Hi, guys. I'm still challenged about what the best POV for each chapter is. "The Hallway" is from Nora's POV. I'm not sure if I'm being too confusing as I often lapse into the third person. I'm also still improving on how the chapters flow into one another and that they make sense/the plot is clear. I also want to be sure that I give enough attention to the other characters and how I've set them up. Those elements are still being improved. Please let me know your thoughts on this and thank you for reading.
NORA'S POV:
Nora was sitting on the bench in the girls' locker room, organizing her book bag. Everyone else had left except for Mrs. Vera. She paused with her clipboard in hand when she saw Nora.
"Don't beat yourself, up, Nora. We're not all born athletes. You have other talents," the teacher gave her a smile. "Just watch your absences, and you'll be fine."
"Thanks, Mrs. Vera," Nora said. After the teacher went into her office, Nora sighed and stood up. She slung her book bag over her shoulder. She paused as she passed the full-length mirror. She tried to look at her reflection objectively.
This is what Nora saw: A tall, chubby girl with long, red hair coming loose from its braid. A girl with a baggy sweater and too tight jeans. A girl with a plain face and no special talent.
In reality, the reflection showed a tall, curvy girl who wasn't skinny but who wasn't overweight. She was the kind of girl that didn't need make-up. Her face wasn't plain. She had a natural blush and her skin was nearly flawless. The only thing Nora saw objectively was her hair which was a bit messy, but also, made her look a bit sexy.
Jeez, she thought. I'm not usually that hard on myself. I know I'm not beautiful but I'm not ugly either. She stood up straighter but still felt that sad, unattractive feeling. She turned away from the mirror and walked to the gym exit. When she pushed open the doors, she saw Edison leaning against a locker. He was looking at something down the hallway, but Nora didn't see anything.
The doors clanged shut behind her and the sound made Edison turn towards her.
"There you are!" he said.
"Yeah, hey. Why are you here? I thought you went home."
He smiled at her and she felt his eyes drink her in which caused that butterfly feeling in her stomach. 663Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoClZQDGVi
"I'm here to drive my girlfriend home."
"We need to talk about that," Nora said as they started to walk down the hallway.
"Yeah, we do," Edison said and reached for her hand. She let him hold it. "You go first."
"Well, I was just thinking we should slow things down a little."
"Why?"
"Because we don't know the future and because we're young."
Edison shook his head. "Nora, that's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard you say," he laughed.
Nora pulled her hand from his and stopped walked. "Excuse me?"
"We like each other. Why must you fight it so hard?"
"I'm being realistic." She started walking again with him trying to catch up.
"I'm not going to change my mind. I wouldn't do that to you."
"I know you wouldn't..." Nora's voice softened, as she stopped at the doors to the parking lot. He stood next to her and touched her arm. Nora almost flinched. Edison quickly pulled back his hand.
"Have I done something to make you afraid of me?"
"No," Nora fidgeted with the zipper on her jacket.
"What's wrong, then?"
Nora glanced down. "Listen, Edison. I don't want to be a bother. You know my home life. I have stuff going on right now that I need to handle, with my dad and everything. I don't want you to have to deal with all that."
"I want to be there for you. I care."
"I know, it's just-it's just that it's embarrassing for me for you to see all that and if we're dating, it's sort of embarrassing in a worse way."
"Oh."
Nora looked up at his eyes that seemed to search her face. He looked so sweet. She just wanted to snuggle against him and not think about life for a few hours...but that was impractical. Then, the silliest thing happened, she felt herself crying.
Perfect timing, she thought.
"Nora," Edison whispered and gathered her into his arms. She leaned her cheek against the rough material of his jacket and felt him smooth her hair.
"I'm here. Everything will be okay."
As his arms wrapped around her tighter, Nora saw a shadow creeping at the end of the hallway. She closed her eyes and opened them again. The shadow was still there. The look it gave her made her shiver.
"Come on, let's get you home," Edison said as he put his arm around her and pushed open the doors.
Nora nodded. Before she walked outside, she looked over her shoulder and saw the thing still there, sending her waves of hate that she felt from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
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