Stalking is my middle name

Chapter 2: Atlas

I pull up my sleeve and look at my well-kept watch. It's almost time for maths, arguably the worst lesson imaginable.
Math was never my strength; I always excelled in English and science.
Maths was just confusing; who needed all those numbers anyway?

The minutes feel like hours, not just in this class but in this town. Everything was boring; nothing was happening anymore. It's all expectations and no fun, although my reputation because of it is shinier than a polished armour set.
My father is very expectant, and he wants me to go places and get far in life, which explains why he got me placements in the top schools and has saved a considerable stash of money for college tuition at The University of Riverwood, the best and only University in this hellish town.
Being at the top of many of my classes somehow attracts people toward me.
Everyone always wants to be friends with me, but truthfully, I cannot stand interacting with the hollow shells that we call people around here.

I'm pulled out of my haze by the sound of the school bell ringing, signalling my first class.
I sigh, leaning my head back and looking out of the window in the distance where the sun hovers over the large mountain range.

"Hey, Atlas!" An excited voice calls out as light footsteps approach me.
I return my gaze to a young lady with red-tinted cheeks and long, curly, light-brown hair that hangs over her shoulders in pigtails. She smiles greatly, perfectly straight white teeth revealing themselves.
I smile back effortlessly,
"Hello, Lily. Nice morning, hmm?" I reply, standing from my seat and looking down at the shorter girl, shoving my things into my bag with visible irritability.
She doesn't pick up on this and plants herself on the desk in front of mine, swinging her legs back and forth and leaning toward me.
"Are you doing anything tonight?" She chimes, batting her fake eyelashes at me, still smiling.
"I'm not sure. I believe my father and I are having tea together; I also have chemistry work to catch up on." I lied, knowing full well my father wouldn't be home today until the business event this evening and having finished my homework almost a week ago.
"Oh, that's a shame, some friends of mine are having a get-together and we wanted you to come too! You never hang out with us and you should! I think we're all pretty cool and you'll like the venue, there's going to be live music." she explains.
"Perhaps," I say, walking briskly past the girl, who frowns and hops off of the desk, then swiftly follows me.
I let out a huge sigh and abruptly paused, making her crash into my back.
I turn around and look down at her, with furrowed brows and an irritated smile.
"I will see what I can do. Do you want my number?" I ask, pulling my phone out of my pocket and unlocking it with my four-digit passcode.
She looks surprised and fiddles with her hair,
"Y-yes, that would be great!" She exclaims sheepishly.
I hand her my phone, and she quickly taps her number into it, then hands me hers, I do the same, though I deliberately make a digit one off from my actual number, so she won't actually bother me.
"There. All done. I'll talk to you later; I have maths." I bluntly remark, walking out of the classroom, the door clicking closed behind me, leaving a flustered Lily behind.

The hallways are loud and lively, with students all shoving past one another, girls giggling, and guys yelling by the lockers.
I shuffle through the crowds, hands in my pockets and eyes ahead.
Sometimes, being tall has its advantages. I can see above most of the other students, but usually, my toes are being stepped on.
I make eye contact with a girl who is making out with someone against the lockers, I can almost see her smirk as she keeps her eyes on me. I sigh and continue walking, being shoulder-barged constantly as people usher to their classes with inattentional blindness.

I walk into the brightly lit maths classroom where the teacher is wiping the chalkboard, and students are muttering amongst themselves. I walk to the back and take a seat, plopping into my chair with all my weight, my knees knocking the table leg by mistake. It screeches along the hardwood floor a few inches, and a few eyes turn to me, including the teacher's.
I nonchalantly lift the table and carefully place it back in front of me, as a small amount of laughter can be heard.
My face retorts back to the same miserable look as the teacher starts greeting the class and explaining what we will be doing.
I take a black fountain pen out of my blazer pocket and remove the cap, writing the date in small handwriting on the corner of my page. I sigh and lean back into my seat, ready for another painful hour of Trigonometry.

Tick, tick, tick, the clock would sound, each passing minute making me more irritable than the last. I tap my foot on the floor and rock on my chair slightly.
Tick, tick, tick, the clock was loud, louder than usual.
Tick, tick, tick. I glanced up at the clock and saw that it wasn't moving.
I mumble under my breath in confusion, lifting my head from my hand and watching the clock for longer.
Tick tick, click click. I turned to look at the other students to see if someone was messing around, but everyone had their heads down, writing.
"Am I hearing things?" I'm thinking, flicking my eyes around, trying to find the source of the sound.

"June, could you close the window, please? It's getting chilly." The teacher asked; she nodded, rose from her seat and closed the window a few feet in front of me. I listened for the sound, and it had stopped.
'Click click'.
It was muffled now like it was coming from outside. Confused, I shook it off and lean my head on my hand again.

As time passes, I yawn, stretching my long arms out behind my back, then rest them back on the table again after an elbow click. I think I fell asleep.
I look out the window at birds flying by and catch someone sitting on the bleachers on the other side of the courtyard with a camera on their lap.
They're looking at their watch and then their eyes peer up at me with intent, a camera following their gaze, almost like they were intentionally watching me and knew I was there.
I throw them a confused look, and they return one of complete terror as they peer over the lens.
The camera that covered their face was pulled down, and they looked like a deer in the headlights, with a 4x4 beelining for them.
The small-looking person jumps up from their seat, darting out of sight almost immediately.
I leap out of my chair and move closer to the window, my chair squeaking on the floor.
They've completely vanished.
"What on earth-" I say, placing a hand on the window, still searching for the mysterious figure.
"Atlas, Is everything alright?" The teacher beckons, standing from her desk. I turn to look at her, and everyone is staring at me, some giggling to themselves.
I clear my throat and sit back down.
"Yes, everything is fine." I pick my pen up and continue writing.
'What was that about?' I'm wondering as I stick the lid of my pen into my mouth, chewing it curiously.