𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 ✰❤︎ 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘅 𝗳𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

| 26 |

Chapter Twenty Six

~

small time skip - a week later

"Alright everybody how was your winter break?" Mrs. Park asks the class with that same peppy voice of hers. I slouch a little bit in my seat and yawn.

Winter break is over. Maya is gone. And Mom is coming back today.
Personally for me, this day is one of the worst of the school year. After two weeks of happiness and freedom, you're back in a cold brick building for seven hours a day.

But this year is extra horrible. Because I basically don't have any friends. My friend group is split apart, and we still haven't made up.

So when I should be focusing on starting the second semester strong, my mind is racing around Finn, Noah, and Gaten.

"Y/n would you like to share?"

I freeze and my eyes fly open. Instantly everyone turns to face me.

Fuck.

I feel my heart beat skyrocket, and my palms get sweaty. I'm sure my face is blood red as well.

"I uhm... I just hung out with my friends and family," I quietly speak while straightening my back but keeping my eyes down.

"Ms. Hawke I'm gonna need you to speak up a bit," Mrs. Park sighs a little and tilts her head down.

My face flushes even more. Here's another thing I do not (and will never) miss about school: being humiliated in front of the whole class by your teachers.

"Sorry. I just hung out with friends and family," I try my best to talk a little louder but she still looks confused.

Y/n just speak the hell up it's not that hard.

"She spent time with her friends and family."
A loud voice says clearly to the teacher. Her eyes flicker to the student and she nods.

"Thank you for the clarification, Will."

I bite harshly down onto my lower lip and quickly exchange a "thank you" to Will. He just rolls his eyes at the teacher and smiles at me in return.

I'm sure at this point my face was as red as a cherry as I slumped back down into my seat.
First day back and I already miss break. I already miss being myself.

"Alright well moving on, today we'll be partner grading our short stories as review and starting our new book: 'How to Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. The novel is a classic..."

Slowly her voice trails off and my thoughts grow louder.
My thoughts about my friends, about Louis, about my mom and about needing to speak up.

I just can't seem to focus today.

~

"Hey y/n!" Louis calls from behind my locker. I never get sick of his voice. His happy, gentle voice.
Turning on my heels, I greet him with a crooked smile as he jogs over. The boy quickly goes in for a side hug.

"How were your first classes?" He let's go sooner than I'd hoped for, and starts walking side by side with me to the lunch table.