Author's Notes: Thank you so much to the few people who actually reviewed the story. Here is the second chapter.

CHAPTER 2: And So it Goes

As I stared at my chicken sandwich, I felt a bit of disgust rising from deep down inside of me, making its way to my throat.

I wanted to vomit.

The chicken looked awful. It was soggy and the meat had a tint of green to it.

Chicken isn't supposed to be green.

Looking at the rest of the food on my tray, the environment around me kept drowning in and out, like a station on a radio that comes in and goes out, then comes back in again only to go out once more. The chatter in the large cafeteria of my peers filled my ears for a moment and then escaped me. I heard snippets of Gordo and Miranda's conversation about our geeky Anatomy teacher. I was there, but not really. The words of these people did not interest me. I wasn't interested in gushing over the new Brad Pitt movie, or talking about the sale that the Style Shack was having. I didn't want to exchange words with anyone. They all bored me so.

And then I looked up and saw her, hunched over timidly and clutching her tray. Her wide chocolate eyes were looking around the tables, seeking a place to sit. Seeking acceptance. Seeking a familiar face.

I couldn't help but stare at her. I looked her up and down, taking everything about her in. There was something about her that drew me in like a giant twister draws in every single thing that is in its path.

When she glanced at me, I motioned for her to come to my table. Her face broke out into a huge grin that stretched from ear to ear. I never saw anyone smile like that; With their entire soul.

"Hi, Veronica!" I said excitedly, thrilled that she was beside me.

"Hi," she said quietly, bowing her head and smirking.

This girl is so shy.

I found myself staring at her once again. I couldn't help myself. It was uncontrollable.

But this time, her eyes met mine and she stared back. And we both just sat there, watching one another, forgetting about the world around us, until –

"Lizzie!"

Miranda's voice snapped me out of my reverie. I looked up at her.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Miranda, Gordo, this is Veronica. Veronica, these are my best friends, Miranda and Gordo."

Veronica gave a tiny smirk and said hello.

"Are you new here?" Gordo asked.

Veronica nodded.

"Well, this place isn't too bad, so you have nothing to worry about," Miranda assured her.

Veronica gave them both a small smile again and looked down at her tray. She picked up her chocolate Snack-Pack and struggled to pull the silver paper off the top of it, but was unable to get the damn thing off.

"Here," I said, taking the pudding out of her hand, "Let me help."

I managed to pull it off and I handed it back to her, along with the tricky silver paper.

"That's my favorite part," I said, pointing to the paper. "The back of that is covered in chocolate pudding. I always take that off and lick it clean before I even dip into the pudding in the cup!"

Veronica's eyes lit up.

"Really? That's my favorite part too."

I smiled.

"Do you want it?"

She extended the silver paper towards me.

"No, no, I have my own pudding cup right here with the top ready for me!"

"You sure?"

"I am. You can have that one. I want you to."

She looked at the silver paper, stuck her tongue out, and licked the chocolate off of it.

Wow.

"I wouldn't eat that chicken if I were you," I said, pointing to the sandwich on her tray.

"Why not?"

"Well, it's certainly not edible. The meat is all soggy and it looks green."

Veronica cringed.

"They don't really give us much of a lunch, though. A nasty ass sandwich, a small container of milk, a cup of peaches, and pudding. What a rip-off!"

Veronica giggled and nodded in agreement as she ate her pudding.

I watched her.

Even the way that she ate was timid. She would put her head down, dip her spoon into the chocolate, slowly bring it to her mouth, pull the spoon out, and use her hand to cover her face as she swallowed it.

There is something about this girl.

She was so shy, so quiet, so delicate looking. She was innocence and sincerity personified. I felt like she was a hidden treasure, waiting to be discovered. There was much more to her than met the eye. I wanted nothing more than to get to know her – everything about her. It was weird. I had never been so excited to be around anyone else before, and I never wanted so badly to know all of the small details of another person's life.

With Veronica, it was different. She was different. What I had thought earlier about everyone at school boring me suddenly proved to be untrue. This was one girl in particular who didn't bore me at all.

I noticed that a strand of her hair had some pudding in it.

"You have pudding in your hair."

"I do? Where?"

She was tugging at pieces of it, trying to find the chocolate resting on that one auburn lock.

I moved closer to her and, taking my hand, got hold of the piece of hair and ran my finger down the length of it, the pudding gliding right onto my fingertips.

Veronica pursed her lips and gave me a smile.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

I wiped the chocolate onto a napkin and picked up my cup of peaches, giving them gentle stabs with my plastic fork as I glanced at her every so often out of the corner of my eye.

-NEXT-

I walked into English, my final period of the day. I was exhausted. I felt my muscles aching and my bones begging for rest as I sat down at my desk.

And then a familiar smell filled my nostrils. It was vanilla perfume.

I looked up and saw Veronica staring down at me.

"Hey, Lizzie, uh…"

"Veronica, hey yourself. Are you in this class?"

"Yeah. This is English, right?"

"Yep, with Mr. Treskadar."

Veronica exhaled, looking ever so relieved.

"I was afraid that I would end up in the wrong class or something."

"Hey, it happens. You can sit beside me if you want. Danny Krestler used to sit there until he got busted for bringing cocaine to school. Now he's in juvenile hall."

"You don't mind?"

"What? You sitting there or Danny ending up in juvenile hall?"

Veronica giggled.

"About me sitting there, silly."

"Of course not! I could use the company."

She placed her books on the desk and sat down.

"This class is so boring," I moaned.

"I actually like English."

"You do?"

"Yep. If you, um, ever need any help with English work, I could definitely help you. Maybe we could get together or something and study."

She looked at me, her eyes saying something that I couldn't quite read.

"That'd be great. I'm not so good with this stuff. I manage to pass the class, but I really have no idea what I'm doing! Are you really that good in English? Not that I'm doubting you!"

"Yeah. At my old school, we read all of these great novels and plays. It was so much fun."

She paused for a moment.

"…Not that I'm a school nerd or anything. I just really like that type of stuff."

I smiled.

"Well yesterday, Treskadar told us that we would be starting a new novel today. It's called, um… 'Great Expectations' by some Charlie guy."

Veronica looked up at me through her auburn hair that hid her face like a veil.

"That's Charles Dickens, actually. 'Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts.'"

I gave her a quizzical look.

"That is from 'Great Expectations'. I've read it before."

Her cheeks turned pink and she lowered her eyes, pretending to be focused on her leather boots.

I was hit with a strong urge to comfort her.

"Hey," I said, reaching out and placing my hand on top of hers. "I think it's great that you love to read and can quote books. Who knows, maybe you can help me cheat on upcoming novel tests!"

She smiled.

I will never forget what it felt like to touch her hand. Her skin felt so soft and smooth. It gave me a sensation that I had never experienced before.

As my hand rested on hers, I felt her move her thumb and brush my index finger.

I quickly shook my head and pulled my hand away.

What the hell am I doing? Gettin' weird, McGuire. Touching some girl's hand? What is that all about?

Veronica looked embarrassed. I felt bad, I really did, but I was a girl, and girls don't touch other girls hands and make a big deal about the 'sensations' or whatever that it caused.

"Good afternoon, class."

Mr. Treskadar's greeting was met with annoyed groans.

"It's good to see you all, too. Now, as I informed you all yesterday, we will be starting Charles Dickens' novel, 'Great Expectations' today."

The class whined.

"Oh, I know you are so thrilled about this, but try to contain yourselves!"

As I tried to pay attention to Mr. Treskadar's droning, I could feel Veronica's eyes on me. I would turn my head here and there, and she would blush and quickly look another direction.

But I knew she had spent all period staring at me. I could sense it.

And I wanted to spend all period staring back.

-NEXT-

"I'm home."

My voice echoed through the house and was met with no answer.

Where is everyone?

I walked into the kitchen, my body feeling like someone spent hours wringing it with their hands like a soaking wet wash cloth.

I saw a note on the counter and instantly knew that it was from my mother. Her handwriting was unmistakable - one of a kind.

'Lizzie,

Your father and I had to take Matt to a dentist appointment and then get the oil changed in the car. We should be home at around six. There is leftover pizza in the fridge. Call the cell phone if you need anything!

Love,

Mom'

I sighed and stretched my tired body. My stomach growled ferociously, begging for nourishment. All I had eaten that day were a few peaches and some pudding.

Pudding.

I smiled at the memory.

Opening up the refrigerator door, I grabbed two cold slices of pizza and headed up to my bedroom.

-NEXT-

"Veronica Royersbea."

I was lying on my bed, the calm, melodic voice of Sarah McLachlan coming from my speakers.

Veronica. What a pretty name for a pretty girl.

I shook my head.

"Pretty girl? What am I thinking about?"

Well, she was pretty. Undeniably pretty. She gave off this gentleness, this softness, this honesty and sweetness. Her light auburn hair matched her personality very well – shy, delicate, compassionate. And she smelled so good. Oh so good. I had never smelled vanilla perfume like that in my entire life. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

At that time, I thought of it as nothing more than a friend admiring another friend, someone being fascinated by someone who was unlike any other person she had ever met in her entire life.

I just wanted to get to know her more. What was her favorite movie? Who was her favorite singer? What was her favorite food?

I had never had such an intense desire to get to know someone.

I want to know her. I want nothing more than to know her. To know every single thing about her, right down to what the color of her bed sheets are.

I laid back, my body singing at the relaxation it had been craving all day. Staring at the ceiling and following the patterns the paint made – circles here, swirls there – I kept getting flashes of auburn locks and chestnut brown eyes and milky smooth skin and that tiny smirk as Sarah McLachlan's calming music filled the room.

'I have a smile
stretched from ear to ear
to see you walking down the road
We meet at the lights
I stare for a while
the world around disappears
Just you and me
on this island of hope
a breath between us could be miles'

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Author's Notes: The above lyrics are from the song 'I Love You' by Sarah McLachlan. Please R&R. It would be much appreciated and would let me know whether or not I should continue!