Breaking Free from Everyday

Chapter 2: Not the Same

Chapter 2: Not the Same

Parker

I walked away from her. Just walk away. I couldn't look at her. I couldn't think about her.

I can't believe I did that.

A girl like her wasn't worth it, I tried to convince myself. She wasn't worth my time. Not after what she did, what she still could do.

I forced myself not to turn back around and look back at her. She's not worth it.

My fists clenched at my sides as I felt my anger course through my veins. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I do that?

I pushed through the double doors of that dreadful cafeteria as the bell rang, letting them hit against the wall. People could think I was crazy. People could hate me here. It's not like I care. They didn't know me, and they never will.

It was my first day in this horrible school, in this horrible town, and I already hated it. I knew I wouldn't like it, but how was I supposed to know that she lived here? Now I had to suffer and rot in this terrible place with the girl that betrayed me, the only one I ever really trusted, for a whole year. What did I do to deserve this?

I shouldn't even be thinking about her. Ever since that day, I had tried to push her from my mind. It had finally started working and now she's here, in the flesh.

I banged my new locker as I twisted the lock and opened the door. Why did I do that? Deep down, I knew that had to have been her. It was a hot, red haired girl with an apple in her hand, in a cheerleading uniform no less.  How many of those did you really see? That should have confirmed it, but no. My denial had to get in the way. The one time I decided to be the cool guy that helped out the damsel in distress, fate had to slap me in the face for it. What made me save her? Any other person would have just passed by and watched.

I slammed my locker closed and walked down the hallway, keeping my head down. One more year and I was done. I could leave everyone behind. Like she did to me. I could leave and forget this ever happened. 

Just one more year.

Melanie

I stared after him as he slammed through the cafeteria doors. He never turned around. He never looked back. He didn't even give me a second glance. I felt a pain in my chest as the hurt spread through me.

His cold eyes were what scared me the most. They burned my brain and seared my thoughts, making me see those gray eyes even when mine were tightly squeezed shut, unable to forget his chilly stare. One thing was for certain though. He definitely remembered me. He would never stare at a random stranger he didn't know with such cold, emotionless eyes.

What had changed him?

I straightened from my crouched position on the floor as I felt a leak of juice spread down my arm from my damn apple. I threw that stupid fruit into the trash can and straightened my skirt a little. I tried to look composed, effectively flipping my hair as I walked out of the crowded cafeteria, swaying my hips as any self-respecting cheerleader would.

I walked to my locker, turning the lock and pulling the thing open. I took out my math textbook and green pen. I put on some extra lip gloss, smacking my lips together and slammed the locker door shut. I turned around on my heel just to be roughly pushed back into my locker by none other than the famous James Phillips.

He held me hard up against the locker, my neck feeling the cool metal as he smiled way too seductively at me. I was throwing up internally at that look.

His amber brown eyes were dull and glazed and I was seriously surprised he could get himself high or drunk, (or both), so early in the day. It was only 11 in the morning after all.

He whispered huskily in my ear, "Your skirt is so nice today..." dragging out the last word and sighing. Does he realize it's the same one almost every day? His hand leaves my shoulder and goes to my thigh, stroking,  as his fingers slowly creep up my leg. His eyes leave mine and he looks at my chest longingly. I can't blame him really. But I also can't deny how tangible the fear bubbling up in my chest is, willing me to collapse right there. I could flirt just fine, but this was way beyond my comfort zone.

I started to attempt at pushing him away and I tried not to look totally alarmed as I feel his hand reach the edge of my skirt, itching to go underneath. I couldn't let him know I was afraid. I try to move away from him again, but he is just too strong.

Could no one see me practically getting assaulted in the middle of the hallway?

James would always flirt with me every chance he got, but he never did anything like this. I was more than a little terrified. Most boys were satisfied with all of the other cheerleaders, who were more than willing to give them anything they wanted. They were as easy to lay as a rug. I could play the flirt, but I couldn't pretend that I actually wanted the attention of boys that only liked me for my body, no matter how flattering that really was.

Suddenly, he was pushed to the side. James let go of me as he collided with two very annoyed looking linebackers. I almost wish I felt pity for such an icky creature. I sighed, relieved that someone realized I was obviously uncomfortable with what he had been doing.

I looked around to spot my savior, and saw a familiar head of dark brown hair, but I had to be dreaming and definitely delusional if I actually thought he would help me with anything.

I practically ran to math, afraid James would come back for more, and fell into the seat furthest from the teacher. I heard the bell ring and felt my mind drift away from calculus...

White sand with blue waves crashing against the shore...the perfect beach. I sat on the dunes with my arms around my legs, tucked into me like a ball. A chill ran straight through my thin T-shirt as the sun started to set. A huge cruise ship was in the distance, full of bright lights. I got up, brushing off my legs with one hand and munching on my apple with the other. No one understood my love of apples. 

I should probably get back to our boat.

I chewed the apple and looked at the setting sky as I slammed into something hard. I was caught right before I fell into the sand by two tentative hands that were holding my shoulders. I looked up to see a boy with dark brown hair that was windswept and slightly wet. His gray eyes were full of amusement, almost like the eyes themselves were laughing. He had the half-eaten apple in his hand and gently placed it in my palm. I took it, not really knowing what to do with it. I was preoccupied with the idea that a boy was actually paying attention to me.

He awkwardly stuck out his hand saying, "I'm Parker Bailey."  His accent was slightly southern, with all of the syllables drawn out. It made me want to listen to every word that came out of his mouth. "I usually don't run into girls on the beach. I haven't seen you around here, but you don't look like someone I would forget."

My mouth must have been hanging to the floor and my throat couldn't seem to make a sound. I'd never really talked to a boy before. I managed to fumble out, "Uhh... Melanie Weston." My tongue felt numb in my mouth. Diction was practically impossible. "Summer...Vacation..." It comes out in a nervous voice that makes me want to slap my forehead repeatedly. Why couldn't I be smooth? I had been here for exactly five hours and hadn't seen anyone on this small island, but managed to fall into this boy.

He laughed and started to walk the opposite way. He turned around and started walking backwards with his hand behind his neck. I smirked at the funny gesture. "Vacation, huh? Maybe I can be your tour guide." He turns back around and I watch his figure fade as he walks down the beach...

Why was Parker Bailey in my school? Or even Savanna Valley, this too small town? He belonged in the past, in the summer when I was going into tenth grade, locked away forever.

So that's Chapter 2. Not much, I know. Please comment, vote, I don't care. Just reading is fine with me, but comments are even better. Thanks for reading!

Dedication to @DivineandWretched for being my fan (follower) that made me want to write this chapter:)

Thank you:)

PS Photo of Parker