Always & Forever

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Anthony's POV

Walking out of psychology, I was kicking myself for letting it go yet another class without speaking to her. I need to be the one to make the first move and I know I do. It's been three weeks, or in simpler terms, it's been 24 classes together since I practically bit her head off and I still haven't managed to get the courage to try and speak to her again. Now that I've calmed down a bit, I can see that Louise was just trying to be nice. If I'm honest with myself, I'm fairly sure I realised that night... actually, I probably realised when I saw the look on her face as she turned around. I could have explained to her a bit better, explained that I have actually been at this school just as long as she has. I mean, we don't exactly associate with the same groups, at all. It is understandable that she doesn't know me. I didn't need to jump to my usual defensive state and get my back up over something so small.

Damn that little thing called Pride.

I found her on MySpace the night it all happened. Her profile isn't private which is a massive bonus for me. I have considered adding her as a friend a few times. Only thing stopping me is that now she knows who I am, she knows me. I am no longer anonymous. Anyway the look she gives me when she walks into class and spots me lets me know that she hasn't exactly forgotten our exchange.

The looks she gives me are actually quite amusing. I wonder if she realises how cute she looks when she gets mad. Of course, girl 101, never point out how cute they look when they are mad. The entire male population should know that by high school.

I have noticed though that Chris is speaking to her quite a bit now, I knew those two were friends before I ever spoke to her, but after the 20 question session I had a few weeks ago with Chris, I have a slight feeling that he is interested in her as well. I don't care. It doesn't annoy me at all. Not at all. I don't even know her after all, Chris does know her so I get it. I do know however, that she has a pretty long term boyfriend. That hurt a little. Not that I'd ever admit that. She isn't the only one with a reputation to protect. I'm a male. Males don't get hurt or upset.

I'm not surprised though, she's beautiful. What did surprise me is that she doesn't seem interested to much by her boyfriend. He appears to comment on all of her things on MySpace, but she rarely responds to him or even acknowledges him. Everyone knows most girls our age flood their 'about me' section with mushy crap no one wants to read about a boyfriend they only just started dating. Not her though, Lou simply has the word taken, a love heart and the letter O. From her top 8 friends, I easily worked out that her boyfriend was Owen, whose profile also isn't private. Hence me knowing that he has a lot more about her on his profile, then she does him. Strange.

Walking to Drama, I decide today is the day I am going to attempt to make amends with her. I want to know this girl. Boyfriend or not. There is something about her and I am not going to let one little disagreement stop that.

She's normally right on time for class so I make sure that I get there early, I decided I'm going to deliberately sit near where she sits and smile at her. It's not much, but it might stop those cute angry eyes she continues to send my way. I know Chris and Adrian will follow and sit near me so I'm not worried about looking like a complete and utter loser.

As I approach the drama room my head is racing, so many thoughts are running around up there, I don't want to blame nerves, but I think that has a lot to do with it. I did over-react, I know I did. She was just genuinely being nice, trying to make the 'new guy' aka me, feel comfortable. That isn't something I should get upset with her for, if anything, it's an admirable quality. A quality more people should have. Walking around the corner I realise just how early I am. The location of the Drama classroom isn't like a typical classroom in the hallways, its outside and in the open, so it didn't take a genius to work out that there was nobody here yet.

I sat down near the door, close enough that I would be noticeable, but not close enough that I seemed too eager to get into class. To waste some time and not look too strange, I pull out my iPod. At least some music can distract me, waste time and make me blend in a bit more. Slowly my class mates start to arrive, one by one, but I keep a look out of the corner of my eye while trying to remain inconspicuous. I know though that there is only one person I am looking for and she is no where to be found. As we are let inside the room, I move away from my normal spot, attempting to grab the attention of Adrian & Chris in hope that they will follow my lead. I had decided earlier that sitting near where she normally sits might make it obvious I am trying to make an effort. I hoped so at least.

Here I am, sitting in the opposite corner of the class sitting on my own all by my lonesome. My brilliant plan to get the boys over simply by assuming they would follow, didn't work. They are still sitting in our normal spot, Lou's normal spot is far too close to the teacher for their liking. I had just about lost all hope of her even showing up and was getting up again to move back to the other side of the room when the door swung open in front of me.

There she is.  

15 minutes late to class.

Realising I'm standing right in front of her, I decided I should try and make a joke. "Good afternoon Louise, Glad to see you could make it before the end of class!"

She glared at me with the most evil eyes I have ever seen. Good job you idiot. There goes all hope of reconciling with her. Not saying another word, i put my head down and simply walk back over and join the boys in our usual corner.

After roughly 10 minutes I notice that she isn't being her normal happy self, she has her head down and her iPod in, not even bothering to make it appear like she is paying attention to the class. In fact, She actually isn't paying any attention to the teacher either. Surely my joke hasn't upset her that much? It wasn't even that mean! I had a smile on my face when I said it so she would know I was only joking. It was harmless, or at least it was meant to be.

Oh shit.

Paying closer attention, it almost looks like she is crying. Her eyes seem a lot more glassy than normal, but it appears like she is trying desperately to keep everyone else in the class from noticing. She has purposely placed her hair so that it is cascading down over her face so only half her face is visible to the class. I really hope it isn't me that has made her feel that way.

Suck it up, you can do this. She is just a girl after all.

Getting up, I realise that if it's my fault she is upset, it's up to me to fix it. I walk over and sit down beside her. Her music is turned up so loud that I am surprised the whole class can't hear it. Listening to the music that's currently blasting through her ears, I realise she is listening to A7X. Laughing silently to myself at her previous comment about my crap taste in music, i make a mental note to in future mention her own taste in music. Closer to her though and I can see that she has been crying. Her eyes are red and her cheeks are tear stained.

As I go to tap her on the shoulder to announce my presence (as she either hasn't noticed me next to her or is refusing to acknowledge me.) I suddenly feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and while a little bit of me doesn't want to check it. I give in to temptation. I figure if she is ignoring me then she can't get upset by it anyway.

C: <Man up and talk to her man, don't be a bloody wimp.>

I gaze up across the room and see both Chris and Adrian sitting in the corner looking at us. Chris has his thumbs up looking like an absolute goof. Clearly they think this is a good idea. I take a deep breath and try to muster up as much confidence as I can. Turning to tap her again on the shoulder, she takes an ear phone out and looks at me with a bored expression causing any confidence I had to fall apart and run far away.

Sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose she whispers acidly "What do you want Anthony?"

Her tone makes my blood run cold.

The next words to come out of my mouth probably weren't the best choice and no doubt I would grow to regret them... immensely.