Opposites, Lovers

Chapter 20: The Short Story

Chapter 20

Please read the Author's Note at the end! Cheers, Elena!

"So, tell me more about you!" I asked Tara as we sat down in our English class.

"Well, I moved here because my father was offered a job in London. I'm originally from Southampton but I lived in Brighton all my life! Mum works in a library and dad works in accounting and finance. I miss my friends but yeah, I think I'll get used to it! I like to write poetry, if you didn't already know and I want to become a protest poet!" she explained.

"Well welcome to London, then!" I answered as I gave her a side hug.

"Thank you, Ari!" she gratefully thanked me.

I observed her once again, she looked timid but nice, she could stay with us and we could make her popular, which would help her integrate the school.

"Good morning class!" Ms. Lake joyfully exclaimed.

"Good morning Ms. Lake," the class answered, a lot less enthusiastically.

Ms. Lake was passionately talking about our next creative essay that had to contain a poem, energetically making gestures with her hands, but I wasn't listening. I looked around the classroom, taking time to observe each novel on the bookshelf at the other end of the classroom, sitting there like they were waiting for someone to pick them up, touch their cover with their hand to get rid of the dust on them and discover their amazing secrets. I smiled at this thought, how many times I have dreamt of entering the world of books, living the adventures of the characters and being alive just by the will and power of one person, the author.

I felt a gaze on me, as if someone was attentively observing me. As I turned around, I noticed that two people were looking at me: Nick and Bryan. Nick looked like he wanted to kill me, Bryan gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Ms. Campbell, what is so interesting at the back of the classroom?"

I smiled at her before turning around and pointing a finger at Bryan.

"You!" I said in a voluptuous voice.

I saw him blush of embarrassment, as I expected. All the girls in my class giggled, Nick clenched his teeth.

I gave him a grin of satisfaction before turning back to listening to Ms. Lake. I won, Nick Waters, and you are going to realise that I am way better than you, but unfortunately for you, it will be too late.

"Ouch!" I whispered as I felt pain in my shin that someone had just kicked.

I sighed before dropping a pen on the floor, turned around to pick it up while catching the little piece of paper that Meg was handing me behind the table. I became a professional at this technique *insert a winking emoji here*.

I opened it in my pencil case, careful not to get caught.

So, who are you going to pair up with? ;)

I frowned before quickly scribbling my answer on the piece of paper.

What's the creepy emoji for?

I leaned back on my chair before placing it on the corner of Meghan's table.

Because you might want to pair up with Bryan! It will make your fake couple look more real...plus I think you will enjoy it!

I shook my head before answering.

Oh come on Steph, you know me, I don't like Bryan in that way, like, at all!

I received the paper a few seconds later.

Sounds like you are trying to convince me, or yourself? Anyway, who do you want to pair up with? Tara?

I frowned, I knew how Steph talked and I knew that the name of the new girl was written in a sarcastic tone.

No, I am going to stick with Bryan, and I am not trying to convince anybody

I gave them the paper once last time before hearing Ms. Lake say 'You have a minute to choose your partner'.

I saw Tara turn around to face me in the corner of my eye but I was already locking eyes with Bryan.

I slowly got up before walking towards him, a grin plastered on my face as I sat next to him.

"So, what are we writing about?" I casually asked.

--------------------------

"I don't have any ideas, do you?" I asked Bryan as we were sitting in the library.

"Well let's plan it before trying to find ideas, shall we?"

"I was thinking we could alternate the writing, you write one paragraph and I write the next one. If you do half of the essay and I do the other half, it would be noticeable by the reader that there is a change in writing!" I continued.

"I can't believe it!" he smiled.

"What?" I questioned.

"You are smart!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Shhh, and yes, I'm smart, is that a problem?"

"No, not all! It's just weird that you never put your hand up in class."

"Popular people are not meant to be smart, they are meant to be popular. Being popular and smart doesn't work!"

"Why are you trying so hard to fit in? Why are you trying to hide the person you really are? Why are you trying to be someone you're not?"

I looked at him, surprised that he read trough me as an open book before showing him my planning, changing the subject to avoid his inquisitive questions.

"Personally, I feel like the author is involved in the writing and you discover their secrets, weaknesses and strengths as your are reading their stories. It is like a vision of their lives, a version of their reality living in their imagination."

"Same! It's like we are discovering their world, they are giving us the opportunity to be part of their adventure!"

We smiled, joyful that we understood each other. We continued planning and brainstorming our short story until sunset.

"I should probably go," Bryan sheepishly said.

I yawned before replying.

"I am going to stay for a little while, I am too deep in this story to get out of it," I grinned.

He turned around before walking towards the door, I called him as he was about to close it.

"Bryan!" my voice was desperate, my tone grateful.

He waited for me to continue, but the words were stuck in my throat. I quickly got up and impulsively wrapping my arms around his shoulders, whispering a 'thank you' in his ear.

'You're welcome' he whispered back, I could tell that he was grinning by the sound of his voice, a pitch higher than usual.

I smiled, closed my eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the comfort that his body against mine gave me. I felt safe, but most of all, I felt myself.

Hey guys, it's me!

Sorry for the really, really, really late update but, believe me, I was extremely busy! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! O

Cheers !

Elena Xxxx