EXTRAORDINARY WAY

CHAPTER 12

Waking up this morning after everything that's happened in the last few days suddenly made me realized that my life is not what it used to be. Everything was somehow different now. And it made things at home a bit easier. I still try to not spend my free time at home as much as possible, but now that I actually have something to do, it's a lot more easier. Home right now isn't really a welcoming place nor is a comfortable one. After getting ready, I took my gray blazer, my coat and silently walked out the door. Like usual, I walked myself to school.

I passed by Dewey's apartment on my way, smiling as I went by. I know for a fact that Dewey would still be lying, face down, on his bed.

This Monday was completely different. A week ago I would walk down these hallways feeling invisible and unnoticed. I would be Avery, the normal yet also in the honor roll student who always gets to class on time and gets above average marks. And yet, today as I walk down the hallways of Horace Green, I kept getting greetings from people. It's totally weird that a week ago I don't notice these people and frankly they don't notice me. And now, it's like they are Everywhere!

"Hey keys, last Saturday was freaking awesome." Katie said as she walked passed me, possibly heading towards her next class. She was looking extra happy this morning.

"It really was." I nodded. I was going towards the end of the hallway to my locker, as I turn left I saw Marta and Alicia walking together heading at my direction. Marta grinned but pouted as she noticed something.

"Oh no, I told you to let your hair down didn't I?" She complained and I smiled. I wore my hair in a high ponytail today, like I always do. Marta and Billy sort of played with my hair before the show last Saturday. Alicia just shook her head.

"I'm not really comfortable with that." I murmured.

"Aww well, I'll talk to Billy." She said before the two of them marched towards their next class.

"No you shouldn't!" I yelled as I spun around to look at them and sighed loudly when she acted like she didn't hear me.

"Marta shouldn't what?" Marco asked as he suddenly appeared from the other direction holding a periodic table.

"Talk to Billy about my hair." I muttered to him.

"Billy and hairdos? Good luck." He said it like it's a bad thing and then he too left for his class.

"I know." I told myself as I walked over to my locker which I noticed has a Zack Mooneyham leaning on it.

How is it that I'm disappointed? Not of Zack leaning on my locker and waiting for me. But because of the fact he was waiting for me and yet I don't feel anything. No butterflies or what so ever inside my tummy. I mean here I am, hanging out with an amazing rock star who is super attractive and sensitive too and yet my buzz is not buzzing one bit. There has got to be something wrong with me.

"Hey." I smiled towards him.

"What's up?" he asked with a boyish smile as he moved aside for me to open my locker. I shoved my books in and pulled out my binder.

"Nothing much, just shocked on how you guys keep popping out of nowhere." I jokingly said. He leaned on the locker besides mine holding his bag over his right shoulder and his other hand shoved in his pocket.

"So I guess you keep on bumping with gang huh?" He mused. I stared at him and his brown orbs bore into mine. He's amused expression turn into a serene and slightly embarrassed one. "So, um -ahem- do wanna, you know. . . seat with us at lunch?" He stuttered and I had to smile.

"Sure, cause you guys are just great." I teased. "But not today though, I already promised someone." I told him as we started walking.

"Oh. . well some other time then." He smiled weakly. "But if you change your mind, we eat outside at the quad."

"You guys eat outside?" That's why I haven't spotted them in the cafeteria before, they never eat there. "Wow, somehow I can't imagine Lawrence or Summer enjoying that." Zack smirked before giving me a meaningful look.

"You know them too well." He said while shaking his head. "I'm starting to wonder who else you were so attuned to." He told me with a mischievous smile on his pale lips.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you know, you've been with the band for like five days and yet it feels like you've been with us for a year. You already know us too well." He explained. He's right though, it's one of the things I'm good at, analysing a person. I have excellence judge of character, I don't know how I developed that but it's true.

"Well some people are just easy to read, others are not as easy." I simply told him. We're almost at my next class, I could see the door.

"How about me, am I easy to read?" He asked as I stop at the class room and analysed him for a second.

"I don't know." His lips turned to a flat line. "I haven't figured out the whole 'Zack-Attack' thing yet." I told him, amusement clear in my eyes. He smiled in return and then the bell rang. Students scrambled to find their way towards their class.

"What class do you have?" Hoping it was close by because he did walked with me towards this part of the building, so maybe his class room is nearby.

"Oh, I have Biology with Mr. Tyler" He shrugged as my eyes widen.

"Huh? But that's on the other side of the School!" I almost yelled at him. He was currently staring at the floor with a slight smile on his lips, clearly aware that he was at the wrong part of the building for his next class. Then he looks up at me.

"I know." He muttered before walking backwards with that boyish smile playing on his lips. I watched as Zack sauntered towards the other end of the now, empty corridor. Can that boy be really interested in me? I didn't have time to think it through because I knew that class was about to start.

At lunch, I sat with Ella and my other classmates. I told Ella everything that's happened lately, I even asked her for some advice about Zack. She thought it through and also came to the conclusion that maybe the guitarist does like me. But she too did not get why I don't feel anything about him. Ella happens to think that Zack was hot. She and Him talk in the cafeteria one time when both of them where in the line to get food and she had the hots for him since then.

"Why not Av? He's cute and gentle and you said he was sweet." She cooed. "How can you not feel anything? I mean look at him." She raised her palm towards the food counter and I turned to look. Zack and Freddy were currently at the line laughing and playfully pushing and hitting each other. Looking at the two of them you can clearly see their character. Zack's hair was neatly comb and was gently brushing over his eyes. His tie was in place and he was wearing the complete uniform. Freddy on the other hand was still sporting his spiky hair do. He was wearing his tie in a loose fashion and his polo shirt wasn't tucked-in which leaves the hem visible under his navy blue vest. They were so different but so alike at the same time.

I sighed. "He's wonderful Ella, but I think we're just friends." She moaned in protest. I continued chatting up with them while eating my lunch until I notice Summer eating at the far end table of the cafeteria. She was sitting there, eating her lunch, alone. I excused myself from Ella and the girls and took my tray with me. I walked over to her table and sat across from her. She stared at me, expecting me to ask her something.

"Why are you sitting here?" I asked.

"It's lunch time and this is the cafeteria." She answered in a monotone voice.

"What I meant was, why are you eating here alone?"

"Because the Band eats outside." She said, still hasn't looked up. I looked over the window and saw the band sitting on the grass playing with peas.

"Yeah Zack mentioned that, but why don't you join them?" Finally, she looked up and also looking a little bit annoyed with my questions.

"It's not exactly a comfortable place for me to eat." I saw her half eaten lunch and thought that maybe she was on a diet. She didn't need one though. "I'm doing a little writing, a table is necessary." She explained.

I just nodded and continue watching her. Now that I think about it, Summer and I have only talked about the Band and the student council. We haven't really had a girl to girl conversation before. And I was starting to wonder if Summer was too having guy problems like most teenage girls.

"Look Av, I'm perfectly fine eating alone." She said with a sigh obviously my silence was making things awkward. "You don't have to sit with me because I'll just bore you as I am working on my science research."

"No, I wanna sit with you." I told her, and I actually meant it. I want to know more about Summer Hathaway. What is she like without the band manager's jacket and the Vice president's robe? I was curious now. I smiled warmly at her.

"Oh." I heard her whisper as I continue eating. "Okay." Was it just me or did she sounded happy?

Avery feeling nothing for Zack? That is so hard to believe, I mean Zack is like Cool! But hey, maybe she just really thinks of him as a friend. She cares about him, of course. Just not that way. Wonder why?

Kate

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