Chapter 2
I stood frozen in my tracks. Their aura paralyzed me. My heartbeat sped up at the sight. Danny gazed at me intensely wanting our eyes to connect. I never afforded him the pleasure. I was about to pass them without saying anything but Jo had the audacity to call me. "Hey, Lacey" she said with a conniving grin that creased her peach blushed ivory cheek. She was wearing a black lace dress with thick pleats. Gone were those horrendous brown cowboy boots she wore and the infamous yellow sweater she wore like it was the structured uniform. It seemed she developed a sense of style in a quick minute. Was she flashing Danny like a piece of commodity, indirectly telling me she had won? Lumps began forming in my throat and I found it hard to swallow. Jo did not hear a response thus Danny attempted to repeat the same gesture. Before, Danny could finish the sentence, I replied " Jo and Danny", I sighed sarcastically, "What do you want from me? Why are you even in front of me? How dare you look me in the face and attempt to talk to me"? "You know what Ms. Lavsky is waiting for me, and I still have to get prepared for class with Mrs. Fisk my Psychology teacher." It may have been god, it may have been the lucky stars but I was grateful that neither were in my Psychology class. As I retreated from their presence, I felt somewhat nauseous, however I was angrier at myself for letting these two make me feel less than human. Angry that Jo knew that I was still in love with him. Danny knew also, how could he pierce my heart and did not show one hint of remorse? No later, I knock on the door that housed Ms. Lavsky's cubicle. "Lacey come in." She too non verbally expressed the gesture. She told me to take a seat and so I did.
Ms. Porter, she look at me with concerned eyes, "Is everything okay"? she inquired. I smiled sweetly and said yes, I am fine. "Ms. Porter, I've notice a steady decline in your school." "The quality of work you now handing is quickly deteriorating, what's wrong, what really wrong?" It was evident concerned was laced with her voice. I sighed, "it's just that I haven't been able to study, I have so much going on." "That is not an excuse, Ms. Porter, you are still a child"! "What burden can you be carrying?" "It—its nothing maam". "Lacey, I can help you if you do not state what's wrong with you." "Ms. Lavsky, not to be disrespectful I wish not to share with you what is going on with me, I am a strong girl, I'll figure it out."
I needed to get away from that space that my body was currently occupying, I hated the constant questioning, and I hated displaying emotions. It felt easier to keep them bottled up rather than showing them at the surface. I needed to devise a quick plan to get out of this predicament. I soon hear the principal's voice over the intercom, informing the teachers who were on the management team to meet in the teacher's conferencing room in five minutes to discuss important matters. As soon as the message was heard, Ms. Lavsky, announced that it was her cue to get prepared for the meeting. A smirk spread across my caramel blushed face, I was happy to get away.
" You may leave, Ms. Porter." I quickly came from the seat and headed for the door. I began walking down the hallway of Green Grove High, which should be empty, however, I hear footsteps approaching me. As I looked behind, I see a beautiful stranger. His attire reflected that he was wealthy, his mannerism reflected that he was well trained and possessed etiquette and just the way he stood there dumfounded looking at his new locker amused and I gave a slight chuckle. I contemplated moving closer to this beautiful stranger, however my feet won the challenge and I stood in front of him. "Hey" he said to me. All I could say in that moment was " I've never seen a guy with dimples before," as I smiled he noticed mine, he said " I never seen a girl as beautiful as you with dimples before". Though it was cheesy my timid smile turned into a hearty grin. I extended my hand to him, "My name is Lacey." That's a beautiful name he said. Well, mine is Dustin. "Nice to meet you Dustin." "Do you mind, showing me to my next class, this place is so huge, unlike my previou0s school"? " Ummm according to this time table, I have Psychology with Mr. Dubois."
"It's down the hall, the last door on the right." "It's room 502." "You know what I'll just show you." As I began to walk, his hand grabbed the small of my waist, I jumped at the boldness he portrayed in executing that action. He lightly chuckled and said he was sorry. "Hey, I know we've just met but I really don't want to eat my lunch by myself". "Can I join you?" His face exactly copied the way Danny's face would turn into a cute pout, anytime he wanted something. I almost leaned to touch his face, however my functioning part of my brain kicked in. "Were you going to touch my face?" He enquired. " No, no, no I was just stretching my wrist". He taunted me by saying OOokay, Laaceey in a slow tone. "Hey enough chatter, both you and me are already late, let's get to class." "Hey and for lunch, I eat in the school's gazebo located next to the library. I like the breeze in the spring caressing my face. He smiled at me. See you at lunch.
As I entered the class, I felt the eyes of a boy undressing me. I felt if I was ever close to him he would reach out to touch me. I tried my best to look away from that corner but my eyes betrayed me. A soft smile was warped across his ruggedly handsome face. I look at him for a second or two then diverted my gaze. I sighed, Archie was always good to me, he would have never subjected me to the humiliation Danny and Jo sustained me. I sat in my seat and observed my immediate surroundings. I could hear Mr. Derrick the new coach shouting across the field to the students engaging in Physical Education. "Ms. Porter" I hear my name roughly called on Mrs. Fisk lips. It forced me to sit up right in the chair. I thought I lost you for a minute there". I am so sorry Mrs. Fisk. I'll pay attention. Today's class will address the issue of handling one's emotions. Ms. Fisk, posed a question "Class, now how do you release all the pent up frustration you have inside? None other than the class clown's response was "sex". Mrs. Fisk gasps at the answer. The room was filled with a haughty laughter and the jocks giving each other "high fives". "Come on, settle down". Mrs. Fisk closed in her gave on the clown. Now Jerome, other than sex, is there any other way we can channel our anger or frustration? She uttered this words with a stern voice and the wrinkles on her face most apparent. She tapped her feet, waiting for his response. I prayed she would not ask me to share in the discussion but the universe has a way of playing tricks on me. "Lacey?" "Huh, Ms. Fisk". Ummm… I took a few seconds to recollect my thoughts. You can do so by talking to guidance counselor or someone you trust. "Good response" Lacey.
These minutes feel like hours as time elapsed. I was eager to meet what's his name again, ummmm Justin, No, Dustin. The bell rung for lunch and I excitedly packed my books and stationeries in my school bag. "Remember that next class is integration week, where everyone who does the same course all meet in the same room to share and discuss what they have learnt". "We also have a treat for you if you behave". Mrs. Fisk reminded us. "Ugh, I have to be in a room where the Mr and Mrs. Exclusive presence would be known? Where she at the most would try to flash their so called relationship in my face." "I wonder if he's happy, this simple thought caressed my mind, Lacey stop it, don't think that way. Remember you have to forget him, you have to forget them. These thoughts running through my mind seemed to paralyse me, Mrs. Fisk called my name. I snapped to reality in a millisecond. Lacey, you are zoning out too fast it seems like too much is going on. "Do you want to talk about it?" "No maam!" If you say so, Lacey. I speedily walked out the door.
I don't think my day can get any worse from here, I tell myself as I walked gleefully along the walls of Green grove high. I need to meet Dustin before he thinks I forgot. As I get near the exit I feel a hand grab my wrist and pull me into this fairly lit space. This room seemed to be filled with dust as I sneezed repeatedly. No sooner, fear came over me, Where was I? Who pulled me in here? I tried to feel for the door that I was pressed up against but it was locked. "Let me out, let me out, let me out, whoever you are." " I just can't do that just yet" I hear the person finally say. The voice seemed all too familiar, it sounded a little sinister but it was still very familiar. "Danny is that you?" "If that's you please unlock the door and let me leave". "Why drag me into this room? "Hey, Lace next time, I touch you please don't be so resilient." The all familiar voice sounded his thought. I now know that it is him. As he speaks his footsteps gets closer and closer. "Lacey Porter" he uttered. His hand place the stranded curl back into its place. "Don't touch me". " Are you sure, as a hand lifted my chin to search for that something my eyes. " Charlie?" I gasped, I was even more frightened before I assumed it was Danny. Charlie I thought you were…. "Dead" he finished the sentence. " Yea, I have been hiding in this room from since the start of school because I needed to talk to you." "What for?" "I think we can break a deal here." My so called sister is now dating your ex-boyfriend. I believe we can both work together to make their lives a living hell. "You know, Charlie if it was yesterday, I would have taken up on your offer, so I guess you are a day late." Charlie, raised his hand to smack me, however my eyes communicated to him that if he dared things would be pretty. My expression crippled his actions.
"Charlie, as much as I hate the two bastards right now, I am not wasting my efforts on trying to hurt them." "I wish they could suffer each day believe me for what they are doing to me". Jo fully knew, I was never over Danny and still… "Isn't?" he yet again closes my pending sentence. I hung my head, my heart still screamed Danny Desai even though I wanted to physically hurt him and Jo to try and eradicate some of emotional pain they caused me. "Charlie, please unlock the door, I need to eat, and I need to have my lunch. "You do have your lunch with you, eat in here and share with me because I am starving." I did not even bother to entertain his suggestion. I pulled my cellphone out, however with a force he rid the cellphone from my hand and it was on the floor with a shattered screen. I was steaming mad." Look, I am sorry about your phone but I could not risk you calling anyone and any teacher finding out I am here because I am on the run and the police is searching for me." "Charlie, I swear to God if you don't unlock this f***ing door you'll wish you were in jail rather than here." I got more agitated as he chose to ignore my pleas. 'If I open this door promise me to return after school, with something to eat." He already took note of my facial exchange and evoked, that new friend of yours, if you want his life to be smooth sailing you better do what I say, I saw the whole altercation between you two." "I don't want to hurt him so please don't give me a reason to." "All, I ask of you Lacey Porter is for you to comply. My anger turned into frustration, as I mentally construed the lengths and breadths Charlie would go to, to hurt someone you truly care about. I raised my hand to his face "I swear to God Charlie if you harm him" … "What"? He replied in a provocative tone and invading the little space we had between. "Go on now and remember our plan." He look at me from the side of his eyes communicating if I ever messed up his plans, I wouldn't like it. I trembled as he unlocked the door to let me leave. I heard the voice over the intercom, reminding us that lunch will soon expire. "Shit", I softly uttered to myself". He probably thought I forgot about, I walked close to the exit and saw an exchange that near took my breath, "what they hell did I just see?"