Not What I Expected

Chapter 2: Trying out my luck

8:50 am, Second Period, Day 2 (Chemistry Lab):

I get to class early enough that there are not that many people, which means I can get the best lab desk. I waltzed up to the teacher and kindly requested which desk I wanted. My gentle facade must have worked as he assigned it to me. Seemed to be a good start.

After 5 minutes lots of people start to come in and a lot of them are unfamiliar faces. I wasn't a huge socialite but was definitely willing to talk when necessary.

9 am rolls around and almost every seat in the class is full, the teacher decides to begin the class despite not having everyone present.

"Alright first things first, welcome to all of our new students who have just started here at Oak Wood High, I'm Dr. Collins and I will be your Chemistry teacher for the year."

Although I've never had Dr Collins before I've heard nothing but good things, "I have taken the liberty to assign lab partners myself as I want all the new students to integrate smoothly. So Lauren and Peter. Katalina and James. Stephanie and Emilio. Lucia and Leonardo. Amy and Erik...." I stopped listening, all I needed to know was who I was with. Leonardo? He must have been the new kid as I had not heard about him before. I walked up to the lab desk I asked for, unprepared for what awaited me. He had a black messy pompadour haircut that scrambled into curls at the ends, which was complemented by his bright hazel eyes. He stood tall, at least a foot and a half above me. He had a jawline that could cut through steel. I normally don't judge a book by its cover, but he did not look like a kid who would elect Practical Science as a subject. I had to be sure it was him,

"Hey, are you Leonardo?" He stood then with his face resting in his veiny hand while tapping the pads of his fingertips on the table, indicating that he was bored. He looked at me without moving his head and gave a slight smirk while lifting his eyebrows up and down.

"Yeah, that's me. Lucia?" His voice was deep. It had an equal amount of raspy and smooth aspects to it.

"Yep, guess we are partners." he looked away almost like he didn't care. I got real bad boy vibes from him, he just seemed like the kind of guy that gets in trouble a lot and I know it's hard to conclude that from only a few exchanges of words but I just felt it. I try to speak to him again,

"So you must be new here?" He quickly responds,

"Look I'm not interested in whatever you are selling I'm just here to pass this class." he gives a subtle glare. Then looks away as if he was disgusted in me.

"I wasn't trying to 'sell' you anything I just thought that if we are going to be lab partners then we might as well get on well."

"I don't care much for 'getting on well' with you. And I don't care for being friends, I'm only here to graduate, so if you don't mind can we just do the work." This infuriated me, I was just trying to be nice and he gave me this entitled attitude. Ugh. I guess there's no point arguing, he's just one of those 'thinks he's amazing' types of boys. So much for 'the definition of perfect'.

"Fine. I'll leave you alone."

"Whatever." he rolled his eyes and stared out the window.

Jerk.

3:10 pm, After School:

"Ready to go?" Bella asked in excitement.

"Yeah, whatever, let's get this over and done with," I replied in despair. I couldn't believe I agreed to watch a bunch of sweaty guys run around in the dirt while wearing gear that made them look like a teenage mutant ninja turtle.

"Okay well we better start heading there now, tryouts begin in 5 minutes" She grabs my wrist and joyfully pulls me in the direction of the football field. This grabbing and yanking of my wrists seemed to be a recurring thing for her.

After making it to the field we find a spot on the bleachers and put our bags down. I notice Bella standing tall and squinting her eyes at the players on the field.

"oooh there's my main act of the show, and it looks like he has a friend that's just as cute. Any takers?" Bella announces to a pretend audience like a game show host. I pulled my focus to this so-called 'friend that's just as cute' and was immediately repulsed by the sight of Leonardo.

"No thanks, I'm good." I cross my arms and turn away.

"Are you joking? He looks like he just walked out of Magic Mike" she replies shocked,

"I met him this morning in science, he's my lab partner. Sure he's good looking but that doesn't make up for his shitty personality" I explain in an infuriated tone.

"He's probably just having a rough day. I mean new school, new faces, football tryouts. Just give him a chance. I mean, he's hella cute. Not to mention if you get with him and I get with that Greek god of a man then you know what that means!" she added in,

"If you say double dates I will show no mercy in pushing you off these stands" I glare at her before we both break out in laughter. She continues her speech,

"Just give him a chance. There might be something deeper than just him being a bad person, just picture it, brought up on the wrong side of the tracks, living in a broken home, always having to work hard just to provide for himself, he might be broken, alone, SCARED!-" I cut her off of her dramatic speech.

"Fine! If it'll make you shut up, then I'll talk to him during tryout breaks."

"I can't understand how you don't get captivated by shirtless guys, I mean, why bring lunch when there's a field covered in snacks? But each to their own I guess." She pretends to be disgusted by my choices.

3:45, Tryouts break time:

"Okay Lucia, it's break time you know what that means." she bites her lip in smugness.

I responded with the perfect 'don't make me do it' face.

"Nope, get off your ass and don't come back unless he's autographed your neck with hickeys!" She shoves me, forcing me to make a move.

I can't believe she's making me do this. Better yet, I can't believe I'm doing this. I stop before I go any further and look back at Bella, pleading for empathy. She just gives me hand gestures signaling to keep going. I pushed through and walked up to where Leonardo was sitting. He's shirtless, god damnit why do you have to be so hot? I find my inner confidence and speak,

"Hey, it's me, Lucia. We are lab partners..." he gives an unamused look. This is gonna be harder than I thought. "Look, we got off on the wrong foot, I'm sure that wasn't you this morning and I bet you are quite a nice person" he cuts me off,

"What do you want?" He faces me, wiping his forehead dry with a face towel.

"Okay honestly, My friend over there in the pink skirt and white T, she is forcing me to talk to you."

"Why?" he remains blunt.

"Because she is crazy" I nervously blurt words out, trying desperately not to embarrass myself more than I already had.

"Right." he turns away, gulping water from his bottle before rummaging through his gym bag. I glance over my shoulder to see Bella dancing around, cheerfully.

"So anyway, I'm gonna go and tell her I spoke to you and end this painfully awkward interaction. I will see you in class." I force a smile through my cheeks before turning around, escaping the situation finally. Before I could take more than 4 steps away, he called out to me,

"I don't know what you've told your friend but I'm not interested." In complete and utter embarrassment I continued walking, refusing to show my face to him again.

My cheeks were still flushed a rosy pink by the time I got back to where Bella was sitting, I sat and rested my hand in my hands. If I can't see the world, the world can't see me.

"Oh my god did you guys kiss?" she yells in excitement

"No."

"Well, what happened?" I stay quiet, Bella politely demands, "Come on girl, tell me everything!"

"Nothing happened!" I snap without thinking, "Can we just forget about it and continue watching them play? After all, we're here for you and What's-his-face aren't we?" she nods sympathetically, she must've clicked that I was embarrassed.