Helpless (Book 1)

Chapter Three

I STAND IN front of the entranceway between Eliza and Angelica. Peggy stands behind me, poking her head over my shoulder. My eyes are wide as I watch the once crowded entranceway slowly depart from each other and go their separate ways. Some going to their lockers, some going to offices or classrooms, some going to the cafeteria that's down the hall, some going to the library, some going to the gymnasium, etcetera. It's incredible, I must admit. Amazing... 

 "So," Peggy says. "What are we all looking at?" 

 "Nothing," I say. "Just taking in the view..." 

 "You've never been to high school before?" Angelica asks. "Not to be rude or anything. Just...curious is all." 

 I wrap my arms around myself as I follow the three sisters down the hall. I shake my head. 

 "No," I admit. "Not really. I um...I'm not the type of person who likes to talk about their childhood but let's just say I was um...impoverished." 

 "Oooh, big words!" Peggy teases. "I like him. Can we keep him, Angie?" 

 Eliza rolls her eyes, trying to keep a straight face, however failing at that task. She frowns, though, when her chocolate brown eyes land on my violet ones. Eliza tilts her head a little to the shoulder as we continue meandering through the halls. "You were impoverished?" she says. 

 "Yeah," I say quietly. "I mean...I did do a little bit of homeschooling with my brother before he...well...uh...before he left but my family...we couldn't afford schooling where I came from..." 

 Eliza nods. "Ah...right." 

 "Do you have your schedule?" says Angelica, with an eyebrow raised. 

 I shake my head. "Um...no. I'm supposed to meet the principal for that. My...uh...do you three happen to know who Mr. Washington is?" 

 "Of course!" Eliza gasps, a bright smile on her face. "He's my English teacher!" 

 I stare at her for a moment, bemused. 

 "What?" she says, frowning.

 I shake my head. "N-Nothing. It's just...well...I'm supposed to meet him there after I get my map, schedule, and stuff..." 

 "Ooh! I can show you!" Eliza gasps, looping her arm through mine. 

Angelica smirks and nudges her elbow into Peggy's side. 

 "I'll leave you to it!" Angelica says with a wink. She grabs Peggy's wrist before dragging her younger sister down the hall and they make a left, vanishing around the corner. 

 "Come on, Alex!" she says. "You don't mind if I call you Alex, right?" 

 I shake my head. "No. Of course, not." 

 "Right. Right. Now, come on! I'll take you to the office!" 

 I let her drag me toward the office. I don't know how much time has passed. I must have left my watch back home. Just to be sure, I pull back the cuff of my sleeve back to reveal, yep. A bare wrist. I press my lips together into a straight line and heave a heavy sigh through my nose, long and slow. Though, the sigh sounds more like a grumble of frustration. 

Eliza speeds up her walking pace, gripping my wrist as she drags me down the hall, causing me to stumble every now and then over my shoelaces and nearly collapse onto my face on the white tiled floor once in a while. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when she has the brightest smile on her face. It's as bright as the sun. I can feel its warmth warming the coldness inside me, causing me to smile. Her smile is contagious.