Songs for Sale

Chapter 3

I follow Luke around the school as he points out random things, like the cafeteria, the attendance office, the gym, and other various places. We have all our classes together, so he tells me he'll just walk with me everywhere.
"So this is how the classes work. On Mondays, like today, we have all 8 classes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we have classes 1-4, and on Wednesdays and Fridays we have classes 5-8. Make sense?"
I just nod my head in response.
"Well I guess we better head to our first class, which is Chemistry. We only have 10 minutes until class is over though, so we better hurry."
Again I just nod.
"Michael is the only person in the class who doesn't have a partner, so you'll probably just be his lab partner. I bet you he'll like your hair, he dyes his hair too. We used to hate each other in year 10, but now we're the best of friends."
I nod.
"Why aren't you talking? Do you not like me? Did I do something to offend you? I'm sorry."
"No you didn't offend me, I just don't have very much to say."
"Oh, ok good. Well, we're here, wait, let me get the door for you."
He rushed in front of me to hold the door for me.
I give him a small smile as I pass and walk into the classroom. The teacher turns around when Luke gives a small cough to let him know we're here. The teacher, who I'm guessing is Mr. Miller rushes towards us.
"Hello! You must be Miss Desiree Nail. You can take a seat up front next to Michael. We're just going over the syllabus for this term, standard stuff. Michael can get you caught up. Luke sit down and stop bouncing." He says the last but while giving Luke a weird look. He's jumping around like he needs to pee badly. What's with Australians and their hyperactive caffeine persona. It's weird.
I sit down next to Michael. "Hi I'm Michael" he says, holding out his hand to shake. I shake it and say "I'm Desiree."
"You're not what I was expecting" he says
"What where you expecting me to be, fat and holding a large fire-arm singing God Bless America and eating McDonalds? One third of America as school-aged children are obese, and just over a third of Americans own firearms. I'm pretty sure that's the minority. Did I skip any stereotypes?" I say very sarcastically, annoyed with the blue-haired boy.
"No, that's not what I meant. I meant you look cool, I'm sorry if I offended you"
"Oh," I mutter blushing "Sorry"
I actually hadn't put any thought at all into my outfit. I'm wearing ripped jean shorts (because it's hot as fuck here, even though it winter in America) with a blue flannel. I'm wearing my large nerd style glasses because I hadn't felt like putting my contacts on this morning, with my plum hair up in a messy bun.
"Nah it's cool. You're hair is awesome. I actually was kind of thinking stereotypical good girl, but you at least dress cool"
"Oh, thanks. I like your shirt I guess" I say, gesturing to his Blink 182 shirt.
"Thanks. I like my shirt too"
I snort and try to stiffle a laugh at his bluntness.
I immediately get sad afterwards though. Easton loved Blink. I can't laugh. That's not ok. My brothers and father just died. What the fuck is with this dude, thinking he can go and make me laugh, that's not ok.
I frown and turn away from him, ignoring all the rest of his attempts to make conversation.
I barely make it through the rest of the day without sobbing.
David and I sit together alone at lunch. Luke and Ashton try to get us to sit at there table, with Michael, some Polynesian looking guy, and a girl who I guess is Ashton's girlfriend. But we don't sit by them. Michael's shirt reminds me to much of Easton. And he almost made me laugh. That's not ok. I decide that I can't talk to Michael unless absolutely necessary.
***2 months later***
It's been about 80 days since my father and older bothers died.
Catherine is pretty much over it. She's doing well at her university, and even has a new boyfriend that David and I absolutely hate.
My mom got a job as a nurse at a hospital, even though we don't really need the money because we have a ton saved from my dad's job. NFL players get payed a fucking ton to run up and down a field, tackling each other, and throwing around a football.
But my mom says that it's just to keep her busy because she has nothing else to do. I'm pretty sure she still hasn't cried.
Nothing much has changed over the past 2 months.
David and I still remain friendless, but it's by choice. We don't need anyone but each other.
Luke, Ashton, and the Polynesian looking guy (who I later found out is Calum, which I think is a weird name) still try to make an effort to be our friend, but we pretty much ignore them.
Michael still try's to make small talk in chemistry, which I don't get, because all I've ever been to him is rude.
"Desiree, it's time to go to school!" Says David as he invites himself into the room.
I stand up and grab my backpack, slinging it over one shoulder then pulling the other strap onto the other shoulder.
"I'll be down in a minute David, there's one more thing I need to do.
He nods and exits my room.
I grab a stack of bracelet off my desk and pull them over both of my exposed wrists.
I started cutting after the first day of school. To much reminds me of my missing family members, and cutting makes me forget for a small amount of time.
I used to cut when I was younger also. That was when...
No, don't think about that Desiree.
I run downstairs and get into David's car (well, technically it's our car, but he's the only one that ever drives because I hate driving)
"You ready for another shit day of school?" He asks.
"Ready as I'll ever be" I mutter in response.
When we pull into the school parking lot I moan.
"What's up Dez?" My brother asks.
I roll my eyes at the pet name. He hasn't called me that since before the accident. Maybe he's getting over it to.
"It's Thursday. And that means chemistry with Michael."
"Oh that sucks. I have Language Arts with Ashton if that makes you feel any better"
It doesn't.
I get to chemistry just as the bell rings. I quickly sit down in my seat next to Michael.
"I have exiting news class. It's time to start our partner projects! And I have already decided that your partners will be the person sitting next to you at your table, so don't ask. It will be mandatory that you meet with your partner to work on your project at least every other day until the due date of your project. It can be at school, at home, or elsewhere as long as you have a paper signed by a parent or guardian saying that you worked on your project with your partner with the amount of time spent working written on it, and the minimum for the time spent is an hour. And if you and your partner fail to do this, not only will you get a detention for each time you miss, you will also get 10 points deducted from your grade every time. And I don't care if you say it's your partners fault that you both missed, this is a parter project, so do not try to pull that crap with me. Now Luke come here and help me hand out the rubrics."
Well shit.
I glance over at Michael, who seems unfaised by the news that we will now be spending lots of unnecessary time together.
Michael turns to me.
"Well, we better meet tonight because I have stuff after school tomorrow. We can go over to mine right after school if you like. My mum usually gets home about an hour and thirty minutes after I get home, so I guess we'll need to work for that long. Sit by me during lunch and we can work out the details"
Crap. I can't get out of this one. I can't ruin my 4.0 gpa and if I get a detention my mom will get super pissed.
I sigh and mutter an "ok" and turn to face the teacher, who begins to speak about the details of the project.

***authors note****
Sorry if Desiree kind of seems like a bitch. I promise she'll get better, just give her some time she's going through some troubles.
-Michelle