Chapter 5: Tempting Death
The next morning, the three of us walked to school together. It was a pretty uneventful walk, mostly because we were all half-asleep. I don’t know about them, but I’m not that much of a morning person. We got to school and split up. Truth be told, I was still thinking about hanging out with Halley. And before you ask, no, not like that. It’s just that I never would have guessed she could be so much fun to be around. How can I get that girl to record, I thought to myself.
I got to my first class, Math, and began the regular routine of taking notes and such. Again, I actually like school, but I’m also really lazy, so I don’t do as well as a bunch of my teachers insist I could do. I spend a lot of time thinking about the interesting parts of class, but unfortunately, the homework’s always on the boring stuff. Well, I guess it’s necessary, and maybe I should try to work a bit harder. Being a junior means I need to start thinking of colleges. I still don’t know what to take in college, so I’m a bit concerned about that.
Anyway, I got to my English class, one of the few classes I actually participated in. Sorry, in which I participated. Language can be a bit of a pain. I’m in an advanced English class, so my classmates are the types who actually like to talk about the interesting stuff. I sat next to two of my friends, Tommy and Kevin. They’re the kind of giant-brained kids that make me feel like an intellectual reject. They’re great people, though, and they don’t mean to make anyone feel that way. I just end up making friends with the smartest people in the room every time. It seems like there’s some absolute correlation between how smart a person is and how well I end up getting along with them. I guess that does explain my friendship with Alex, given that she’s possibly the smartest person in the class. She just also happens to be just as lazy as I am, so she’s not quite top of the class, grade-wise.
After that, I had a free class period, so I went up to the library to catch up on some work, and lo and behold, who do I bump into but Alex. So much for work.
“What’s up, Charlotte?” I swear, she loves that name.
“Not much, Alessandra.” She hates that one.
“I swear, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Halley open up to anyone like that before. You guys actually spoke and everything!”
“Yeah, well she’s cool. I mean, she’s got good taste in music, and she’s pretty friendly. Not to mention she has an amazing singing voice! Did you know that?”
“Duh, she’s my sister. Hey, did you study for the Philosophy test yet?”
Oh crap! “Uuuummm... I may be royally screwed on that one.” Wait, we have a test? I’m a bad student, but not THAT bad. Which is why when Alex started laughing, I was almost relieved. “Okay, ha ha, very funny. Remind me not to take classes with you again next year.”
Come lunch time, Alex and I headed to the cafeteria, and when Alex and I spotted Halley and some friends, I saw a glint in Alex’s eyes that only meant one thing: time to tease her adorable baby sister. This girl is evil. Pure evil
“Hey, Halley!” Alex called and we walked over. “So, is this your boyfriend?” And naturally, Halley grew red again
“Yup, it was love at first sight,” said the boy she Alex was referring to.
“Come on, Alex. Do you have to tease her every time you see her around school?”
“Since when do you care? Or does someone have a thing for my little sister?”
Wait, what? I thought to myself
“Wait, what?” I guess I said it out loud, too.
Shitshitshitshitshitshitshit. Why did I have to jump in? Oh well, here goes nothing. “No, I just think that you sometimes maybe are a bit brutal in your teasing.” I’m going to die. “And, I mean, you do it every single time Halley’s not alone.” She’s going to fucking KILL ME. “I just think it’s a bit mean, is all.” COME ON, BACK ME UP HERE, HALLEY!!!
“Ummmmm...Alex?” Halley could barely be heard, but Alex was used to it. All of a sudden, Halley hugged Alex. Like, out of nowhere. And made these small sounds that I could barely even hear, but I swear, Alex just froze. And then she melted. I don’t know what happened, but I think Halley just saved my life. And that is the most adorable scene to ever pass these halls and... oh boy, I think Alex may be suffocating Halley!
“Hey, Alex!” I said, as if calling her from a distance. It worked, and Alex let go, saving Halley. I think we’re even now. “Come on, let’s go grab some food already.”
Happily, the rest of the day passed quietly. I sat through my last class and finished up my recording and started up a project of my own. Maybe I could convince Halley to sing on it, if she ever decides to record. I met up with Alex after that, and we headed back to her house.
“Why did you do that at lunch? Stand up for Halley, I mean,” Alex asked, and unfortunately, I had no clue.
“I guess I just felt a bit bad for her. She’s so shy, and it must be tough as it is. No need to make it any tougher on her.” Plus, she’s really a nice girl when she finally opens up.
Alex just threw me a half-smile and kept walking. I do wonder, though... Halley...
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First Snow
RomanceLuke and Halley have been aware of each other's presence for some time now, but it was only recently that they began to get to learn more about each other. To Luke, Halley was just Alex’s shy little sister. To Halley, Luke was just Alex’s friend. Bu...
