Trouble Times Two

Chapter Thirty

Monday

We hadn't really spoken since the incident and he transformed back into his douchebag self which I now knew was a very obvious front.

I finish packing my lunch and get my shoes on because there was no chance I was getting to school late on my first day here.

I check the weather and then put on my hoodie and puffer before grabbing my backpack and setting off.

It's odd not skateboarding but you can't skateboard here with the cold weather that would just attack my body and obviously you can't skateboard in snow.

As I walk to the school, the feeling of dread settles in my stomach even more and I know that's it's a regret, coming on this trip.

I get to the school and walk to the office, which I find after twenty minutes with no thanks to any of the staff members.

I grab my schedule and try to orientate myself and I walk to my first class and wait outside for the whole thirty minutes until the bell rings.

When it does, I walk in and the teacher smiles at me, introduces herself, asks for my name and directs me to my seat.

Arthur and Courtney walk in and they're placed on the other side of the classroom but they wave to me.

Everyone else walks in and find their seats which they already have and Lola sits next to me.

"Hi." She says and I greet her back. "How's he been?"

"I don't really know." I don't really want to speak to her.

"You live with him. You're his exchange partner. You should know these things about him because it's your duty." She's angry.

"And you're his best friend. He's a jerk and you could ask him yourself but he's not here." I grit out and go back to focusing on the class.

Howlett and Stacie joins the class and sit at the back, observing and I just try to focus on the class when Donovan comes in, twenty minutes late.

It's a tactic to get attention and it works. The teacher directs him to his seat and he gets there eventually, taking his sweet time.

He's caught the attention of many girls and some boys along his short yet long journey and I see him for what he is. A player.

The teacher goes around asking questions about ourselves, as the whole class is new to her and when she gets to me, I can't think of anything.

My mouth opens and shuts like a fish but no words come out.

People start whispering and then laughing as a girl shouts "Stone-faced looking bitch. I can tell you're boring as fuck."

Donovan turns around and goes. "She is! She's so boring, I can't stand her."

Basically everyone erupts into laughter and the teacher tries to manage the class, trying to find the girl who said what she said but I'm not in the room anymore.

My ears are ringing and Lola is trying to get my attention.

I'm suddenly ten years old again, crying in the school toilets wondering why people make fun of me and are mean when I'm just a little bit different.

I stand up, grab my stuff and leave the classroom, watching Donovan's face, filled with amusement after making fun of me. He's laughing and the rest of the classes laughter follows me as I stand outside, wondering what to do and where to go.

I can see Courtney holding Arthur down and he looks at me through the door from his seat and I shake my head.

Howlett and Stacie leave the classroom, trying to ask me if I'm okay.

"I can get you another exchange partner, I genuinely thought you and Donovan would get along." Howlett says as he runs a hand through his hair, clearly stressed.

"It's not your fault. I just want to go." I turn around and walk away and walk back to the apartment, in a trance the whole time.

I take off my shoes and drop my bag on the bed and sit down on the floor and go to the shower, my face stone-faced like that girl said and I wash the makeup I had on my face. I can't believe I made an effort.

I try to relax in hot water but it doesn't work so I just finish cleaning myself and get into my pyjamas.

I look at my hand and watch as it shakes and I sit down on the floor, looking at myself in the mirror.

I see a tear roll down my cheek and all bets are off as I sob into my knees and cry. I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore and cover it with a sheet as I lie in a fetal position in the floor.

I cry for hours and eventually stop when I pass out from exhaustion of my body.

***

Somebody enters the apartment and I wipe my face which definitely has dried tears on it and grab a wet wipe from my makeup supplies and wipe my tear-stained face quickly and then get into my bed, dropping the backpack off.

Courtney walks in to my room.

She sits on the edge of the bed and holds my hand.

"You need to talk to Jess. She's worried sick and so are Maisie and Carter. I'm sorry he did that to you." She squeezes my hand and then leaves.

Arthur comes into my room and just hugs me even though I'm lying down.

It's awkward but I turn around to look at him.

"I hope you'll be okay." That from him means so much.

He leaves and I am wondering what I can do now. I can live with Donovan, I've lived with people so much worse than him but he wasn't going to respect my rules.

That was because he doesn't respect me. He never did and he never will.

I didn't do anything to deserve this.