THOSE DAYS

The shoe

We were teenagers when we first met....

It is new-year today but sadly we don't have any holidays even on the first day of new year. I think no one gets a holiday on the very first day of new year as it is not an international holiday so my day today is just going like any other day. I got up early but still got late to school. As I was just running towards my class to mark my attendance ,I fell. And just regard it as my bad luck that Arlo and Noah were just passing by. They both saw me and started to laugh. Just then Arlo began to say

" Happy New year. What's wrong? Come on, get up .Oh! Everybody look, Catherine's shoe is torn up. How can a girl be like this? So clumsy ."
"Why are you so annoying?"
" Everyone, just look at her shoe "

Every one who was present there, started to stare me and some students even came out of their classes, just to look what was going on. I started to feel awkward as I was just sitting on the floor, holding my foot as it was paining so much. I tried to get up but I fell again , Arlo was just standing in front of me with Noah and enjoying the show. Just then Lucas showed up. I swear that it was the most awkward moment of my life and became worse when I saw Lucas. It was not because I didn't liked him but because I didn't wanted him to see me like that. I couldn't do anything but when mine and Lucas's eyes met, his expression was something that I had already imagined. He was shocked but instead of laughing at me like others, he ran towards me and it was clear that he was angry. It's the first time that I saw a furious side of Lucas as I always imagined him as a person who just minded his own business and never got angry. He approached towards me and started to yell at Arlo

" Hey ! What is this? "
"What do you mean? Can't you see that I'm helping others to see the truth? "
"What truth? "
" Hey Lucas ,just chill bro. We are just helping our new classmate. Wanna join us? "
" I think it'll be better if you could take care of your own back first "

Arlo smirked at Lucas's words and went straight to the classroom with Noah. I was still struggling to get up but then Lucas's hand approached me. As I looked up at him, he just smiled at me .His smile was way more comforting and it made me feel better. I held his hand as he helped me to get up. He just smiled when I looked at him and said

" Better be careful next time .i might not be there every time to help you . Remember, you have to stand for yourself and no one is going to do that for you. "
"Thank you Lucas "
Just then, he left but his words were struck in my head. After he left, I felt quite embarrassing as I still could remember all their laughs which echoed in the hallway. As I was sitting in the class room, a student came to inform me that the classteacher was calling me.As I entered the room, I saw headteacher, looking through the test which were given to us in the classes. He looked quite dissapointed and said

"Catherine, it's been more than three days now that you came to our school .Can you get used to it? "
" I think ....it's alright "
"Well, here's the thing. Have you ever thought about going back to previous school? "
"Sir, did I do something wrong? "
"No.No, don't be nervous. I've checked your graded of test lately and asked other teachers about you. Generally, you failed to get good marks and you know it yourself. And I know you're trying hard. I'm just afraid that you cannot catch with our progress.Other teachers cannot slow down their process because of you .Look, do you want to go home and talk to your parents?Go back to your original school. It might be better for you to take admission in a good college then. "

I didn't knew what to say next. I just bowed my head and left the teachers room but as soon as I closed the door, I started to tear up .I didn't knew what to do as we didn't even transferred here because of me. All they cared was if my brother was doing good or not. So instead of going to my class with that face, I decided to go to the school playground .I sat in the nearby bench and stared at my torn shoe as the teacher's word echoed in my head. Just after some time, I felt a pat on my shoulder and when I looked up, it was Lucas again. He smiled sweetly at me like he always did. I sometimes think that we have some special sort of bonding cause whenever I feel low, he was always by my side .He sat beside me and said