Forever Yours

chapter three

When I'm not hiding out in Ms. Windsor's French classroom, I like sitting outside at lunch, especially in this beautiful gloomy weather. The dark, stratus clouds cover the entirety of the sad, gray sky. The ground is wet from the recent rainfall. I'm sitting cross-legged on the short brick wall that surrounds the school's courtyard. The brick feels chilly against my legs, even though I'm wearing jeans. I'm out here most days, reading a book.

It's the second week of the school year and I'm still being harassed by my fellow classmates. I don't go a day without hearing a "whore" here and a "bitch" there. Even though I don't like to admit it, it really hurts me. The things they say to me because they're not true. They don't know the true story and I feel like I will never be able to tell it. I'm feeling more alone than ever. Except I have Mia, but Mia is over at the art kids table talking to her crush, Hank. At least she's happy, I think as I watch the two of them laugh. Maybe he is into her. Who knows? I go back to my book.

I'm reading Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins. I've read the series at least five times, but it's one of my favorites so I read it as many times as I feel like. The annoying, rowdy football boys are throwing the muddy ball to each other on the grass next to the courtyard. I try and block them out as I read the last chapters of the novel. I'm right at the good part; Katniss is about to kill President Snow with her bow and arrow when all the sudden... SMACK! The dirty football hits my book and knocks it out of my hands. My mouth drops open as I fill with anger. A smidge of mud splatters on my face from the ball. I wipe it away. I look up to see the culprit. Of course, it's none other than the quarterback, Joel. I give him the dirtiest look I can muster. "Dude, what the hell?!" I yell at him. His face fills with the look of pure terror, as if he's thinking that I'm going to go over to him and punch him in the face. Maybe I will! I'm sick of these boys! But I don't, I just hop down from the wall to retrieve my book, only to find that it landed in a puddle. I pick it up. It's soaked, dripping wet, ruined. The words are already bleeding off the pages.

Joel rushes over to me, "Oh my god, I am so sorry Willow..."

He knows my name? Well of course he does, everyone knows my name. I cut him off before he can make some dumb comment. "Don't! You've already done enough. It's ruined, thanks to you." Everyone is looking at us now, I look at Mia, she's cracking up over the situation. I continue my rant, "Now I'll never know what happens!" I'm being dramatic, but I throw the soggy book in the nearest trash can and storm off. "Asshole," I mutter to myself. I hear his friends laughing and turn around one last time to see the shocked expression still plastered on his face.

♥♥♥

The next day, I'm slumped over in my desk chair in French class, gazing out the window, mourning the loss of my book. Outside, rain is pouring down. Class is about to start when Joel comes waltzing into the room, a big douchey smirk on his face, and his arms behind his back. I roll my eyes; what an ass.

Joel Edwards is my age. Sixteen years old and a junior in high school. I don't know Joel too well, but I do have a small crush on him. And when I say small, I mean, I'm utterly obsessed. I'll never admit it though because I know he's just another dumb football boy. He's very attractive. His eyes are the first thing you notice about him, bright blue, like the sky on a sunny day. He's tall, but not too tall, maybe about six foot even. His hair is a sandy blonde. It's a tad long, going down to the tops of his ears in waves. His bushy eyebrows sit perfectly above his beautiful eyes. He has one gold hoop earring in his left ear, like a pirate.

Joel is walking over to my desk in the back of the classroom. I furrow my brows. What's he doing? He pulls out a book from behind his back and sets it on my desk. But not just any book; he bought me a new copy. I look up at him, stunned, he just smiles at me and walks back to his desk at the front of the room. I look around and see that everyone was staring at us. I turn to Mia, her jaw is dropped, she whispers "Oh my god." A big, dorky grin appears on my face, and I can feel myself blushing. Wow, I guess he really isn't that much of an asshole after all? I pick up the book and a note falls out...