I Wanna Be Free, I Wanna Be Loved

Ch. 11: Show Them All You're Not The Ordinary Type

It was a gloomy November morning when I finally did start school. I had been in San Diego almost a month, but two of those weeks had been spent in the hospital recovering from Rachel's little episode. Gen helped me get my class schedule in the main office before releasing me into Ryan's custody.

"Take care of her" she told him. He nodded before wrapping an arm around my still-sore shoulders and we proceeded down the hall. I had a locker near Ryan's so we could easily meet up during class breaks or after school. He glanced over my junior schedule and compared it to his senior schedule.

"Algebra, Creative Writing, AP World History, Psychology, Theater Arts, and Study Hall" he read off "Tough line up but we have study hall together...with my sister"

"Maybe I can get it changed?"

"No, no. I made a promise to protect you and I'm keeping it. Now go kick some Algebra ass!" he encouraged.

"Will you walk me there?" I asked. I had a map but I had no idea how to navigate this school.

We walked down the busy hallways, Ryan had his hands onmy shoulders guiding me through the mass of people. This school had over six thousand students, which was a lot compared to my school back in Idaho where the graduating senior class usually avereged around two hundred kids. I got to my classroom and Ryan gave me a hug goodbye; some girls glared at me when he did.

"I'll see you at lunch okay?" he said before running off down the hall.

I took a seat, hiding myself among the students who had been there the whole year. I prayed that the teacher wouldn't pull the whole "Class, we have a new student joining us" move because I really just wanted to blend in. I still had the purple cast on my wrist and hopefully no one would notice that either. I was as silent as possible yet a boy still approached me, taking the seat next to me.

"Hi" he said.

"Hello" I replied.

He was pretty cute; short dark hair, pouty lips, and sweet brown eyes blocked by red glasses.

"My name's Brendon" he said "I haven't seen you around here before"

"I'm a transfer. My name is Hannah"

"Nice to meet you" he said shaking my hand "Where'd you transfer from?"

"Boise, Idaho. My parents, um..."

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me" Brendon said.

"Thanks" I replied.

"So what other classes do you have?"

I handed over my schedule "We have a lot of the same courses, except I took architecture for my elective and Shakespeare for my English"

"There's a Shakespeare class here?"

"Yeah, you should take it next quarter. But you'll like creative writing too"

"I hope so, I want to be a journalist" I told him.

"You should join the school paper!" he said excitedly "We need a new weather girl or someone to review new books. I'm the resident music critic. My best friend and I both play guitar. You should meet him"

"Really? My friend plays guitar too!"

I wasn't really sure if Ryan and I were "friends" or moving toward something more. I suspected he might have feelings for me but I didn't know what to do about it. Could I date him? That would just be weird considering we lived in the same house. Maybe his feelings would just fade away, maybe I could even date Brendon. He was similar to Ryan except I didn't have to see him every morning. The bell rang releasing us from class and Brendon walked with me to the English wing.

"Hey, do you want to have lunch with me and my friends today? Since you're new and all?"

"I'd like that. Thank you, Brendon"

"I'll see you in World History!" he rushed off to his Shakespeare class.

Creative Writing was definitely fun like Brendon said it would be and I was in serious consideration of taking him on his offer to join the paper. When I got to AP World History, Bredon waved me over to the seat he saved for me. He was adorable and excited about everything, I sat down and my history teacher noticed my new face.

"Well hello there, you must be Hannah"

"Yes, sir"

"Class, say hello. Hannah is a transfer student from Idaho. What brings you to the great ball of sunshine that we call our home?"

"I'd rather not say, if that's alright"

"Secretive...you aren't a drug dealer are you?" he laughed.

"No, sir"

He began the lesson; Brendon and I spent the class period taking notes as well as passing little notes between each other. He also had psychology next period so we walked there together and again sat together. At lunch he followed me to my locker where I found Ryan waiting for me.

"Hey Hannah, how had your--Bren?"

"Sup Ry? You know Hannah?" Brendon asked.

"Yeah she lives with me. Mom took her in after her parents...you two have class together?"

"Yeah, most of them" I said.

"Ryan was the guitar playing best friend I told you about" Brendon said.

"No way! He was the friend I told you about!" I said.

"You all ready to eat?" Ryan asked.

We all went to the cafeteria and got food. I followed the boys to a spot in the courtyard; the goom of the morning had faded and the warm sun was shining. I took off my hoodie and I caught Brendon and Ryan both staring at my orange tanktop. Was I about to become the girl in a best friend love triangle? I hoped not.