The first class I had after lunch was English II. It was located in room 206, which seems like a pretty easy number to navigate. It was either nerves or I was just now discovering how terrible my sense of direction was, but it could not find that classroom to save my life. "Hey there," came a voice from behind me. I turned to find the boy I saw earlier in the classroom.
"Hi," I replied, a little coolly.
"You look lost," he smiled, "where's your class?"
I handed him the schedule, he studied it for a moment then handed it back. "Well, well, well, Miss Archer, we're in the same room. I'm Mather, by the way."
"Oh?" I said, raising an eyebrow. He was really attractive.
"Allow me," he said, offering his arm.
"Tempting," I smirked, "but I think I'll just follow you there."
Mather smiled, "fair enough." We walked down the hall together, and he directed me to room 206. I was about to take a seat next to Mather, when the teacher stopped me. "Hi," she smiled brightly, "I'm Haley, or well in here I'm Mrs. Scott, but outside I'm Haley." Oh, wonderful, another cheery person. Not that being cheery wasn't nice, it was just starting to get a bit overwhelming.
"Yeah, Lucas told me about you," I replied, "I'm really excited to be in your class."
She grinned, "I'm excited too, feel free to come by my classroom whenever you need something, ok?"
"Alright," I said, as I took the seat next to Mather. I pulled out a note book, and some pens from my bag. I was in the middle of writing down the notes that had been placed on the board when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned and faced a very pretty redhead. "Hi," she whispered, trying not to disrupt the sudden silence that had taken over English II. "I'm Lennie."
"Lennie?" I asked, without thinking. She didn't look like a Lennie, she seemed more buttoned up, and proper. Like a Carol, or Margaret.
"Short for Leonora," she giggled, unfazed. "I wished people would have just gone with Nora, but hey, you can't choose your own nickname. And I've had this one since kindergarten."
"Oh," I smiled, her enthusiasm was a little infectious. "I'm Gem-."
"Gemma Archer." She finished triumphantly. "I know, you're all the school can talk about."
Blushing, I gave her another half smiled, and started to turn away. I didn't like being noticed. However, it was an act I was subjected to often. I know it sounds conceited, but I guess I'm not exactly bad looking? I've always been tall, with an athletic build and permanently tan skin. My hair catches everyone's attention because it's long and wavy, and honestly I'm not sure I deserve such nice hair. I certainly don't do anything to it other than the good ole' lather, rinse and repeat. But my eyes, I think that's what gets me into so much trouble. They're blue. Just plain old blue, at least to me. My mother raved about them, though, and so does everyone else.
"Ils sont bleus comme la mer!" She would say, while cupping my cheeks and studying them. They are as blue as the sea!
I'm a firm believer in looks are deceiving. People glance at me and all they think is probably: Wow, she's a pretty girl. They don't, however, dare to think: Wow she looks like a kind girl, or wow she seems like a smart girl. Not like they did when they would see my mother. She was beautiful in ways I could never be. With her aristocratic nose, and wise smile, she looked like a woman who knew more than you could possibly guess. She was witty, and intelligent, and wonderful. People wanted to know her because of her personality, not because they simply thought she was pretty.
"We hardly get foreigners here," Lennie whispered again, pulling me away from my thoughts. "Well Karen Roe is with this guy from New Zealand, that's about it, but I guess you already knew that."
I nodded, still straining my neck to try and take notes. "Oh you don't really have to do that," Lennie giggled. "Mrs. Scott doesn't actually check, and besides, she always puts them on the school website after every class."
I dropped my pen, relieved, because it was a lot of notes, and my hand was starting to cramp up. "Thanks," I replied, turning back to face her.
"So do you have plans after school?" She asked, practically jumping up and down in her seat.
"No, not really."
"Great, a few of the girls are going shopping for the homecoming dance, you want to come?"
"Really?" I asked, I couldn't believe my luck. It used to take me weeks to make friends, suddenly it was like I didn't even have to try.
"Duh." Lennie popped a stick of gum in her mouth, and offered one to me. "How else are we going to introduce you to Tree Hill society?" She gave me a wink right before reaching into her bag for whatever book we were studying. Hailey seemed to have started class, but I couldn't really pay attention. I was still getting over the high of making friends.
"Oh, let's stop in here for a bit!" Lennie said, looping her arm with mine.
"What are you going to find in Baker Men?" Piper Horton asked, tossing a sheet of pale blonde hair over her skinny shoulder. When Lennie had invited me to go shopping, I'd assumed the other girls she spoke of had known, and were ok with it. They hadn't, yet they were ok with it, well, at least most of them were ok with it. 'Most of them' not being Piper Horton.
"Not for me, silly," Lennie replied, "for Jamie, it's our anniversary in a week."
"Oh how could we forget!" Delia Newman trilled. "The married couple's fifth anniversary." Lennie was dating Jamie Scott, who is Hailey's son, who is also, by default my cousin. Whom I have yet to meet. As we all entered Baker Men, and started to browse, I found myself in the middle of a section exclusively for ties. I grabbed a royal blue one, and fingered the fabric. Lucas might like this, I thought, it would be a nice gift. Suddenly there was a crash to the left of me, I whirled around to see a woman staring at me. She looked vaguely familiar, with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a strong jaw. I swear I'd seen her before, but not in America.
"My god," She said, striding over to me. Before I knew what to do, she took my chin in her hand and was tilting my face from left to right. "Lâchez, S'il vous plait," I said warily, stumbling back. Let go please.
She smiled, "sûrement." Certainly.
I gawked at her. "You speak french?" I asked quizzically.
"Yes indeed," She laughed, "Gemma."
"Wait a second, how do you know my name too?" I glanced over at the others, Lennie and Delia were trying to hide a smile. While Piper stood to the side, her lips spread into a grim, flat line.
"I'm Brooke Davis," the woman replied, "and I'd know those eyes anywhere."
Then it all clicked. "Brooke Davis," I repeated, "the Brooke Davis, from Hoes over Bros?" She nodded, and reached out for my chin again. This time I didn't step away. "I have all of your swimsuits from your last show in Paris," I said quickly, "my mom loved your collections."
"Did she?" Brooke grinned warmly, "I bet she looked great in them, assuming you take after her."
I looked away, and felt the heat rise in my cheeks. "I don't," I said, a little coolly, "well at least not as much as I take after Luc-,"
"Oh Lucas," she sighed, "he can't make ugly children to save his life."
I looked back up at her, and for the first time in a while, I laughed. An honest laugh, not just one that you use in conversation. This was a laugh from something funny, and it was needed desperately.
"We were very close friends, your father and I, still are."
"Yes, very close friends," Lennie giggled, appearing beside me. Brooke shot her a devilish grin, "just what are you girls up to today, Lennie Vreeland?"
"Homecoming stuff, mostly." Piper yawned, from the other side of the room. If Brooke heard her she didn't let on, and I felt a little bit smug knowing I wasn't the only one who thought Piper was a bitch. Brooke fingered the end of the tie in my hands, "Matches your eyes," she replied, knowingly.
I looked down, "Yeah I thought it would be a nice gift."
"Take it," she said, yanking off the price tag, "It's yours."
"What? No I couldn't." I tried handing it back to her.
"Yes you can," she said stubbornly, "I'm Brooke Davis and I say you can."
"Thanks," I laughed.
"We better get going," Lennie tugged on my arm, "do you still need a ride?"
"Yes, if you don't mind," I said, while putting the tie in my bag. I turned back to Brooke, still a bit dazed that I had just met her. "Thank you for the tie," I said, "it was really nice meeting you."
"It was nice meeting you too, Gemma," she chuckled, "I'll see you tonight, right? Dinner at Hailey's?"
"Oh right," I smiled, "yes, Lucas mentioned that he had dinner every Friday with his family."
"That's what we all are," she grinned, "family."
Lennie, Delia, Piper, and I all started to file out as we waved goodbye to Brooke.
