I walked up shyly to the school, not sure what to expect. I took a deep breath before striding into the somewhat quiet hallway. At first, it seemed calm. Old friends reunited after a long summer, couples sneaking kisses in the corner. As for me, I didn't know anybody. I thought about going up to the group of girls who were standing in a tight circle, whispering nervously, making me assume they were freshman as well, but they cast me a cold glance as I approached them. I knew I shouldn't have worn this the first day, I thought, mentally slapping myself. My older sister, who refused to be seen with me, had warned me that this was too bold, too different.
"You need to at least try to fit in the first day," she had told me harshly. But still, I came to school in my sunflower shorts and black tights and oxfords and my favorite Vaccines shirt. I shouldn't have been ashamed, this was who I am but I didn't belong here. I belonged on tumblr, reading indie band fanfiction.
As soon as the bell rang, the amount of kids in the hallways quadrupled. I wasn't even sure where these people were coming from. I had to fight my way against the current to get into my homeroom class. I darted into the cracked open door and sat down to catch my breath.
I sat alone, in the back, so I could see everyone in my homeroom. I recognized a few of the girls who had been huddled together, and even now they continued to whisper. I immediately categorized them as the gossip girls. Then there was 'the group.' I wasn't new to this situation. There was always that group, the group that everyone wants to be a part of. The one that seems flawless, the people within it even more so. I knew because my sister was in that group. Tess was a senior and captain of the cheerleading squad. She was popular among the boys and everyone knew her name. Then there was me, the nobody. I had spent my most of my life trying to be invisible, but now I suddenly wished I had someone to talk to.
A little farther to the left, was a boy who was sitting alone. He didn't seem to mind being by himself. Every now and then, he would run his fingers through his curly head of hair smoothly. The boy must've felt me watching him because he turned and stared directly at me, his green eyes sparkling. Upon seeing my shirt, he gave a slight nod of approval before facing forward again and I felt my cheeks get hot.
Another bell rang, and I stepped back out into the bustling hallway. As I got tossed about, occasionally slamming into the lockers, somebody walked up beside me.
"Hey," the boy said. He was pale and blond and had the prettiest blue eyes. "Why haven't I seen you around before?"
I kept silent, not sure how to respond.
"You're Tess' sister aren't you?"
I nodded.
"You think you can hook me up with her or something? My name is Niall. Niall Horan." The blondie put his arm around my shoulders.
"F*** off," I said, shoving his body away from mine.
"Mm, fiesty," he mumbled, clinging to me. He lowered his head to whisper in my ear, "I like that." Chills went down my spine when I felt his hot breath against my neck.
"Hey back off," I heard someone say. I saw the curly haired boy coming up behind us. His green eyes looked piercing and scary.
"Look a little shrimp," the blond chuckled sarcastically. The brunette was no shrimp. He was taller than the blonde and had broad muscular shoulders. He had a fist raised and the blonde flinched slightly.
"Hah, you really think you can beat up a junior?" he spat. The curly haired kid hit him, quick and hard, right in the stomach. Niall doubled over, crumpling to the ground after a single blow.
"Uh, thanks," I said to the hero.
"No problem. I'm Harry," he held out an outstretched hand but I hesitated to take it. His eyes were sparkling again.
"I'm Nicole," taking his hand. It was huge.
"What do you have next?"
"Biology."
"Oh, well I have algebra. I'll see you around. I like your shirt by the way." The conversation ended as I disappeared into my bio class, Harry parting with me to go to math.
The first thing the biology teacher did was the thing I hated the most. Grouping us together.
"Nicole your going to be lab partners with, uh, Zayn," Dr. Nelson said.
I scooted over to the boy Zayn. He had dark hair, pushed up into a quiff and there was a blond streak running through it. I was admiring his long eyelashes when I noticed a small tattoo on his left arm. He smirked when he caught me staring and rolled his sleeve down to cover it up. Zayn smelled like smoke and thick cologne. As I was becoming aware of all these, Dr. Nelson had asked me a question. Zayn laughed half heartedly next to me and my cheeks turned a bright shade of red. Zayn's laughter made me even more embarrassed.
"He just asked you you're name," he muttered under his breath.
"Oh, uh, Nicole," I stammered. Dr. Nelson nodded and moved on to the next pair for more introductions. Zayn was helping me and mocking me at the same time and I wasn't sure what to think. All I knew for sure was that Zayn was the most attractive person I had ever seen. Or maybe it was the fact that he didn't care that intrigued me. Whatever it was, I wanted to be close to him.
At lunch, I sat alone. I saw Zayn sitting alone too, but he made it look good. I was just awkward, until Harry joined me.
"Hey there," he said, grinning. His dimples showed on both sides of his face and he looked incredibly childish compared to when he stood up for me earlier.
"Hi," I said, grinning back.
"So how's school been so far?"
"Eh, it's okay." I was awful at keeping up a conversation but Harry was doing his best to be patient. From the corner of my eye, I saw Zayn watching me, a half smile growing on his thick lips.
Harry and I chatted for awhile but he left to talk to some of his other friends. I couldn't blame him. He was too nice I admit it but I had bored him to death.
Zayn took the opportunity to sit next to me. He didn't say anything, just sat there, staring at me.
"So you like that boy, Harry?" He asked. He had caught me off guard and I blushed.
"N-no, I don't," I stuttered.
"Haha I don't believe you."
"I don't!" I protested.
"Okay okay, whatever you say." Then he got up and left. What was with him?
