Painting Flowers

Chapter 4

   I awoke with a start as my alarm honked from beside my bed. Slamming my hand aimlessly down at the dresser and shutting the awful drone up, I managed to drag myself up and out of my bed. I rubbed my eyes, yawned loudly, and gazed at the blue sky outside. I frowned at the brightness which was pouring into my room, and sharply turned to get ready. 

   Once I deemed my clothes acceptable, I threw my backpack over my shoulder and slunk down the stairs. Swinging into the kitchen, I grasped May's piece of toast (earning a disapproving glare from her) and yelled a, "Bye!" to everyone in the kitchen. Joe waved half-heartedly, and everyone else ignored me, but I ran down the steps, slamming the back door behind me as I stuffed the toast into my mouth and attempted to dance into my dirty trainers.     

   I managed to finish my not so substantial breakfast, get my shoes on, and catch the bus as it was about to drive away. I clambered onto it, panting, and nervously sat down on the second seat from the front, trying my hardest to appear unfazed by everyone stares and laughs at me.     

   I grabbed my ipod out the front of my bag and plugged in my headphones, immediately drowning everyone out with some Green Day. I smirked as the intro of F.O.D. came blasting into my ears, and I smirked, sitting back a little in my seat.     

   I stared out the window at the passing houses, my mind drifting off to think about Alex, and a scowl instantly crept on to my face. I dropped my gaze to stare at my feet, cracking my jaw and sighing as I remembered what had happened last night. It was such a shame that, although we liked mostly the same things, Alex was a massive asshole. I absentmindedly mouthed the words along to the song, my fingers threading together.     

   After only a few minutes, the bus screeched to a halt outside the school, and I made sure that I was the first one off, stuffing my hands deeper into my jeans pockets. I made my way towards the brick red school, frowning at the sidewalk, my mind still racing with thoughts.     

   "Jack!" a voice yelled, and I snapped my head up to look around. I carefully took my earphones out and gazed around at the mass of people.     

   "Jack!" the voice called again, and this time I recognised it. Seething, I turned and marched through the school doors, blanking Alex's calls.

    ~      

   I sat down in Mrs. Byrn's class, choosing the seat next to the window I'd been allocated yesterday. I scratched my cheek, looking around the empty room and wondering if I'd gotten my timetable mixed up. Just then, however, the door opened, and a group of buff guys walked in, laughing at something one of them had said. I shrunk back in my seat, twiddling my fingers together as they sat behind me.    

   "... Yeah, the Ravens are so gonna win this season. I can feel it," one of them said, and I raised my eyebrows slightly, my ears pricking up to listen in on their conversation. "Imagine being at the Super Bowl final and the Ravens were playing. Holy shit, how awesome would that be!?"    

   "Hi," I said, spinning around in my seat to face them, and they all stopped their conversation to frown at me. "Uh... I couldn't help but hear you talking about the Ravens..."    

   "Yeah?" a guy two rows behind me said. "And?"    

   "Um, my uncle is one of the coaches for them, and he let's me go in and watch them all train," I said, earning a few amazed whispers from the guys. "I'm pretty close to them all."    

   "No way," the guy directly behind me smirked. "Woah, really? That's awesome! Sorry, uh, what was your name?"    

   "I'm Jack Barakat," I said, smiling around at the awed and shocked faces. "So, uh... What's your names?"