Fervent for One Direction

Chapter 1

I hesitantly stepped into the classroom. Twenty pairs of eyes made their way to me and I could literally feel the heat rise to my cheeks. I clutched my books tighter to my chest and walked over to the teacher's desk. 

"Hi, I'm um Raleigh Zook. I'm the foreign exchange student...Headmaster Greer said you would know I would be coming today." I nervously gulp and glance around. I spot a few cute guys and I restrain a smile and turn back around to the professor. 

"Welcome to Bales, find a seat and I'll assign someone to help you get caught up after class. 

I nod and slowly make my way to the only empty seat in the back next to a dark brown haired boy listening to music and two girls who kept cutting their eyes at me. A guy two seats in front of me turned around and practically shouted, "Hey! I'm Louis!" He stood up and walked to my seat to shake my hand. I smiled and firmly shook it. 

"Firm handshake...I like that," Louis said with a grin. "So where are you from love?" 

"The United States...North Carolina," I say quietly. 

"Ahhh, well cool! Hey if you need anything, let me know," he said with a wink as he made his way back to his assigned desk. 

I smile to myself. He was really attractive, maybe this wouldn't be too bad. It had been my idea to study abroad, but once I was assigned to a family to live with the trip went downhill. I had learned that the parents were barely there, because of their job. That was fine, but that meant I would be stuck with their daughter. Their daughter also went to Bales and was horrid. Kelsey was rude and callous and the kind of girl I had always resented. The day I had arrived the parents were very kind, but had to quickly leave. I went upstairs to try to find my room and accidentally opened the door to her heavily making out with a hot curly haired guy. 

"Um excuse you!" She yelled. 

"I am so sorry, I was looking for my room..." 

"Down the hall to the right, slut," she said as I left the room and she continued stuffing her tongue down his throat and hands down the back of his pants. 

I sighed in remembrance of my first encounter with Kelsey, I would have to endure her horrible wrath for another year. She had continued to curse at me and make mean remarks to me the rest of the time I had been at home, and I hoped she would ease up to me once I arrived at school. That didn't happen. 

The rest of class went by in a blur. The bell suddenly rang and I shuffled my belongings together and accidentally dropped a couple papers onto the floor. I bent down to retrieve them and saw another pair of hands helping me pick them up. I look up and see the dark haired guy who had sat next to me in silence the entire class helping me gather the papers. 

"Thank you," I say to him as he looks up to me. 

"Anytime," he says as he hands me the papers. I slowly take the papers back and feel myself blush. I really had to work on that. 

"What were you listening to earlier in class?" I ask him. His eyes widen a little, shocked that I took notice in him. 

"You probably wouldn't know them...but they're called Passenger." 

I let the name sink in and the familiarity of the name clicks. "Yes! I love them! My favorite song of theirs is Let Her Go." 

"Yeah, good song," he nods as he becomes interested in me. "So do you have a boyfriend?" 

Shocked at his abrupt question I fumble with my words, "Uh, um, no not really..aha..." I glance at the ground and glance back up at his pretty face. He was probably one of those mysterious, quiet guys that got all the girls. He was probably really experienced with girls, and I on the other hand had only had a beach make out hookup and a few kisses here and there. 

He laughs at my unease, "Alright, good. Friday night I'm taking you out then." 

Before he could protest he leans over and kisses my cheek as he leaves with a sexy wink. Wow, British guys really do move fast. 

"He asked you out, didn't he?" A wavy haired girl asks as I leave the classroom. 

"Yeah," I laugh. "Does he do that a lot?" 

"With the new girls. So don't get too excited that he asked you out, it's a typical Zayn move." 

"So that's his name..." I shake my head and laugh. 

"I'm Eleanor by the way. Eleanor Calder." 

"Raleigh Zook, nice to meet you," I say with a smile. 

"So Ms. Hemt asked me to get you caught up with what we have already gone over in class. It's not that much, but having me give you the update is much faster than her doing it. She's an easy teacher, she gets her test questions from her quizzes, so if you study those you will be all set." 

"Wow, thanks!" 

"Anytime. So where are you headed next?" 

"Government," I tell her. 

"Me too, it's this way.." 

We arrive at the classroom and she goes with me to introduce myself to the teacher. Once again, everyone stares at me at the front of the room. 

"Why is everyone always gaping at me?" I whisper to Eleanor. 

"The guys, because you're a hot American. The girls, because they're jealous that all the guys are going to be after you." 

I let out a laugh, "Ha. Ha. No really!" 

"I'm telling the truth! You just wait," She tells me. 

"I'm not even pretty. Let alone hot, Eleanor." 

"I completely disagree, but since you don't believe me you wait until this weekend." 

"What's this weekend?" I ask her. 

"There's a party at this guy's house Friday night. You're coming with me, and I'll prove you wrong and that you're a total catch." 

"Ahh, I can't! Zayn is taking me out Friday night," I complain to her. 

"Skip out. He'll get over it. This is the party of the year, you have to go. Especially since you're new to town." 

I finally oblige, silently hoping that Zayn wouldn't be hurt by me cancelling.

•••• 

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Thank you for reading Chapter 1 of my 'Fervent' fanfic:) I'm not 100% sure in the name yet, but comment whether you like the fanfic so far or not and also leave name suggestions:) follow me on Instagram @onedirection_forever1d  

Thanks!