Met My Chance

Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Lunchtime tea.

Kiera's POV:

I get to my locker a few minutes before the first lesson and try the combination. I struggled to unlock it a few times yesterday, but when the locker opens on the first try today, it appears that I've worked it out.

Before closing it, I grab all of the books that I require. However, as I turn to my right to get to class, my face is centimetres away from a random girl. My body comes to a complete stop, and I take a step back. The lack of distance between us gives me a fright.

Her hand rests on the locker next to mine, and she examines me before flashing a huge, sickly sweet smile on her glossy lips. I immediately recognise her as the blondie who sat next to Camille in the canteen the day before. Her golden hair falls well past her shoulders, and her crystal blue eyes pierce my hazel ones.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," she says with an overly enthusiastic voice.

From the eye contact alone, I get a feeling that me and her may not have much in common. Although half of that has to do with the fact I know her and Camille are friends, the other half is strictly from gut instinct.

"Are you new here?" she asks while flipping a strand of blonde hair over her shoulder.

"I am," I say, attempting to put on an equally wide smile but failing miserably. It looks and feels uncomfortable, but she does it with such ease, as as if it's tattooed on her.

"Great! I'm Serena, the head cheerleader here. I thought it'd be best if I introduced myself," she says tilting her head. I'm assuming by that that she is popular.

"I'm Kiera, nice to meet you," I respond politely, sticking my hand out to shake hers. I make a mental note to keep smiling at her, or my version of a smile. The last thing I need is a popular enemy. 

She stares down at my hand as if it's the most unusual thing she's ever seen. She looks back up to me, ignoring my greeting and pulls me into a hug instead. A rather stiff hug. I did not expect her to do that.

"Silly, no need for a handshake."

The hug takes me so much by surprise that I remain motionless. It must feel as if she's wrapping herself around a surfboard. My arms barely raise to hug her back, feeling out of place. Before I come to my senses, Serena lets go.

The same smile is still plastered on her face. "Have you made any friends yet?" She wonders. "I think I saw you yesterday outside school with Chance, Jordan and Dannon. I didn't know you were all so close." Her fingers tap against the locker and she purses her lip.

"No, we're not close. It's complicated," I say honestly.

"Oh," her eyebrow raises, "So you're dating one of them?"

"Oh no." I shake my head. "It's not that complicated," I clarify. It definitely would be interesting if I was.

"Well that's good," her smile brightens. Something tells me she's pleased I'm not. "You should sit with me and my friends at lunch today. Maybe invite the boys as well."

I open and close my mouth as I think about the idea. The long pause makes my  apprehensiveness clear. I cannot sit at a table with Camille on it, or with a table with those three guys. It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll be skipping lunch today, so..." I shrug my shoulders and give a sympathetic smile.

It's not that I'm looking for reasons not to make friends. It's just that I can't help but avoid situations that I know will make me uncomfortable. I know I'd be faking who I am if I joined them for lunch, either to impress them by creating a version of myself that does not exist. I've done enough of that in England. I don't want to do it again here.