GUROGAN

Chapter 1:ROLLIN' 'N' SCHOOLIN'

It was Tom's second year at Sulpavania High School. Tom was a boy of average height. He had a slightly pale face, eyes that reflected the soul's essence and a fine curved mouth. His hair was yellow, smooth and with a fine silk-like feeling when touched. Sadly, despite all those angelic features, he was pretty much a let-down in his social life. Tom was that type of person that no one really looked much into and could be a side character in his own story.
"Tom, you're late hurry up!" shouted his mother who was on the other hand late for work. Tom hurried his pace, quickly changed and headed towards the car. "Have you packed your lunch?" asked his mother. "Yes mom, can we go now?" replied Tom who on the other hand seemed to be disturbed by something somehow. The car was turned on and off it went coughing clouds of smoke into the air. It was a minutes' drive from Tom's house to the school and they arrived pretty soon. Tom got out of the car and suddenly it hit him, he was back to the place where his existence was never acknowledged. A tidal wave of nausea hit him as he stared at the school's infrastructures. "Have a great day sweety!" he finally heard the echo of his mother's voice who had already driven a few metres away rushing for work.
Well at least one good thing was there. He was now a sophomore and had freshmen he could also pick on. Last year he was the sophomores' guinea pig but things could at least be a little different this year, "I might earn a little respect this year" or so he thought. Just then he was pulled out of his thoughts by a shout, "Yo Tom, buddy!" It was Joe Punster, his best and seemingly only friend. "Welcome back to school Joe." "Same applies bro." An awkward moment of silence followed and then Tom broke it off. "This year is the year I'm turning my life around." he said with gleaming eyes. "You mean with Jessie?" asked Joe who was almost erupting with laughter but trying his hardest to hold it in. "Maybe that as well", replied Tom whose face started blushing at the mention of Jessie's name. "Dude just face it, you can't date a famous school girl when you're the 'school geek'. Trust me it never ends like that" Tom's expression changed and he scowled at the thought that his friend couldn't support his love conquest but was instead telling him off. "You just wait and see" finally said Tom trying to prove his point. "Plus in the movies 'Geeks' always get the girl" he added on. "Well my friend, this is reality, we're not in a movie" continued Joe who was also trying to bring out the impossibility of a Tom-Jessie pair. "Whatever" mumbled Tom in discontent.
Tom and Joe's conversation was cut short by the loud uproar of people as they rushed to the car park. Just that, could tell what was up. 'The belle of the ball had arrived' Jessie, the reigning queen of the school's beauty pageant, commanded attention with her breathtaking presence. Her physique was a masterpiece of curves and contours, a work of art that defied perfection. Her upper body was a symphony of elegance, while her face was an ethereal vision - an angelic countenance that mesmerized all who laid eyes on her.

Her eyes sparkled with seduction, the epitome of sensuality, beckoning all to surrender to their allure. Her lips, a masterpiece of precision, invited desire, sculpted to perfection by the divine hands of fate. Her tresses cascaded like a rich, brown waterfall, shimmering with every step.As the scion of the influential Emandov family, Jessie's arrival was nothing short of royalty. Her sleek, pink Mini Cooper, emblazoned with her name on the license plate, announced her entrance. As she glided through the school hall, the crowd parted, entranced by her captivating aura. Her wake was filled with the sweet, heady scent of allure, leaving onlookers breathless and bewitched.Jessie's presence was a whispered promise of excitement, a tantalizing blend of beauty, wealth, and sophistication. She was the ultimate dream girl, and her arrival signaled the start of a captivating reign.

"H...H...Hi...Hi Jessie." Jessie stopped to see the idiot that was ruining her moment with such ridiculous stammering. She turned to her left only to see what worsened her annoyance. It was Tom who was smiling awkwardly. Disgusted by the site of the 'school geek' she didn't reply back and simply turned back continuing on to the hall with a swarm of boys following her just to get a catch of her scent. 'I don't talk to people below my league' was what she probably thought.
"Whoa, she wouldn't even say a simple hi" said Joe as he started laughing. "Forget about her man, you can't win with her" Joe continued to insist Tom to quit. Tom's high spirits had been shattered and could be resembled with a wet lost puppy. "I won't give up......I'll keep trying" he finally said as though trying to comfort and encourage himself to continue with his love conquest even though it seemed like a lost pipe dream. Jessie had been Tom's crush since middle school and he wouldn't give up that easily. She was the apple of his eye and surely that apple would one day be his. He wouldn't let some random girl reaction demotivate him. Still though, the year seemed to threaten to start abruptly. The bell signaling the start of school and lessons was sounded and everyone headed towards their respective classes to commence with learning.
Tom and Joe were in separate classes this year. Tom was in 2A and Joe in 2B.
When Tom entered the classroom, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Everyone gave him an unwelcoming and piercing glare punctuated by hostility and resentment in each and every one. 'This is the most uncomfortable I've ever felt around people' he thought. Slowly, Tom walked to his desk at the far corner of the classroom. Everyone there started shifting away to find new places to sit. No one could stand Tom's presence and they pretty much felt a sense of disgust and agitation so they all shifted away. A commiserative expression was painted on his face. Tom never felt appreciated or loved. For some unknown reason everyone despised him, like he was born to be hated. 'No boy should deserve such suffering' he thought from time to time. Soon enough everyone settled down and a few minutes later, a man entered the classroom. He was quite short and stout, probably in his mid-thirties. His face was very vicious like that of a war veteran. "Welcome class, my name is Mr Shockburn and I'll be your homeroom teacher this year" introduced the man. "So I've brought a copy of your class list and I'll mark the register to see who couldn't make it." Tom's eyes then met Jessie who sat a few rows away. They were in the same class! How glad Tom was that they would be learning together. He suddenly found himself lost in his daylight fantasies of Jessie. That elegant smile directed towards him, uttering the words 'I love you'. Tom could just imagine what life would be like if Jessie was his girlfriend. Maybe then people would start acknowledging him. Maybe then his life wouldn't be so miserable. But oh well, thoughts are but just thoughts. "Tom Shivletton!!!" Mr Shockburn's shout finally reached the day-dreaming boy. "Jessie!" without even realizing it Tom had shouted out Jessie's name in class. His sub-conscience was still active and must have probably caused him to. The whole class burst into laughter. Filled with humiliation and embarrassment Tom covered his mouth with his hand. 'Why would I say something like that, and in front of the whole class even' he wondered to himself. He slowly shifted his eyes towards Jessie, whom he had objectified. Her piercing cold stare showed the vehemence she felt towards him. It was like her eyes were spelling out the words "PISS OFF" to Tom. 'Looks like I just lost my game' thought Tom as he tucked his head into his arms on his desk. "What has Jessie done now?" asked Mr Shockburn finally showing the ferocity of his war veteran face. "Noth...noth...nothing sir" stammered Tom with an expression as if to say 'kill me now.' "Get out of my class! Come back when your mind wants to learn" shouted Mr Shockburn vehemently. The class burst into more laughter at the site of a pitiful boy exiting the class.
School time finally ended and Tom met Joe at the school gate so that they could both walk home as their homes were quite close to each other, several houses away. Tom narrated his eventful day to Joe who on the other hand continuously laughed so hard at Tom's misfortunes. "What a great first day, don't you agree" said Joe trying to agitate Tom. Tom ignored it and just fell silent. A tense atmosphere started forming and Joe then knew that he'd taken it too far. "There are a lot more people than Jessie in this world man. For now just concentrate on your studies ok" Joe said at last trying to break the tense atmosphere. "Yeah, yeah sure" Tom dully responded and just continued with his silence all the way until he finally said his goodbye as they parted ways when Joe had arrived at his house.