VERBATIM - slow updates.

chapter four.

TW - EATING DISORDER.

my hands had clumsily opened the crisp packet a few moments ago but i had yet to muster up the strength to actually eat a crisp. i had indefinitely crossed off rubbish food like this for obvious reasons and now i was expected to eat an entire bag of oily, fat-filled, calorific crisps.

no wonder everybody called me fat when i was so easily wavered into pigging out and eating a greasy snack like a the glutton i was.

"what class do you have next, Aphrodite?" Dr. Quintero asked me as all three of their eyes bore into my head, watching me stare at the plastic bag.

my eyes rose and settled on his nose; this was a perfect distraction from the disgusting food placed in front of me. "i have biology next, sir." i said, having already memorised my timetable for today; i was slacking slightly as i still didn't one-hundred percent know what i had for the rest of the week but i would let myself worry of that later on.

"right! of course, you're my new student!" he chuckled and playfully smacked his own forehead as a way of reprimanding himself for being forgetful.

the simple gesture caused a giggle to escape my lips as they curled up into a small, barely-visible smile. it was genuine. i hadn't smiled let alone laughed in years; yet this man breaks through almost instantly. though, i didn't stay too hung up on that thought as i was too focused on calming myself down to not tarnish myself by laughing for any longer.

"do you enjoy biology?" he then queried. following on the conversation; keeping it alive, so to speak.

i nodded quickly. "yes, it's one of my strongest subjects," i answered, eager to please him and show off my accolades for his class.

"that's wonderful. we're doing cell structure right now; just going over it one last time before exams" he explained.

"well, i'm very excited"

although it was a basic topic and most people's least favourite; i throughly enjoyed learning about cells. watching all of the particles and tiny organisms swim around inside the cell, doing their own thing as though the only thing that mattered was their cell functioning. it was refreshing.

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i had walked to class with Dr. Quintero, he offered and obviously i would never refuse a superior so; here we are.

only a handful stragglers had arrived so far, so we were one of few sitting in the class. i had taken a seat at the front, i told myself it was for academic purposes, that i would learn more if i could see the board clearer, hear his voice better. but, i didn't believe that. my mind was pleading and begging to stay closer to him, so that's what i did; from my seat i could perfectly see his beautiful being, his toothy smile, his muscled arms.

i could only hope it wouldn't distract me.

i had barely even realised all of the other student flooding in through the doors until the chair beside was aggressively pulled out; the legs screeching against the plastic flooring. i grimaced and looked beside me to see who the culprit was.

my eyes raked up their body; they were beautiful. they appeared the perfect mixture of androgyny. their hair was a deep red colour and sat in a mullet-like cut around their head. they held a sculpted face, their eyes so light that they appeared amber with golden flecks. a thin, silver ring sat in the centre of their bottom lip; accentuating the fullness of it. as my eyes lowered i realised that their outfit definitely did not meet school dress codes; knee-high black boots - littered with spikes and buckles - torn, black tights that met with a dark red, loose skirt, the hem sitting inches above their knees. their top half adorned a tight, long sleeved-red top and a black corset. they're allure was astounding.

"hey," they smiled softly, extending a hand to meet my own. i noticed as they spoke that their tongue was learned as well as their smiley. "i'm Ayda" they introduced.

i pushed my hand out and shook theirs, their hand was smooth, and cold. i barely got a chance to even admire their long, pointed, black nails as they had already pulled away.

"i'm Aphrodite"

"wait, that's such a fucking cool name," they said, their mouth dropping slightly in shock. "your name is literally a goddess' name, what the fúck" they gushed.

i hadn't even realised that i was giggling slightly at their mannerisms, a small smile gracing my lips. this school was ruining me ever so slowly and i didn't understand how. not even one day in and i had already acted unprofessionally twice. yet, i couldn't wipe the evidence off my face, i couldn't stop the laughs from escaping my lips as i watched my newly found biology partner gush over something as simple as a name.

"good morning, class!" Dr Quintero greeted warmly, his face radiating into a beaming grin as he wiped the room with his eyes, glancing slowly at every student; and settling on me.

"good morning, Dr Quintero" the entire class spoke in sync, they sounded unenthusiastic yet they appeared happy and content in the moment.

"as a quick introduction, we have a new student today; her name is Aphrodite." he explained softly, a gesturing hand in my direction.

"tell us about yourself" someone in the back hollered, i didn't turn around as i knew that it was inappropriate in a classroom to do so.

Dr Quintero chuckled whilst shaking his head. "i will not have her speak; we have too much to do." he said. sending a small wink my way before he continued the lesson.

my stomach erupted into butterflies. it flipped and dropped all at the same time. my face flushed dramatically and my palms began to sweat. i didn't know what i was feeling, or why. but i really, didn't like it.

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word count - 1010

slightly shorter chapter here, i'll try and make the next one longer :)

let me know what you think!

how fast do you want the story to progress?

thank you!