By the time Neville and I have finished oohing and aahing and primping and poking the corpse flowers, more than half the lunch period has already passed. I check the clock in the greenhouse and it looks like if I run to the Main Hall, I'll make it just in time to grab some food before the next period starts.
"There you two are! I've been looking everywhere for you two to show you the corpse flowers!" Professor Sprout exclaims, swinging the greenhouse doors open.
Neville laughs. "I guess we beat you to it."
"Yes, I see that. What do you think?" We spend another minute geeking over the flowers together.
"Well, now that I have you two, can you help me move the new batch of compost in here from the barn? We need to start mulching these new buds ASAP if we want them sprouting by spring."
I internally cringe and glance at the clock again. I really should head to the cafeteria before lunch ends. I haven't eaten anything today and I'm starting to feel woozy.
It's just...I'm really hoping for a recommendation letter from Professor Sprout next year. And following her every order is a surefire way to get a good rec letter. At least I think...
Before I can think my way into a frenzy, I agree. Neville, Sprout, and I transport the compost, and all too soon the bell rings to signify the end of the lunch period. Ugh! Someday I'm gonna need to learn how to say no to people...
The three of us say our goodbyes and head to our next class; either to learn or to teach. "Oh god..." Neville groans as we make our way up the stairs into the main building.
"What?" I ask.
"I've got chem, with Snape next."
"Ew, godspeed to you. I have him tomorrow."
"I just don't understand why every single grade is required to take chem! It makes no sense! If anything, every grade should require biology! Or animal science! They're much more useful for everyday life than chemistry!" Neville spews this rant at least once a week, but I always let him vent. Partially because I agree with him, and partially because we can all see what a punk-ass bitch Snape is to Neville for absolutely no reason. Since the first day of 6th grade, the moment they met each other, Snape has been nothing but a bully to Neville. Admittedly, Snape is miserable to almost all of the students, but he's particularly vicious to Neville for unknown reasons.
"At least next year we get Slughorn for chem. He's too old to be mean to students" I offer up as consolation.
He snorts. "Yeah, if I can make it to 7th year."
I snort. "Fair enough." We say our goodbyes as Neville heads to the science wing and I head to the math hallway. Dread creeps into me as I turn into the classroom. My sworn enemy; math.
Enzo's already sitting near the front and he waves me over with a tight-lipped smile. "Hey Y/N, I saved you a seat."
"Why are you sitting so close to the front? So we can have courtside seats to our torture and humiliation this year?"
He doesn't respond. I take Enzo's silence as a sign that even fun-loving talkative Enzo is as nervous as I am for another year of math. I watch the seconds on the clock tick by and the pit in my stomach deepens.
"Good afternoon everyone!" Professor McGonagall announces as the bell rings and she enters the classroom. She begins to pass out the syllabus and other first-day materials to us.
While she's distracted, Enzo leans over to me. "Why weren't you at lunch?" he whispers from the side of his mouth.
Subtle Enz
"Plant emergency." I offer up as an explanation. I know that any more detail will either bore, annoy, or confuse Enzo, so I leave it at that. I need new plant nerd friends...
"Oh. We all thought it was because you were trying to avoid Mattheo after last night. Mattheo was PISSED about it!"
I'm confused for like half a second and then the memories of last night come flooding back. My blood becomes ice inside my body. I try to take some deep breaths but it feels like all the air has been sucked from the room. Enzo leans over and says something else to me, but I can't make it out. It feels like I'm hearing everything underwater.
Last night. LAST NIGHT. When I made out with Mattheo for every Slytherin to see. When I literally straddled him and we dry-humped over a game of truth or dare. Oh my god, I want to die. I want to die. I crave the grave. I want to crawl into a ditch on the side of the road and never come out!!
I lay my head down on my desk to hide my burning cheeks and try to take a deep breath to ebb the embarrassment and panic I feel rising in my throat like bile.
What if my parents find out? Oh god, they'll be so ashamed of me! They didn't give up so much and make so many sacrifices for my brothers and I to go to this school only for me to be kissing random rich boys.
Well, not random. Mattheo. Annoying and obnoxious but kind. Would cut off a limb for his friends. Tutors me in math every year and asks for nothing in return. Soft lips and beautiful eyes. My friend, Mattheo. Who I kissed. A lot. And enjoyed it a lot too, which makes it worse since everyone is going to think I'm a slut now.
I raise my head from my desk and can tell people are staring at me. No doubt this gossip has already spread through the school. They all know. I can feel it. Everywhere I turn I feel their eyes burning into me. Judging me. Silently calling me a whore and a slut.
I think Professor McGonagall calls my name, but it's overpowered by the sound of buzzing. There must be a bee in the room; someone left a window open or something. I turn to Enzo to ask him, and his worried expression is the last thing I see before everything goes black.
YOU ARE READING
City Shadows
RomanceY/N has always had a hard time fitting in. She's too loud, too brash, too this, too that. She's about as feminine as a toilet brush, and everyone knows it. Kids at her school aren't necessarily mean to her, they just pretend she doesn't exist. The o...
