Damien has been avoiding me for the past few days. It's Friday, and he only speaks to me when absolutely necessary. When I tried to talk to him, he simply said "I'm not talking about that shit with you," and "Give me my fucking book, Emma." Well, he's going to be stuck with me for the entirety of the weekend. He can't avoid me forever.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94NNUb4M89
I'm in chemistry class, staring absentmindedly in the direction of our teacher, Mr Chin. He seems animated, enthusiastic about whatever he's talking about, but still, my interest isn't piqued. I'm incredibly bored, as I am many days at school. I'm not actually concentrating on him; that is, until I realise that he's talking directly to me.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZizIlh37kM
"Emma, did you hear anything that I just said?" he asks, sounding somewhat annoyed. I.want to tell him to fukk off, but realise that that probably wouldn't be in my best interest.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62j1SiKRFP
"No, sir," I say honestly. What's the point of lying?
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIWSE7dK8x
"You will all be given group work. Next week, you will arrange yourselves into groups."
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy8d07PEa0
Well, that sucks.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA9UPLjvie
I don't have any friends, I don't like anyone. Mary-Anne Rosenberg used to be my friend in third form, but we weren't extremely close; therefore, when she transferred to a private school, I didn't try to maintain contact with her. My eyes always made me some interesting freak to stare at, and I hated it. Still do.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXuPa58snp
My point is, I generally don't like company.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZprDKhx9Jw
I really don't want to do this, but I'll survive. I've done group projects before, and it didn't kill me. I'm still alive.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsgWQcpvyG
"Do we get to choose who we have in our group?" I ask him. I really hope that this isn't a question that he's already addressed, because I don't want to be that person that causes the teacher to repeat themself. However, when I look at Mr. Chin, who's already slanted, narrow eyes narrow even more at me, I realise that more than likely, I'm exactly that person in this moment.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VRkZ0qkum
"Yes, Emma, you can."
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQmjwu1hc6
I spend the rest of the class dying to be set free, and when the bell finally rings, signaling the end of the day, I am the first one out of the classroom, heading to the bus stop. When the bell at the end of the day rings, everyone can just get up and go home. It's the one thing that I like about my school. I feel like a slave who has just been emancipated, but I also suffer the dread of the fact that I will be forced to return to this place the following Monday. Now, however, is not the time to think about it.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpJW6iIyTB
The bus, as always, is hot and filled with body odor, and the smell of sweaty people at the end of the day, but I'll generally used to it.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6tNuSPpDh
However, the man in front of me is greener than anybody that I have ever smelled before. He smells as if he doesn't use deodorant, and he's spent the whole day working in a field somewhere. The classrooms are usually filled with the scent of sweaty teenagers by the end of the day, but I can handle it. The bus usually has even smellier people, but I can handle that, too. But this? This is torture. I have heard the argument, over and over, that you shouldn't judge people based on their natural fragrance. However, this is not the 1800s. In today's day and age, we are not used to this.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rYBaSqvZa
"Jesus Christ," I mutter under my breath. It feels as if I'm standing there for hours, even though it's appropriately 20 minutes to the bus stop nearest to my house, and about another 10 minuets to walk there.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDxQpBTOf9
When I finally get let out, I take a deep breath of air, relieved to be let out of that bus. I walk home, but Damien isn't here. His shift is 9 - 5 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while being 9 - 2 on Mondays and Thursdays, because the deli closes early on those days. Saturday's and Sundays have different staff working there. Therefore, I have until 5 pm until my brother gets here. The curtains are drawn, causing the room to be draped in darkness, and I take out my chemistry text book to do some work. Since I completely zoned out in class today, I figure that it will be best to revise some stuff. Last year, my CAPE grades were good; I got a 1 in both Biology and Spanish, but got a 2 in Chemistry. I also got a 1 in Communication Studies, which was compulsory. I chose biology and chemistry, because I want to either become a marine biologist, a zoologist, or, a veterinarian. I've had a love for animals once I realised that they generally don't care about my heterochromia, that they won't judge me for my eyes. I also want to be a vegetarian one day, with the exception of lion fish. They're an invasive species, so I don't feel guilty eating them. Damien actually showed interest in my grades. He was so proud of me that he took me on an island wide tour on a cruise ship, something that he knew that I've always wanted. We shared the same room, but I spent a good 20 minuets crying softly in the shower one day, because of how touched I was. Every time my brother does anything uncharacteristically loving or kind for me, I cry. Whenever his coldness becomes too much for me, I also cry. I have shed a lot of tears over him.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgmevkQ9xl
When he does arrive at 5 pm, I have relocated to my room, and I'm on my bed, reading from my text book.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQXGASYxBa
"Em," he calls out to me. I know that he's more than likely brought food for me. I get up and go down the stairs, meeting him in the living room. "Here," he says, handing me the a brown paper bag, then moving past me to go upstairs. Before he can get too far, I grab his arm and pull him to me. At least, that's what I try to do. He barely moves. So instead, I go up to him and hug him.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90dIX4dstR
"I love you," I tell him. At first, he remains stiff as a board, but eventually, he hugs back.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq3khrJzfm
"I love you, too," he says, and even though I already knew that, it means the world to hear it out loud.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxnacPl77x
Neither of us talk after that, and neither of us have to. We just stand there, embracing each other. In this moment, each other's love is all we need, even if our relationship is not the best.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Sy8SMaLGF
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV8r5dAnee
***
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAYl9T6ZZ9
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvZE5Br10N
I am sitting in the classroom by myself, thinking about my relationship with my brother. My future. My stories. Life, in general. It's lunch time, but I don't feel like eating today. Instead, I feel like sitting here by myself, and tuning out the rest of the world. It's something that I've become very good at, both in and out of class. And I'm enjoying my me time. That is, someone comes to sit beside me, in the chair to my right. I,don't like that. I don't like it at all. I mentally refer to this as "me time" for a reason.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2EVFfm8K3
I turn to look at this person, and see that it is a boy from my chemistry class who has come to sit beside me. I recognise his face, but I don't know his name. I don't really make much of an attempt to remember any of their names. He has dark skin, big lips and a big nose, high cheekbones and a beautiful jawline. He is beautiful.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEatlNgajQ
"Hey, Emma," he says.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95LNr4ZK5Y
"Hey," I reply.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wMYfni6nB
"You're good at chemistry."
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a4ZWY4H9O
"How do you know that?"
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcrOUhAEgk
"You're on the high achievers list," he says. I forgot that the list of all of the top 10 students in each class is stapled to the notice board.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oi2max3xY
"Oh, uh, well yeah." My average is consistently I, the 90s. Unit 2 is easier than Unit 1, so I'm sure that I'll get a 1 this time.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQfp7OCRdd
"So I was wondering if you'd like to be in a group with me. For the project, I mean. I'm not that good at chemistry, but I will do everything I can, I swear."
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3GsXSntIx
I have no real friends, and I'm good at chemistry, so good that I could probably do this project all on my own. Because I have no legitimate reason to turn him down, I simply say "Yeah, sure, why not?"
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0GV33Qmqd
He smiles at me, flashing his pretty white teeth.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWliSCwPBG9
"Thanks! I really appreciate it, Em. Can I call you that?"
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDFnD1OiWx
"Yeah, I don't mind."
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWmgER4wdW
"Good. Well, I have to eat lunch with my friends, so catch you later? Unless you want me to stay and talk?"
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBzsinaSBD
"No, that's fine," I assure him.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bprkZGALd
"Okay, he says, rising from the chair to his full height, and preparing to leave.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneBfeBVuDB
"Wait!" I call to him.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMA02btOjo
"Yes?"
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfVgZ8d2n7
"What's your name?" I feel terrible for asking; after all, he knew mine and I don't want to offend him. However, I need to know his name if we are to do this project together.
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvR5HsUORN
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFuOtLbm58
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANPcrSwSPK
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4C9TfzAAO
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVBQaJPVWx
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ss4LR1Tnj
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IP6XO7YYa
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHQIJYYKqz
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerxkYTsrrO
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92XzhGi1DQ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ER8OXFLn
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2wLVRiysM
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYwnu0M1Al
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu0CYaoa4Y
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq01a3QXCOG
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl7GgEefhk
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vi2i08wB7
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbXqUxWGtP
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6kzXT8X3u
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI7BIKaz8V
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJo8xzQen3
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrKHYPS8Zd
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP1WYwSWUG
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DAUKA6JKr
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUcqcHBS6t
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6O74XIBhP
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hXowcexji
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptykfqameb
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeiZxw2X0P
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjI68rvQFd
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sPvmjRRC0
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dwCXrUkWT
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAy9ob0qdS
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52gU6LDALq
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqAMG8zxRZ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIIq531vd3
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcwNoi0jec
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdIAeofhBx
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm28gH7tlgp
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tMId37Y1B
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYjFDQToVa
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGp6EjhckG
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJzxXtEQGm
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpglqC8QwHX
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHElYLrDEM
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPjDJ0t4dj
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqgAnMVgGu
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVc2JPnuuj
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXP19p5OxV
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDN2eBQlwM
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIv5xJb2LJ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyaO7Lft9E
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIIC6YklC0
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOauoDGHHl5
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEU64dNtLE
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy6R2xmYqP
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOib7j7fvf
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTq32fHl8j
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqJCbIknlJ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejkFhPGXnt
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJgEav3XCU
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrNu9EBHAh
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2m27jO0vJ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuqDyakvgQ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlB3g9DOVf
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxRXU00Rvq
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9c4tGmQ5s
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRklhivQTlw
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGBQewwyqy
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e8KJgodZZ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYCdux39JU
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6XznFtGYf
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSkWU54viR
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa91meNGY4b
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVHOYphhHq
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlw4VtluV3
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zLMkojN31
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpjZ5LtzIy
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuHcTWCwQJ
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdGIgIK6gD
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kh8hYpe3z
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaP3pfQy3o9
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKljbzsUzrw
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjVBBitefu
673Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDEYHYZ5WR
He doesn't look offended by the question. He simply answers by saying "William, but you can call me Will, or Bill," before doing a soldier salute, then turning around and walking out of the classroom.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
