Aberration

Chapter Four

Vanessa Black.

I don't know why I was so surprised to hear that Aphrodite has a name. And a "normal" name at that. I was expecting... Well, Aphrodite. Or at the very least, Beyoncé Jr.

That's not all I knew, though. It seemed the entire school was also interested in the new girl. In the course of five class periods, I had learned her birthday, favorite color, previous school, and colleges she had applied to. All by just listening in on local gossip in the hall.

I hadn't had any classes with Vanessa thus far. She's one of those beautiful AND smart girls. You know, the models that end up going to Ivy League schools because state schools just aren't challenging enough? I mean, this girl started her day with college calculus! I can't compete with that. I'm struggling with Finite math...

The bell rings and I'm the last one to leave the classroom because I'm still scratching down notes. Of the numerous classes I hate, I'm actually fairly tolerant of psychology. I think it's kind of interesting to learn what makes people tick. I swear, if I wasn't into music I might give this psychology thing a shot.

My next period is study hall, aka "Sleep to My Heart's Content" class, so I'm not all that concerned about getting there on time. I make a quick stop to the vending machine to buy some Doritos, say hey to a few people in the halls, and scan the school for Aphrodite as I stroll in the general direction of class. No sign of her.

After much stalling, I walk in to Mr. Howard's class. I'm tardy, as per usual, and am met with a vile glare from Mr. Howard. I simply respond with a nonchalant shrug and do a little dance for comedic effect. My boyish stupidity gets a few snickers out of the class while the tired old man just rubs his temples as he goes back to typing on his computer. I turn my head to the corner and see a brunette plopped in MY seat. I'm not very territorial but at this point of the year, no one takes "claimed" seats. It's one of those unwritten rules of life. The girl turns her attention toward the door and cracks a tiny smile at me. My heart stops.

Well what do you know? Aphrodite has study hall sixth period. More specifically, Mr. Howard's study hall...

I now have two choices: Play hard to get, or be social.

Forget that hard to get shit, I'm sitting right next to her!

I neglect the fact that I look homeless as I swerve into the seat adjacent to her and offer a smile. "Jabari," I begin.

"Vanessa" she replies. She's even prettier in person! Her voice sounds like a spring sunrise and she smells like cocoa butter. I can see myself falling for this girl. Fast.

We make small talk for a while until she tells me that she's going to get started early on some homework. I leave her alone but I can't help but watch as she pulls out a textbook and begins reading feverishly. She's the first person I've met to make me actually WANT to work. Granted, it's so I can impress her with my newfound studious tendencies... But hey, work is work. I pull out "The Scarlet Letter" and begin reading the chapters for my upcoming English class. Every now and then, I catch her glancing at me and blushing. Score!

Before I know it, the bell rings and the class is rushing out on their way to seventh period. I intentionally wait for her and offer to walk her to her next class. She laughs and jokes about how chivalry may not be dead after all, but politely declines. Something about her not wanting to be an excuse for me to skip class. She then gracefully spins around and struts in the opposite direction, meeting gawking faces in every direction as she walks to her final class.

Damn.

That was all I could think as I went to class. That was all I could think as I my aced my pop quiz (thank you newfound studious tendencies...). That was all I could think as I drove home at the end of the day. Just damn.

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A/N: Hey, my first author's note! Cool. Sorry this chapter's kinda lame. I'm just eager to get ahead in this book but to do that, I have to get all this early background stuff out the way.

The next few chapters will be a little better, I promise :D