Foolish Love

Chapter 1: Pretty Problems 

    I stared at my reflection in the mirror groggily as I futilely brushed the dark mass of tangles called my hair. I gave up after five minutes though, and just put a hat on. Anyways it’s not as if it would make a difference how pretty my hair looked if no one was going to notice me in the first place. I sighed, and inwardly cursed my school. I had to have all the pretty girls in all my classes. Life was so not fair. Sure I had friends, and a lot of them were guys but… well you know. A hopeless romantic like me can’t survive long without fantasies. But after a while you get that feeling of being alone, and that your fantasies will never happen, because that one perfect guy that you’ve had a crush on since the first time you met a year ago will never see you in that manner.

    I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I neared my school. I was there early so maybe I could work on some homework… Nah. I waved at my friends as I arrived at our usual hang-out. “Hey Claudia!” My friend Stephanie exclaimed upon seeing me, jumping up to give me a big bear hug. I managed to wrestle her off of me after a while and sat down with the rest of my friends, giggling uncontrollably as I did so. In fact I was giggling so hard that I actually rolled over on my back with glee, only to end up with my head on someone’s feet. I stopped laughing as I looked up at who I had rolled on. 

    “Oh hi Sebastian!” I smiled, forgetting to get up. 

    “Hey,” Sebastian replied, a small smile forming on his lips, “interesting way to greet me Claudia. Is falling on my feet your new thing?” 

    I blushed as I quickly got up, “No you idiot, you just happened to be there as I fell.” I looked away hoping he wouldn’t see me blushing, but I was too late. 

    “Are you blushing?” he asked, going around me to see. “You are! Aww, it’s ok Claudia, you can fall on my feet all you want,” he teased as he ruffled my hair. 

    “Shut up! I am not, and I won’t ever fall on you again.” I said, sticking my tongue out at him. I knew it was a childish thing to do, but still, he was so infuriating. 

    He leaned in close to my ear then, and said, “Oh you wish you could fall on me.” It took my brain a while to process what he had just insinuated, and by then he was gone. I sat down on the ground next to Stephanie and sulked, forever cursing Sebastian and his being a pervert, and why I was so innocent and fun to pick on. Stephanie patted my head knowingly until the bell rang. I rose from where I was and headed to class still not too content over the morning’s outcomes and slightly pouting. And the worst part was that I was kind of blushing too, and was in a good mood. All because I got to talk to him already once today; all because, despite my reason and sense, I’d fallen in love with Sebastian, and it drove me insane. Just like him. 

    I arrived at my first period, greeting my teacher Mr. Lebroy as usual. I had first period English, thankfully, since English was my favorite subject. I loved writing so much; and reading too. You can just lose yourself in so many different worlds; either as a character you invented, or the one you’re reading about. You can be the hero or the villain or you can even be the beautiful princess that met the perfect guy, and since she was so beautiful and graceful everything worked out perfectly and they lived happily ever after and ate potatoes while watching the sunset. Real life however, just doesn’t work out that nicely. And of course, I’m the furthest thing from a beautiful and graceful princess, and my prince will never see me as anything except a short little person that’s fun to pick on because she’s so damn innocent. I let out a heady sigh as I plopped myself down on my chair and pulled out one of my many notebooks to write in. I hesitated before setting my pen back down. If I wrote anything right now, it would involve love, and inevitably Sebastian, and I didn’t feel like giving anyone anymore reason to think I was in love with someone. No matter how hard I tried to hide it, my friends managed to notice, although they hadn’t quite said anything I saw them giving each other looks that said they were on to something. Although they haven’t exactly figured out who I think, since I kind of act the same with everyone, but they have noticed a small change in me, and in my writing. I had put all of my stories about the epic heroine that fights evil to save the world on hold, and had begun to focus more on poetry and the confusion love brought upon people. So yeah, that was kind of a big hint there unfortunately. 

    Before I noticed class was already halfway through, so I quickly raised my eyes towards where the lesson was being held, and started paying attention. I skimmed through what Mr. Lebroy had written on the board until I hit the part that mentioned an essay due next week. An essay that I had just missed the explanation on. Could my day get any better? I let out another sigh and waited for the rest of the period to be over, and making a note to ask someone what the essay was about without making myself look even more like an idiot. Just then the person in front of me sneezed really loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Meggy Shibret, who was a rather shy girl that seemed utterly terrified to have made such a loud noise. No one really took notice however, and no one said bless you besides me and a few others. I felt my brow wrinkle as I thought, “What? Is it uncool to say ‘bless you’ now when someone sneezes or something?” I got my answer soon enough however, when someone else sneezed. It was a much quieter sneeze, almost inaudible yet it still caught your attention. I looked around to find the source as a chorus of voices rushed to say bless you. It was Lydia Walker, the prettiest girl in the school, sitting at her desk, an embarrassed look on her face as she hurried to say thank you. I lowered my head onto my desk in despair, wondering why life had to be so unfair. Why must it always be the pretty ones? I mean, not to say that I was completely hideous or anything, but I was more of a homely type of person. I had hazel eyes and light brown hair that had a mind of its own; my face was circle shaped, I think I have pretty full lips and am about five foot five, and a total klutz. Still, I wasn’t anything special, and no one would ever really notice me unless they really got to know me. I wasn’t ever going to be elected as Homecoming Queen, is what I’m trying to say. 

    Another interruption to my thoughts came as the bell rang and everyone scrambled to leave. I hurried out the door, heading towards my science class through the main doors, knowing Stephanie would be heading towards her math class this way. And also it didn’t hurt Sebastian headed to his Chinese class this way either. I greeted Stephanie as usual, and we chatted for a few minutes until the warning bell rang. Sebastian never passed by this time however, so I guess I would have to settle for possibly seeing him during lunch time. If I found him that is. Which was highly doubtful as I have no idea where he hangs out at lunch. I let out another heavy sigh as I started to run toward my science class, disappointment in the air, and the worry of being late hanging over my head.