I own nothing. SM does. I'm just playing around….
Been so busy, couldn't write til my head stop spinning from RL. Chapter will be short, but hope to get more updates up now that its summer.
My first humiliating day at school occurred when I was in first grade. It was my first day back after being cleared by doctors to return. I was so happy to get out of the hospital that I didn't even wonder what I would look like to the other kids. Being on the small size with a huge cast covering most of my leg tends to draw some big attention your way. The whispers, snickering, staring and being asked too many questions was overwhelming. But worse off is being placed to the side away from the other kids as I was "delicate" and my mobility limited. Still I thought it was better than the hospital. Well until lunchtime that is.
Gravity, never my friend, was especially cruel that day when my shoe was caught in nothing and I ended up landing in the middle of the cafeteria on top of my lunch. The worse of it was not being able to get up myself because of the cast. I had to endure the laughs until one of the teachers got me up and out of there.
And today would be my first humiliating day of high school. Instead of falling on my lunch, I missed my chair and now had a busted lip instead. I knew mother would freak the instant she saw me. Jasper was nothing in comparison to what awaited me at home. My frustration and anger at my inability to keep from hurting myself was causing a fresh wave of tears to form. I had to think of something to fix this. I refused to go to the doctor today or to be kept home for a few days. So I decided to take a chance….and find Rose.
I walked up to Mrs. Cope who thankfully was looking down when I approached. I quickly pulled down the top of my hoodie collar to speak.
"Mrs. Cope, I was hoping you help me find my sister?" I rushed and pulled the collar back up. I was hoping the stress my mother put on my shyness, which she felt I needed help to be overcome, could explain my collar over my mouth as a nervous tick.
"Why do you need your sister, my dear" she responded, giving me the look I often despised; one of pity.
"I accidently left one of my inhalers in her purse and need to take it. Can you have her come to the office so I can get it from her?" I told her while pretending to look at something behind me to hide again.
"Oh, dear. Of course. Let me see what class she's in and I'll have her come up" thankfully she told me while she looked down at her screen to find her. I just hoped Rose wouldn't challenge my claim.
"Oh my god! What happened to you? Do you always have to hurt yourself?" Rose exclaimed as she dragged me into the nearest bathroom.
I watched as she checked the stalls to see if anyone would find us. "I had a little klutzy moment in class and hit myself on the desk" I muttered, feeling my cheeks reddening of embarrassment.
"Mom is going to freak you know that. We will have to use some make-up to hide it. I think I have some lipstick and concealer in here that could do the trick" she trailed off as she searched her big purse.
While Rose could be a pain in her quest to fit in, she could come through for me as well. Granted if done in private. At least she understood my panic without having to explain it to her. Jasper often wondered if it really was to help me or to avoid me getting even more attention than her. I liked to believe that she did it for me.
"You know I didn't mean to be so harsh at lunch" Rose began as she was cleaning up my lip. "It's just the first day and you ramming into me caught me off guard. They had already been talking about you and I just didn't think I should stay neutral. You understand right," she continued. I didn't bother to answer. Most of the time it was best to let her just talk. She carefully applied some of the make up to hide the bruise I could already see forming under my lip. Rose then carefully began applying a dark lipstick to help hide the cut.
"You did take your medicine at lunch right? I think it's ridiculous you can't just carry them around with you. It's not like it's your heavy duty pain meds," she continued rambling to herself.
"There you go. All done. Just try avoiding eating in front of them and you should be fine. Here take the lipstick to reapply it later if you need it. In the morning just come in my room so I can put the make-up back on. You better pray that bruise doesn't get too dark". Rose took one last look at me, nodded and gave me a quick hug. I tried not to flinch. She just rolled her eyes at me as she mumbled "not like I'm going to hurt her" on her way out the bathroom.
I looked in the mirror after she left. Great. My costume just got more elaborate. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open to find a quiet place.
As I was heading back to the library, I noticed Green eyes in the trees ahead of me. He was pacing back and forth tugging at his hair. I found myself heading over to see what was wrong. This was odd. I usually avoided people, but here I was going in his direction. Why? But even as I debated my actions, I didn't stop. He was so frantic he didn't notice me approach him. I just prayed I can avoid sounding like an idiot.
" Are you okay?" I lamely asked. I wished I were wittier, so I could have come up with something better to say. But once his eyes locked on mine, I doubt that any skills would have come through anyways.
"Isabella" he whispered and then began running his hand in his hair.
"I…well…. I just… I was going to…. I wasn't… were your lips this dark before?" His rambling was causing me to smirk a bit, despite the sting my new injury created and the warmth on my cheeks his attention brought.
I ignored his comment for now. "Maybe you can offer your services to me again?" I found myself saying trying not to laugh when his eyes widen.
"I don't really want to go back in the Library right now, but I want to find a quiet place to sit until the bell rings. Can you help me?" I managed to say with only slight warming of my cheeks from his staring. How was I doing this? I barely talked to anyone outside my family.
"Ah…sure follow me" and he abruptly turned and briskly walked away from me. I had to almost jog to follow him. This is where I wished I had long legs to keep up with his long strides.
As he rounded the corner of the building, I then noticed he had two backpacks. Mine and his. How? I had forgotten all about my bag. I seemed to forget a few things around this boy. That was becoming unsettling. I hope I remember to keep my secrets to myself.
As I round the corner, I slam into someone hard. As I start to fall I feel warmth wrap around my waist. My cheeks burn as I look up into his surprised green eyes. And for the first time that I can remember, I didn't flinch from someone's touch.
"Alright?" he whispers while still staring into my eyes. I find that I can't look away or find my voice, so I simply nod slowly, noting I have not yet pulled away from his touch. Nor do I want to.
Well, until I hear "What the hell!"
AN: Well, school doesn't start for a while so I am hoping to get some writing done this summer. And I did get a new laptop so I can take my writing anywhere now. But work, kids' schedules and vacation will probably get in my way a lot still. Let me know what you think.