Never Too Soon

Beat the System

POV: Harper

"Are you sure you'll be okay today? It isn't too late to go to the doctor and ask for another week?" My dad asked me as we sat in the parking lot of my school while the low hum of the radio filled the occasional peaceful silence. Both Lauren and my dad will leave earlier so we can sit in the parking lot with a cup of coffee. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we don't.

"I walked as the final walker in the second biggest annual runway. It is far too late to ask for an extension. The only thing I'm worried about are classmates." I took a shaky breath before finishing the rest of my coffee.

My dad sighed and nodded his head. "I know things will change, but I don't know if it'll be good or bad."

I looked at the clock before grabbing my bag from my feet. "I'll let you know if shit happens."

My dad silently nodded his head and I got out of the car. I still wore the white gold chain bracelet that Max gave me. It made me feel confident and brought me comfort. I knew he had my back no matter the situation, even after I went off on him for asking a simple question.

All eyes were on me as I walked through the main doors of the building.

Both girls and guys were eyeing me in a way I couldn't describe nor differentiate between good or bad.

"Hey Harper! Are you doing better?" A particular girl who is almost always picking on me went out of her way to talk to me in a fake ass voice.

"Yes. I'm doing fine." I mumbled and picked up my pace to my first class of the day.

"Good to see you back, Miss Ryan." My first period teacher greeted me with a tired smile. Mister Taylor was never indifferent with me. He stood up for me on multiple occasions.

I only nodded my head, because it would be a bold faced lie if I said it was good to be back.

"If anyone gives you any trouble because of this passed weekend, let me know and I'll handle it." Mister Taylor then turned back to his work. "Never saw you to be a model, Miss Ryan. Always thought you'd be a doctor or some kind of scientist."

I lightly laughed. "I didn't think I would've been either, but next thing I know my new neighbor owns LMJ Magazine and Vogue, befriended me without me knowing anything, in which I did figure out after she invited me to the place my mother got me." I knew it was all over the news and that there was no way in hell he could not have known. "And then she was short a model before their annual Fall runway, so I was offered a guest feature position that I couldn't turn away."

"I'm happy for you, Miss Ryan. It's good to see that you're already doing better than anyone in this school, including me." Mister Taylor gave me a nod, and more students came trickling in as I took my seat.

"Good morning, Harp. Can I call you Harp?" Jackson, the jackass that always took my seat, smiled down at me.

"Um, no." I slowly blinked before facing forward.

"I'm really sorry about how I used to treat you. I was a jackass and you didn't deserve that." Jackson played a fake ass persona.

"If you are coming to me because you think you have any chance at being my friend, you are mistaken. I hate you." I grumbled. I was in no state of mind to deal with him.

"What if, what if we tried to become more than friends?" Jackson leaned on my desk, trying to be sly.

"The rumor about me being gay? That one is the only true one. I would never be with you." I snapped at him.

"My sister is bi? Maybe you two could go on a date? I'd set you up! Give you her number! She's sixteen, has blonde hair, kinda looks like me-" I cut him off of his rant with one thing that I knew would shut him up.