It could be love

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

TW: Panic Attack, bullying

Mrs.Garrett was droning on about our new book, To Kill a Mockingbird, one I've read a million times. It's one of my all-time favorites so I know everything she's saying. Rather than be reminded of everything I love about the book, I decided to draw one of my projects for art.

We were supposed to recreate our greatest fear from our perspective and why it haunted us. My teacher, Mr.Benson, was trying to come up with an idea to match Halloween, but it ended up making me hate the holiday. I wasn't afraid of your normal phobias like spiders or heights, what I feared the most was being forgotten.

It was a drawing of me in front of my house, slowly disappearing into thin air, my dad not even noticing that I was gone. I was so deep in thought that I hadn't noticed the teacher calling my name until Billy nudged me.

"Excuse me, Ms.Newby, but can you answer my question, or would you rather just continue to doodle during our discussion?"

"To be completely honest, I didn't hear a word you said before you got my attention, but I've read this book quite a few times so just repeat it and I'll be happy to answer."

I wasn't normally that rude or straightforward with anyone, but I didn't get any sleep last night so I couldn't bring myself to fake the smiles this morning.

"Alright then, if you're so confident in yourself, why don't you tell me who Scout is."

"Scout is the nickname for the main character of the book, Jean Louise, who is suffering in the great depression with her brother Jem and her father Atticus in the town of Maycomb, Alabama."

"That's...correct. Just please pay attention."

"Yes ma'am"

I took out my copy of the book and set it on my desk to show I was ready, so she continued class. I felt someone's eyes on me, so I turned to look at Billy but his eyes were on my drawing. I went to cover it, a little embarrassed and scared of what he would say when he caught my wrist and looked me in the eye.

"What are you drawing?"

"Why do you care?"

"Never said I did, Sweetcheeks"

"Call me that again and your precious car is sledgehammered"

Before he could respond to me, the bell rang and I immediately grabbed the drawing and my book. I shoved them into my backpack and practically ran out of the class, leaving Billy at our table.

Will was pretty much the only person I showed my art to unless my dad decided to clean my room for me and found some of it, which happened often. I've always been scared of being judged for my art and I would rather die than get criticized for it, even if it was constructive.

I was so lost in trying to calm myself down that I ran straight into Steve in the hallway, my eyelashes getting mascara on his shirt. He smelled like mint and that Calvin Klein cologne, "Obsession", that every other rich guy was wearing. I almost stayed there for a minute because the scent had me in a trance, but I quickly remembered who I was talking about and backed away.

"Watch it, Newby"

"Ever think you were the dumbass that ran into me?"

"Hey-"

"You better be careful little Kayla, run into anyone else like that and you might get uglier, if that's even possible"

Tommy H. came up from behind Steve, softly curling a piece of my hair around his finger. I smacked his hand away, brushing my hair behind my shoulder before I walked away with an expression that matched my disgust.