ʍoɹplǝss, ᵇⁱˡˡⁱᵉ ᵉⁱˡⁱˢʰ

003: Savior Complex

     
       My locker stood wide open, unlike how I'd left it the day before. Inside was a cutely decorated note with sharpied, cartoon-like flowers along the edges of the white paper. On the front in obnoxiously large letters read PLEASE READ INSIDE!!!

"Like fuck I'm going to read this." Quickly, I crumpled up the note without even glimpsing at whatever message was inked inside. "To the trash you go." Flicked my my wrist and the paper flew right into the garbage. Not another moment was spared before I tapped my foot and began walking past the boisterous crowds of students. Shoulder bump after shoulder bump, I finally made it to Room 107.

The room was chilly. Only a few students were seated.

Maybe I can hide in the bathroom until the bell rings. Though, as the idea danced around my head in contemplation, two other students stumbled through the doors. I knew them to a certain extent— they were the kids who always sat at the front of the class. And for good reason, too, since the back was usually filled with the loudest students.

"Frankie, your laces are untied," said the taller one as she pointed down at the shoes of the one named Frankie. Frankie placed her books down on her desk and bent down to tie them into bows.

Stop staring, dumbass. I shook my head and sat down neatly, flattening my skirt down to right above my knees. Unbuttoned my blazer so it would be easier to breathe in since it was marginally tight around my waist when I sat down.
I'll just stay here.

—

Lunch came around soon enough. Though, the cafeteria wasn't a exactly a great place for someone to sit at unless they were comfortable with the deafening yells of overly-cologned boys and never ending chatter from the girls who would fall for their gross manners.

So I sat in the quietest place in the school other than the bathroom: an empty classroom. The teacher whose homeroom I always ate in appreciated the occasional conversation with me; since he didn't enjoy the brashness that always lived during lunch in the cafeteria, but didn't particularly fancy the silence, he welcomed me with open arms.

"Hope you enjoy your food, Mr Lawrence," I said with a smile. Mr Lawrence nodded placidly and began to take spoonfuls of his rice-filled bowl. I, on the other hand, held a plain ham and cheese sandwich in between my napkins.

Dig in, I said to myself, then took my first bite. Maybe it was because of how hungry I felt, but, God, did it taste amazing.

It didn't take long before I entirely consumed it. I clapped my hands gently to get rid of the few crumbs that stuck to the skin of my palms. Mr Lawrence still ate quietly, only talking when he came up with another riddle that would always be far too simple to solve.

As I started putting away my things, the door swung open to reveal a familiar blonde girl.

Oh, crap.

"Ambrose! Hey, I've been looking for you!" Billie quickly waved at the teacher before joining me. Her cheeks were flushed and her chest heaved from running, I assumed.

Billie and I stared at each other for a beat until the sound of Mr Lawrence's bowl clicking closed brought us back into reality. I cleared my throat, put away my water bottle and buttoned my blazer.

"Good evening, Billie." I fiddled with my nails underneath the desk. Billie rested her elbow over the surface and settled her chin on her palm as her gaze never gravitated away from mine.