Crimson High

Chapter 2

Weeks turned to months as I finally slipped into a steady routine. Grace, Cho, Rigsby and I had formed a group, and we hung out together whenever we could. I was careful to keep stories of my family from surfacing, not wanting to lie to my new friends. I didn't feel quite ready to tell them why I couldn't hang out after school, or on weekends. My weekends were taken up with my second job as a waitress at a local diner. The pay was slightly better than my job as a cashier, and the extra money did well to support my brothers back home.

Our little group of friends managed to remain under the radar of the popular crowd for the most part. After my nerve wrecking first day at school, the popular crowd paid no more attention to us. The only exception was when Grace and I were standing in front of her locker, chatting. Craig had been subtly trying to get her attention for two weeks, but she studiously ignored him. We were waiting for the first lesson to start. Craig sauntered past us, and winked at Grace. She blushed and looked away, obviously embarrassed. I rolled my eyes. "Two months down the line, and you would think that would be less annoying by now."

She glanced up at me. "It's not that I don't enjoy the attention," she reasoned. "I just wish he wouldn't do that in front of Wayne."

I smiled. "It's just a power play. Now, come on, we're going to be late for English."

She smiled and followed me down the hall.

English was a relatively dull affair. Literature had never really been my strong point, and so I let my mind wander. I was considering what I would eat that night, how much cash I had left, if I would be able to pay my rent, and whether or not I should finally tell my friends I was living alone. My musing was interrupted by Mr Bertram calling my name. I glanced sheepishly up at him. "Read from page twenty-seven," he said, giving me a stern glare.

I nodded obediently and began to read. The words were meaningless anyway, but the lesson raced by quickly.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

The cafeteria was crowded and loud, and the four of us sat at our usual table in the back corner. I watched as Lorelei hung onto Patrick's arm, batting her eyelashes up at him. He seemed distracted, and so engrossed in his conversation with JJ LaRoche that he barely noticed her. I glanced away, not really caring what went on at the popular table. Grace and Cho were deep in conversation, and Rigsby was studying in preparation for a test he had in the next period. I sat in silence, absorbing the comfort of being with friends. That was until a shouting match ensued from the popular table.

The entire room went quiet as Lorelei jumped to her feet and began to yell at Patrick. I listened to her words, and felt my face turn pale. "We are done! You care more for her than you ever did for me. This has gone on long enough, Patrick Jane! This relationship is over! I can't believe I fell for you!" With that, she turned and ran from the room.

Everyone glanced around in surprise. Nobody could believe what we had just witnessed. The school's most talked about couple had just ended it. Worse than that, Patrick didn't even seem fazed by his change in status. He just turned to the person next to him and said something that made them smile. I turned to Grace. "What the hell just happened?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. But I do know that Patrick Jane is now available, and every girl in the school without a boyfriend will be chasing him."

I glanced back at the table where Patrick was sitting, and watched as he produced a coin from nowhere with a flourish. His ice-blue eyes sparkled with delight as his group laughed. He certainly knew how to entertain a crowd.

The bell rang, and we all stood up. I grabbed my shoulder bag and headed for my next lesson, history with Mr Bosco. I enjoyed Mr Bosco's lessons, and he was a surprisingly pleasant teacher to have. I passed by my locker to fetch my history book, and wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings. The catty remarks didn't truly register until I opened my locker. My fingers slipped on the book I was carrying, and I almost dropped it. I froze momentarily, but refused to react to the rude comments I could hear. I slid the book into my shoulder bag and closed my locker again. Lorelei and two of her friends stood just up the hall from me, 'gossiping' rudely about my boots at the tops of their voices. I chose to ignore them as I headed for my next lesson. I had very little time as it was, and none of it could be devoted to external appearances. I wasn't here to please anyone. Let alone a bunch of spoilt brats who had never had to work a day in their lives. I scowled as I entered the classroom, finding my seat quickly.

I sat in history, mulling over the words I'd heard them say. They stung more than I had wanted, and I couldn't concentrate on Mr Bosco's teaching. Lorelei had insulted my favourite jacket, and had called it scruffy. I pulled it closer around my shoulders, protecting myself from a chill I couldn't feel. My boots had seen my through everything, and they were truly a part of me. Her bleached blonde friend had called them ugly and tacky. I felt myself prickling at their words. Money, for me, was scarce, and I sent any spare I had back to Chicago. That left very little for shopping, or even idle indulging. I hadn't had ice-cream, chocolate, or even real sugar, in months. I willed the lesson to be over, so I could rejoin Grace in Spanish class.

Soon, and with some relief, the bell rang. I jumped up and left the room in a rush. I was eager to find Grace, just to have someone to confide in. I took my seat in Spanish, waiting for Grace to arrive. She soon walked through the door, and took her seat next to mine. "I need to talk to you," I whispered.

Grace turned to me. "About what?"

I glanced around. "Not here." I was glad that my afternoon off happened to be that one. "I'll meet you at your locker after school."

Grace smiled at me. "Of course, Teresa. I would be happy to talk."

I smiled back. "Thank you, Grace."

We sat in comfortable silence throughout the lesson, and I found the mundane task of listening to a lesson quite relaxing. The end of the day couldn't come fast enough for me, and time seemed to blur through my final two lessons. Soon, I was standing in front of Grace's locker, waiting for her to arrive. I noted with some interest that Patrick's locker was about ten lockers down from where I was standing. I could tell because I had watched twelve girls shoving their numbers under the door as they walked past. It was a desperately sad thing to watch, and so I just raised an eyebrow and turned away. I could never see myself sinking that low. Grace appeared at my side. "You ready?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Two hours later, we were still seated in the same coffee shop. Grace's eyes were wide with shock. I had told her mostly everything. My mother had died, I was raising my brothers, I had left to find work to support them because my father couldn't hold down a stable job, and I was living alone, working two jobs and still attending school. I had left out the part about how I had been physically abused by my drunken father; nobody needed to live that horror with me. She reached out a comforting hand and rested it on my shoulder. "I can't believe you've lived through that, Teresa."

I blinked rapidly, fighting the errant tears that dared to leak out. "It's been a lot, but I'm handling it."

She could see how hard it had been for me to tell her this. I smiled weakly, grateful that someone else knew. Grace tilted her head. "What suddenly brought this on?"

I relayed to her the comments Lorelei and her friends had made earlier that day. Her hands grasped each other tightly as she listened. "I'm so sorry, Teresa. I know what it's like to be on the other end of that attack. Especially since…" her voice trailed off.

I smiled at her. "Thank you for listening to my story, and for being a comfort to me."

Grace patted my shoulder gently. "What are friends for?"

I laughed, and she laughed with me. It felt good to have a friend who cared.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Christmas approached rapidly, and I couldn't help but miss my brothers desperately. My youngest brother, Tommy, was just eight. He didn't understand why I had to leave, and I missed him the most. I spared what little cash I could, foregoing meals on occasion, so I could send back presents for them. It wasn't a lot, but it was all I could do.

Grace and I grew closer, and I knew that she had shared at least part of my story with Cho and Rigsby. They were very decent about the entire affair, with Rigsby even offering to send money back to my brothers if they needed it. I wasn't used to being cared for, and the feeling was strange. Soon, however, even stranger things took over my mind. Unsigned notes began appearing in my locker. It started one Wednesday, and I blinked in surprise when the note dropped to the floor. I picked it up and opened it.

"Teresa, sapphires do no justice to your glittering eyes. Ebony silk has no texture in comparison to your exquisite locks. Your features are sweet and lovely beyond compare, and many a heart do you now hold, to the envy of those around you."

I read the note again, slightly confused. I then dropped it into my shoulder bag. My heart was racing unnecessarily as I entered my first lesson. I sat next to Grace, and she smiled sweetly at me. "Good morning, Teresa."

I attempted a smile back. "Good morning, Grace."

Cho turned around. "Anything wrong, Teresa?"

He had noticed my change in tone, and I bit my lip. "I'll let you know on that one. I'm not so sure myself."

He nodded and turned back around. Rigsby turned to face Grace, and she smiled at him. He smiled back, and Mr Bertram entered the room. The lesson began, and I felt the worry that I usually kept under strict control seeping into my mind. The note had to have an explanation, everything did. I felt something akin to embarrassment at the flowery descriptions used in the note. None of those descriptions could possibly apply to me.

Over lunch, I showed the note to Grace. Her eyes widened in surprise. She was startled at the descriptions, but found the gesture sweet. The boys agreed with her, although Cho did have some reservations.

The next Wednesday, the same thing happened. A second note appeared. I didn't read it straight away – fearful of what I might see there – but stashed it carefully in the bottom of my bag. I then forgot about it as the day went on. I only remembered it when I arrived back at home after my shift at the convenience store. I pulled it out and sat on my bed, curious at to what it contained.

"Teresa, you hold my heart, haunt my dreams. I can only call you my 'Beautiful Nightmare'. Sweet dreams, Teresa, my Beautiful Nightmare."

I blushed at the words, even though I was alone. These words could not be meant for me.

Every Wednesday, I received a note in my locker. Each week, a new confusion was added to the pile. Who was this person, and why were they sending me notes? I hated not knowing what was going on.

Between my Spanish and Math classes, I walked with Grace to her locker. It was six weeks after the first note had appeared, and we were discussing the latest one. I had showed it to her, and she was laughing at what it contained.

"Teresa, a genie in a bottle could not conjure the exquisite beauty that you are. You hold my heart, my mind. I close my eyes and only see you. You are the light in a day, the stars at night. A beauty that none other can match."

Grace was laughing at the reference to a genie, and she pulled her locker open. A movement to the right caught my eye, and I turned towards it. I nudged Grace with my elbow. Patrick stood, leaning against his locker. He was watching us, an indulgent smile on his face. We both looked at him, and I raised an eyebrow in mild confusion. He then grinned at both of us before sauntering off. "What was that about?" I asked.

Grace shrugged. "Let's just get to class."

I nodded and turned towards my Math class, the incident already forgotten.

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think about this story so far. For those of you waiting for Jane to appear, have no fear, he will appear in the next chapters. Until then, please let me know how you think this should continue. Thanks.