Persistent beeping of my alarm finally wakes me up. I groan and pull the blanket over my head after silencing it. My head hurts and I can barely keep my eyes open already and not even a minute passed after waking up.
"Bonnie, get out of the bed or you'll be late!" I hear my father's voice coming from downstairs and it makes me nearly jump in my bed.
My fatigue was so overpowering that I completely forgot it's Monday and that my life as a student starts today. Again.
I force myself out of the bet, cringing when my feet touch the cold floor. I welcome the coolness, though, hoping that it will be what keeps me awake today.
It seems that the mirror is taunting me as I examine my reflection in it. I run my fingers through my hair and brush them across my eyes that feel puffy. I'm not a pretty sight and it's more than obvious that I look tired as hell. My dark complexion looks considerably paler and if I cared but at all about how I look to others, I would be worried.
But instead I tie my hair in a messy bun and slip into blue jeans and loose sweater before making it downstairs. I know that I'm not here to get a boyfriend or be the high school queen. And it makes it so much easier not to care about how I look.
Dad takes me to school and wishes me luck before driving off. I know it's a big day for him too and it makes it somewhat easier for me, knowing that we will have what to talk about back at home this evening. If anything, I'm happy that he has what to take his mind off of what has happened with. My anxiety fades in comparison.
"Move! You're blocking the way!" I hear and before I can react someone nudges me with an elbow and hurries to school. Lost in thought I completely forgot that I was standing in the middle of the sidewalk, creating inconvenience. My eyes follow the boy as I frown and rub my side, it doesn't hurt, but it also wouldn't hurt him to be more civilized, now would it?
So far I'm not impressed by this town or people that much. Off course, there was one exception, but unless I want to frequent a local watering hole, I was stuck with kids that were either rude or plain creepy.
I push the memories as far away as possible and finally start walking towards the building. First thing that awaits is a visit to the administration and then I'll have many hours to survive before I can get home and catch up on sleep that I missed so terribly.
After a pleasant little conversation with Mrs. Finch, she hands me my schedule for the semester and wishes me luck. I leave her office that smells of cinnamon and orange and step back into the crowded hallway. I still have fifteen minutes until the class starts, but I decide not to waste time and head to the classroom instead.
"Hey! Bonnie!" I hear a familiar voice behind me calling out my name and I spin on my heel immediately, causing Matt to almost knock me over.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't think you heard me." He apologizes, catching me as I stumble and helping me to steady up.
"I'm just glad I didn't end up on the ground on my first day." I answer witch a chuckle which makes him join me too. Little shade of worry is gone and he looks like his cheerful self I met in the bar again. "I didn't know you were still in school."
"Yeah. Student by day, bartender by night." He says with another chuckle. I notice dimples in his cheeks and how comforting it is to have him laugh.
"If anything, it sounds exciting." I remark and smile. "I was thinking about getting a job too. It's time to start being a responsible person."
I see his eyes widen and it makes me guess just what exactly is he thinking. And yet before I even start parting my lips, two girls emerge from the crowd and run to us. The blonde one wraps her arm around his and the brunette rolls her eyes just slightly.
"Hi, I'm Caroline!" The blonde almost screeches and it makes my eyebrow shoot up. I'm not used to such cheerfulness and my pounding head doesn't help me stomach loud noises just yet.
"Oh yeah. This is Caroline and she is Elena." Matt finally speaks, looking just a tad uncomfortable by having to be the one who introduces us. I nod. "And her name is Bonnie. She is new here."
"Weeeeeeell, I bet you will have tons of fun here!" Caroline almost jumps up and down and it makes me wonder where she gets all her energy from. If it comes in a shape of a pill, I'm almost tempted to ask her to hook me up.
"Or you will study hard and have a bit less fun because not everything is a never ending party, Caroline." Elena speaks and I immediately start liking her. She looks more calm and collected, but a little smile that's playing on her lips is what makes me certain that she's not like that because she's grumpy. I would call it maturity.
"Let's get going. Class starts in few minutes." Matt speaks and drags Caroline – who is still holding to his arm – away. She mumbles at Elena who casts me another look and mouths a good luck before joining them.
I watch them disappear, thinking that, despite everything, I might actually enjoy this school. Quirky and all.
I almost run to the classroom and only once I'm inside and aware that I'm not late I start breathing again. Others look at me, some indifferent, others trying to hide a chuckle, but it doesn't bother me at all. I see two empty seats in the first row and take a seat before getting ready for class.
I fish a history book out of my bag and place it neatly on the table before doing the same with my notebook and a pen. I wouldn't call myself a control freak, but having everything tidy and done my own way makes me feel better.
The bell rings and the teacher is still not there. While the others take it as a chance to share gossip, I open up the book and start reading. I don't want to turn too much attention and so busying myself with the book is a far better alternative than to sit there looking at others.
I get so focused on what's written that only few moments later do I realize that someone is casting a shadow on white pages and my table. Even though socializing is the farthest thing, curiosity takes over and I tilt my head to look at the one who's blocking the light only to feel my heart dropping.
Standing there, right next to me is Kai. The one I saw yesterday, the one I dreamt of today. Even in the environment where I know I'm safe, he makes me feel terrified. Something about his gaze is chilling and I can't help it but shiver slightly.
"You're in my seat." I hear him say, but his words sound like an echo.
I always laughed at those scenes at movies where, if someone dramatic happens, voices are distorted to fit the setting. It seemed so unrealistic to me. Or so it was until this moment.
"Didn't you hear me?" He questions again, eyebrows rising up, however not as a sign of interest. He looks rather annoyed.
"I'm… I'm sorry." My voice cracks as I croak an apology and stand up. Even though there is a seat right next to him, I instantly start looking around for one as far away as possible. Every each one seems to be taken and, more than that, it seems like this little scene we caused caught everybody's attention. I would blush if I wasn't petrified.
Unwillingly I take a seat next to him and bury myself in the book again. It's only a cover as I'm too distracted to pay any attention at what's written. I try to steal a glance at his direction, but once my gaze travels to the side, I see him staring at me and it makes me dart my eyes down.
What the hell?
I can almost feel his gaze burning the side of my head and as I glance once more, his eyes are still on me. This time, however, I see his lips curved in a little smirk, that looks even more unsettling. It doesn't remind me of Matt's smile but at all. Whilst Matt looked cheerful and soothing when he smiled, this boy was positively frightening. It was like his smile was a messenger of all evil.
"Good morning, class! Sorry I'm late." I hear the voice and turn my head to the door. I can feel Kai's eyes leave me as he does the same and I exhale thanking the teacher for his good timing. I relax just slightly in my seat and promise myself not to pay attention to whatever that creep was doing.
"Well, who can remind me where we finished off?" I fight the instinct to lift my hand as I always do, reminding myself that I'm new here and this question is not for me to answer. Yet.
"Mr. Saltzman?" I hear deep lazy voice coming from my left and I immediately know whom it belongs to. I notice how his tone carries something else. Glee. "I think the new girl should introduce herself."
My jaw drops and I immediately look at him in awe. He just ruined my plan to sit here unnoticed and do what I came here to do – learn. But instead he pushed me into public humiliation as I hated these introductions the most. I've done fair share of them before and I hated each and every time I had to do so.
"Sure. Bonnie, is it?" The teacher calls me and I see Kai grin as he does so. His gaze meets mine and he's nothing but amused at my bewildered expression. After a second of staring he winks.
That bastard.