Chalk It Up To Fate

Chapter 3: Marshall

Shit. I looked at the guy in front of me. He was bent at the waist with his head in his hands

"Shit! Shit! I am so sorry! My locker it, it was stuck! I didn't see you..I swear!" I kept rambling and started to draw a crowd around us.

So much for good impressions.

He looked up at me now pinching his nose; his anger evident in his blue eyes. His brown hair was sticking up and messy from the whack in the face he just endured. I stopped rambling, gave out a sigh, and ran my fingers through my hair.

I felt a whoosh before seeing a girl come to his side.

"Oh my god Reece are you ok?" She bent to take a look at his face and put her hand on his back. He tensed at the contact, and I suddenly felt awkward.

I spoke up. "I um, well he ran into my locker. Again, I'm so sorry," I said wincing.

The girl finally looked back at me, and I froze. Her blue eyes and long black hair looked eerily familiar. This wasn't some random girl, this was the girl from last night. The girl that I dreamt about. But that's not possible. I've never met her.

I shook my head, trying to get rid of the dread and sadness that overtook my body.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" She questioned me narrowing her eyes. She still had her hand on the boy–who I now know is Reese's–back. Now she is rubbing her hand up and down it while I stare at the movement, unable to look at her eyes.

Why can't I look at her?

"You must be new." She gave me a wary look which shook me out of my trance.

"Um, yeah. I'm Marshall. Marshall Blake. Today's my first day." I held out my hand, hoping to salvage whatever good impression I had left.

She stood up, taking my hand. "Amanda Sinclair. Nice to meet you! What year are you?" She said with a smile, before pulling her hand away.

"Junior."

"Same! Can I look at your schedule?" She held her hand out.

I patted around my jeans before grabbing my schedule. I handed the folded piece of paper to her.

She unfolded it and scanned through the paper. "Journalism? You like to write?"

I rolled my eyes, exasperated, "Ughhh not particularly no, but it's the lesser of two evils." I said with a smile.

"Oh don't say that, Amanda loves Journalism. It's damn near her whole personality." Another boy came behind Amanda, putting his arms around her. "Don't you want to be a reporter someday?" He turned his face to her and she blushed before looking down at Reece. My face went red with embarrassment. First I hit her friend and then I insult her passion?

Not a great start.

Reece stared up at her, looking pissed. He wasn't covering his nose anymore and stood up straight, shooting daggers at the guys arms around Amanda.

Oh god. What situation did I find myself in.

Reece looked back at me, scoffed, and walked away.

The three of us briefly looked at his retreating figure before the bell rang, making us all late.

"Well, I'll see you in fifth hour Marshall! It was nice to meet you!" She gave me a smile, and the other two turned and walked away in the same direction Reece did.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, turned to grab my books out of my locker, and headed to my next class.

..........................................................................................................................................

"Well I'm happy that you're here visiting me, but you should be in the cafeteria with the rest of your class! Make some friends! You'll be fine!"

I was currently sitting across from Sarah, propping my feet up on her new desk enjoying my sandwich I brought for lunch.

"Why would I make new friends when I already have one. You!"

Sarah, who was unpacking some of her lunch, looked at me exasperated.

"So your first day is going well then." She stated, a little disappointed.

When Sarah went to Carolina High, she was the typical girl next door. She had a bazillion friends, homecoming queen, a high school sweetheart, and everything that any teenage girl wants. It was easy for her to come back, she knows everybody, and everybody loves her. If I learned anything in my 17 years on this Earth, it was that I was particularly hard to love. I was my own best friend before Sarah came into my life, and I was ok with that.

She started chewing on her salad, and pointed at he with her fork.

"Come on Marshall, you're not going to make friends if you don't even try."

That one stung. I wanted to make friends, really I did, but after this morning I realized it was hopeless. I already made an enemy out of one guy, and accidentally insulted the only girl that even noticed that I was new. How was I supposed to know Amanda wanted to be a reporter?
After that whole awkward encounter, I let it sink in that I totally mocked one of her hobbies, which embarrassed me to no end.

Not to mention she looked so similar to the girl in my dream.

I don't even want to think about the dream that I had the night before. It couldn't have been Amanda that I was seeing, drunk and crying.

Heartbroken.

Either way I was dreading seeing Amanda in my next class. I would have to face her again.

Yeah... no thanks.

I put my head down, focusing on my sandwich. "I'm not, NOT trying to make friends." I reply to Sarah with a shrug.

"Come on Marshall. If I could go back to high school I would. It was some of the best years I've ever had. Why do you think I got a job in a high school?"

My anger was spiking and my words were out before I could rethink them.

"Not everyone is like you Sarah. I'm not popular, I'm the loner in the corner who is waiting for the day I can get out and become my own person. I don't need your advise and I don't care for your opinions ok? Just drop it." I end bitterly.

I don't make eye contact with her as I throw the rest of my sandwich away, walking out of the office.