully rearrange my hair.
The teacher cleared her throat and started scribbling on the board. Great, I thought sarcastically, how in the hell was I supposed to read this? The teacher launched into her "Welcome to Chemistry!" speech and went on and on, and on and on, and on and on, about all the "cool" things we'd be doing this year. She flipped herself back around and wrote another chicken scratch paragraph on the board. She suddenly stiffened and smacked herself in the head. I jumped a little in my seat. What was wrong with her?
"Silly me, class! I've completely forgotten to introduce myself! I've already written my name on the board," She gestured to one of the more readable sentences behind her, "but I haven't done so formally! My name is Mrs. Jones." She nodded once, seemingly content, and turned back around to the board. Only to turn back around to face us two seconds later.
"Yes! Well, I'm new here. This is my first year, go me! and I'm very, very excited to be teaching you all..." The silence dragged on. I almost felt sorry for her. "...So! Please, uhm, copy my grading policy which I've written," she gave another empty gesture behind herself, "and just, excuse me for a moment, I'm needed in the office, they said they'd call me down, but you know, since I'm new here, I rather just be on top of things, so just...copy away!"
Mrs. Jones gave a stuttering laugh and walked briskly out the door. I shifted in my seat, and to my amazement, almost everyone in the class was writing...words! From the board. The chicken scratch board! I turned to Sammy and was dumbstruck by her perfect notes.
"Kayla?" I looked up at Sammy. Her voice was hesitant, mixed with an air of confusion. "Do you need to copy my notes?" I let out the breath I had been subconsciously holding.
"Yeah, thanks Sammy. That would actually be great. I just...I can't read her handwriting," I confessed, "It doesn't even look like English!"
"Oh, really?" Great, now she probably though I was illiterate. Today was no not my day. All because of Lucas. Stupid Lucas! No! Stop! I swore I wouldn't think of him again! So much for that plan.
"Yeah. Heh, heh... If I could just slide this closer?" Not letting Sammy contemplate the question, I whipped her notes closer to me and started writing with a vengeance. I suppose I pressed to enthusiastically when my pencil tip snapped.
"Arg!" I couldn't stop the tortured noise coming out my throat. "Damn it!"
Sammy's eyes widened and I saw her scoot her seat an inch back. "Kayla? Do you need to borrow a pencil, too?"
Maybe it was the condescending tone of voice, or maybe my nerves were just frazzled, but the sudden feeling of claustrophobia overtook me. I had the urge to run and escape. Entrap myself in the forest I once called home and just let it take my breathe away.
Instead, I gave Sammy a fake dazzling smile, and snatched the pencil out of her hand. I continued to write, wondering when this Mrs. Jones would bother to show up again. I knew I was being a complete bitch, and immediantely felt remorseful. It wasn't Sammy's fault. I finished as quickly as possible and handed the pencil back to her with a smile, except this one was real.
"Thanks Sammy."
"Uh, sure Kayla." She seemed taken back by my sudden mood change.
"No, really, thank you. I would have been totally lost. I could take this class again next year and still not be able to read her handwriting."
"Oh, then...your welcome." I grinned slowly and faced the front. I just wished Mrs. Jones would come back.
Ever hear the expression: Be careful what you wish for, 'cause you might just get it?
Oh, I got my wish. Mrs. Jones returned precisely ten seconds after I made that wish. It took me another three seconds to realize she wasn't alone, and just one more second after that, to fall flat on my back, directly in front of Lucas Wilde.
i love, love love reviews! xx