Starting Over

Starting Over - Chapter 4

Starting Over - Chapter 4

Sitting in that first class couldn't have been more aggravating. The geeks in front of me kept turning around to look at me, probably trying to determine if I was the type to be the newest member of the chess club.

How about ‘no.’ Not exactly my thing.

I could practically feel the stares boring into my back and the sides of my face, though I refused to meet any of their gazes. Seemingly hours later, though it was just 30 minutes since I'd arrived late, the bell rang, and it was time for second period.

I stood from my seat slowly and walked towards the door searching for my schedule. Seriously, I had just gotten it! How could I have already lost it?

"Bastard," I mumbled to myself as I walked past Mr. Bertram's desk, where he sat doing paperwork.

"Excuse me, Ms. Smith? What did you just call me?" he asked sternly.

"Oh! Not you, sir! I was just talking to myself," I assured him. Great. That's assuring: I talk to myself, saying 'bastard'. The teacher of my favorite subject probably thought I was a tool now. Just perfect. After he shot me a strange look, I continued walking out and searching my bag. I mean there's not that much stuff in here! Goodness!

"Looking for this?" a deep voice asked me, followed by a low chuckle. I saw my schedule in an outstretched hand and slowly looked up to see who it belonged to. And sweet Jesus, he was attractive. His hair was golden blonde and cut in a surfer type hairstyle. His eyes were the gray-blue of the ocean and I felt like I was drowning in his gaze. Or something. He was taller than me (Let's hope so, it'd be a bit sad if he was shorter than my 5'4") and towered over me with about a half a foot or so. But it did give me a fantastic view of his chest...

I suddenly remembered he had said something to me, and that I should respond before he thought I was mentally retarded.

"How'd you get that?" I eyed him skeptically. Just because he was cute did not mean he wasn't some sort of creeper. He laughed again, and it was a nice comforting sound.

"You dropped it when you got up," he told me. And it suddenly struck me he was a Popular. He was one of the guys sitting behind me. Oh god, I looked terrible! Why hadn't I tried to dress nicely today? Oh yeah... I didn't give a damn.

Screw that, I felt like the dirt-poor girl that I am. Or was, seeing as how I now lived with Dick.

"Oh. Right," I replied, while finger combing through my hair to make sure it wasn't as much of a mess that the rest of me was. I cleared my throat, "I'm Arriana, by the way."

He flashed me a toothy grin. "I know, you introduced yourself to the class, remember?"

"Oh yeah," I smiled goofily remembering Mr. Bertram's face at my use of the term "dick". Good times... "Anyways, what's your name then?"

"I'm Chris Browne," he told me, still grinning.

"Hey! Like the singer! I hope you don't hit girls, too, though..." I carried off, looking at him skeptically again. Seriously, you never know.

“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me. Its not exactly my thing,” he told me, chuckling a bit. “I’m more of the wait-till-they-least-expect-my-revenge type. I find it to be more entertaining than beating people up.”

I sent him my biggest smile and agreed as we walked past through the halls, people passing us and sending me strange glances. It was like they’d never seen a new kid before. One bleach blonde head stuck out in the crowd, though, as it approached us from the opposite direction.