How Cliché

Chapter 2

Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand.
- Neil Armstrong

I held my chin higher than usual as I entered the basically deserted hallway. Despite never being noticed by anybody, it wasn't because I hid myself entirely. I would always hold a posture that screamed confidence, something which I had a good amount of. Yes, I would usually avoid the most crowded areas of the school but I'm working on that. Large crowds freak me out a little bit, but it is easier to be lost in the crowd than to avoid eyes when you're standing off to the side.

But anyway.

I never intentionally hid myself. I didn't literally disappear into thin air, I would always be around. Just no one noticed me. And I loved it.
Not being seen but still being around, allows people to 'show' me how they truly act or feel. The amount of girls who talk to themselves in the bathroom when they think they're alone (despite me standing like a meter and a half away) is alarmingly high. I can read people's emotions off their face when they think no one is looking, and when they think everyone it looking. It is truly outstanding.

So as I head for my locker, I keep my head held high, easily observing my surroundings as I walk. After the first day here I memorised the map of the school and my timetable. Being lost and looking confused draws attention, so I can now happily wonder the halls without doing so. As I finally get to and open my locker, I stare at myself in the small mirror I hung up on the inside of the door.

A glimpse of The Black Sheep's gaze flashes in my memory and I am once again baffled to how and why my usually concealed self was suddenly so visible to him. Why did I catch his eye? Where did I slip up? Did I draw attention to myself or was it just a fluke? Has he moved past the incident and forgotten me or is he sitting their thinking about me? Did he share the moment with his friends or did he keep it to himself?

I roll my eyes at my paranoia and take a deep breath. He accidentally saw me. It was a fluke and he has already forgotten all about me, not mentioning a word of my existence to his friends. My meek weeks progress is still in tact and I'm on the right path to finishing my high school year unnoticed. Nothing to stress over.

My day continued with its usual pace and schedule. I kept my posture, my look of confidence and my ability to fade in with the background. I moved between classes swiftly and without hassle. The whole day was moving so quickly and peacefully, the incident from break nearly out of my memory.

That was until English.

Sitting in a seat in the back row, right next to the windows, I lazily observed my fellow peers wonder into the classroom. Socialising as they find a seat to place their belongings. I was captivated with watching these two gorgeous girls whispering in hushed voices, giving icy stares to a fellow gorgeous female. Drama, lovely.

I was mulling over the possibilities of the source of their dilemma when I heard the chair to my right squeak as someone sat down beside me. I went to give a quick glance at the new addition to the room only to catch the eyes of The Black Sheep, who happened to be giving me a puzzled look.

It wasn't a fluke. He hadn't forgotten about me.

Crap.

I swiftly fixed my gaze to the front of the room just before the teacher entered, announcing that class was starting. I stared determinedly at the board but I could hear the body in the chair to the right shift every now and then, and I had a vague sense that someone was staring every so often. I try to ignore the nerves and paranoia that are sending chills down my spine.

This is why I don't like being noticed. I can stare but I can't be stared at. It stresses me out and I get very tense.

The usual confidence I maintain when I have no attention slips ever so slightly, but not so much that I can't turn after who knows how long and meet his eyes. I raise my eyebrows at him in a silent question. What? Why are you staring? The question itself is highly hypocritical coming from me however people watching is my only pass time, seeing as my main goal in school is to go unnoticed.

The Black Sheep holds my stare for a few seconds before cocking his head to the side, furrowing his eyebrows, and then turning back to the front. Was I confusing to him? Was he trying to put my face to a name? If so, I wish him good luck, he isn't gonna find one.

The glancing didn't stop though. I frequently caught him quickly glancing from me to the front of the class during the entire class. It was if he was checking to make sure I hadn't disappeared. And unfortunately, I hadn't. My imagination was running ramped just thinking about what could happen now. What if more people start noticing? What if he tells someone about the mystery girl in his English class?

I try to drown those thoughts with one that makes me feel slightly better.

No one would believe him because no one else has noticed me.

I hold back my shoulders and straighten my back, determined to continue to wear my invisibility cloak. Soon enough, the bell began to ring, signalling the end of the school day. I stand from my chair and after collecting my books, join the rest of the student body in the overcrowded corridor. Today was a minor set back but by now, The Black Sheep will be talking with his Class Clown friends about whatever they discuss and any thought of me will have completely disappeared.

I take my time at my locker and the corridor rapidly empty's, as if everyone else just disappeared. The last couple students make their way quickly out the double doors of the building and I sigh, grabbing my car keys out of my bag, closing my locker gently, the tinny sound still echoing down the hall. I turn to leave but I immediately gasp and jump a little back.

The Black Sheep was leaning against the locker right next to mine.

I breathe out an unintentional laugh, holding my hand to chest, recovering from the jump scare that this strange boy caused. I gave him my full attention, staring expectantly at him as he continued to stare at me. It was clear that he was not going to just let me leave, nor is he just going to forget me.

Time for plan B.

"Uh... Can I help you?" I clear my throat, raising an eyebrow at him.
He looked almost stunned for a second and I began to wonder if he was mute or something before he also cleared his throat and laughed a little before speaking.
"Sorry to scare you, it's just... you caught my attention today and... I can't quite understand..."
"Understand?"
"It's just... are you new or something? I don't think I have actually seen you before."
I almost grinned at his statement, in fact a small smirk appeared on my face before I could even attempt at hiding it.
"I may be new but it doesn't surprise me that you have never seen me before. I bet you anything that no one has." I stated triumphantly.
"That is pretty hard to believe."
"You may not believe it but it doesn't mean it isn't true."
He laughed a little at my statement, even though I wasn't trying to be funny. I was simply telling him facts.

"What's your name?"
"That's no concern of yours." I chuckled at his attempt.
"Oh really?"
"Mhmm," I hummed. "I'm going to go, but, uh, I won't  be seeing you." I smiled at him before walking around him. I reached the end of the corridor and opened one of the large doors before I heard him yell from behind me,
"I bet I'll be seeing you!"

It made me a little nervous that I almost took him seriously.

I didn't really spell check it, but enjoy :) xx