The Unlucky One

Chapter 5

I sat in my parked car, located in the schools parking lot. Anxiously tapping my fingers on the steering wheel I thought back on what happened yesterday. I couldn't believe I let myself become so overwhelmed with emotions, that I actually ditched third period. For God sakes Elodie, you only have three classes! I started my first day off so incredibly wrong, and I was not proud of myself. Never in my life have I ever ditched a class.

I got to school early to sit and think for a while, and to also get out of my house. Yesterday when I got home, after my panic attack, I was welcomed home by another endless argument from my mother. At first I actually tried sticking up for myself, but after many attempts of trying to get through to her, I finally gave up.

Why couldn't I have stuck up for myself yesterday in class? And why didn't my teacher stop all of the students that were pushing the topic? And who the hell talks about a horrific accident that happened over the summer, on the first day of school? Teachers don't do that.

Glancing at the clock on the radio I saw I had ten minutes until class started. I was so consumed by thoughts that I never even heard the pings of my phone.

'Please tell me you're coming to school today.' The message from Kristen made my heart ache. How could I leave her in the middle of class? I was a horrible friend.

I quickly made my way out of my car, shutting the door and locking it behind me. I tried my absolute best to walk with confidence, despite the fear that silently quaked throughout my body.

Today I wore the same thing as yesterday, only different colors and a few more accessories. I was planning on making this day a good one, doing it the right way.

After successfully walking through the quad, I finally made it into the business building, and into my Econ class right as the bell rang. "Miss Altman! Few more seconds and you would have been late." Mr. R said playfully.

I shot him a small smile and made my way to my desk. As I sat down I could hear Kristen sigh from across the room, wiggling her eyebrows at me. She seemed happy I was here, and that also made me happy.

First period was alright, lots of book work. We have a test in exactly a week, and I was planning on acing it. The three gels occasionally looked at me and over exaggerated their laughs. The last five minutes of class were ours, and everyone moved around.

"Hey, how're ya doing?" Kristen asked anxiously, sliding into an empty desk next to mine. I cleared my throat and turned my body toward her. "A lot better. I kinda overreacted yesterday. And I'm sorry for leaving you, I just... I guess I couldn't take it." I told her sincerely.

"I totally understand. Those comments were awful. After you left I yelled at those stupid girls and also McCoy, and called her a terrible excuse for a teacher." I laughed at her comment.

"And I earned myself a weeks worth of detention with her!" I gasped.

"What! Why did you do that?" I exclaimed, watching her simply laugh. "It was worth it. Nobody should ever put someone down like that and get away with it." The bell rang as soon as Kristen finished her sentence. We both stood, gathering our things and making it out of the classroom.

"Well, thank you for that. Hopefully today will be better than yesterday." I added as we neared English. Before we entered a loud bang sounded in the hall way, echoing off the walls so loudly that I dropped my binder to cover my ears. I scrunched my eyes shut and gasped.

After a second I opened my eyes to see that someone had dropped a stack of books on the tiled floor, the result of the loud noise. "Shit, you okay El?" Kristen asked, bending down and pushing my papers back into my binder. Students, and a few teachers, began to stare and I shakily exhaled, nodding my head at Kristen's question. The same guy I ran into outside of the bathroom yesterday had a panicked expression on his face, eyeing me before he walked away quickly. Who is that guy?