The Black and Grey Effects [completed]

o n e

Today worked so unpleasant-again. Assembly sucks and Miss Joan being all out and about her 'favorite' band in Orchestra class-no one paid attention to her-nobody cares about the name of the band. Mr. Pace gave us a pile of essays in History and makes me groan for the whole period. In cafeteria, as usual, I'm sitting with my friends, basically at the corner of the cafeteria.

Dylan, Anthony, Elliot and Thomas were busy talking about football. Mia, Eve, and Carmen, on the other hand were talking about having their shopping spree this weekend. Meanwhile me, I was sitting in without joining them in any conversation as I was with my book Love, Rosie, trying to focus on the plots and storyline.

"Rach, are you joining us this weekend?" Mia asked, pointing her pen at me while battling her eyelashes at me, like a cartoon character.

"I'm not sure. I think I will because I want to buy something at the mall," I said, fidgeting with the pages of the book. Forty minutes in the cafeteria-eating and discussing about useless and maybe some useful things. Some of the students already looked at us— with amazement and wonder lighted up on their faces.

"Well, they might be freshies," Jenny chuckled and continue cuddling with Alex. I looked up and saw them walking to their tables while looking at us, and whispering to each other. I sighed because I know what exactly they are thinking.

First, are they both (Jenny and Alex) twins or boyfriend and girlfriend because they both look alike. Second, are they the hottest clique that all students talk about in this school? Third, where's her (me) boyfriend? I sighed again. Well, this isn't the first time for me. I wear my favourite outfits; red knitted long sleeves sweats and half-short jeans. My hair was curl-wavy blonde. And yet, the weirdest one, I'm wearing glasses when I'm reading or studying, could say that I'm partially nerd hanging around my hot and popular friends.

At the corner of the cafeteria, I saw someone; tall and good-looking as hell. He was walking down the aisle to the table at the end of the corner. My eyes can't stop following his movements. I didn't realise that Mia was talking to me until she snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Rach! Do you hear me?" she asked, looking at me weirdly.

"Oh, sorry. Who is he?" I asked brutally.

"Who?" she asked again, following my gaze to the guy who was sitting at another corner of the cafeteria—alone.

"I don't know. He must be a new guy. Hey, Anthony, who is he?" Mia asked and everyone around our table turned to look at him.

"Oh, his name is Peter. Peter Lockhart. He is from Miami. I heard that he doesn't talk a lot," he said.

"Oh," I responded silently.

All of my friends reacted the same except me. He looks like merely anonymous as a new student. He hasn't made any friend yet—because he was sitting alone and like Anthony's theory, he's quiet.

The day is passing like usual. Nothing new. Biology, Calculus, Physic, French and the last period was English. I walked to my locker with Eve as she was talking about her first-time crush. That's the first time because in her life—for almost five years we've been friends, she never had any crush! She was about to say her crush's name and Elliot was running towards us. He stopped once he reached us—taking his time to catch back his breath.

"Wow, dude. What's going on?" I asked. Eve and I laughed and Elliot said, "Hey, Rach, I've found something!"

"What was it?" I asked. He took out something from his bag and dang! Lizard! Eve and I screamed at the top of our lungs and everybody was looking at us.

"You motherfucker, Elliot!" I screamed and hit his arm with my book multiple times.

"Well, sorry guys! Anthony! Give me 10 bucks bro," he shouted and ran away. Anthony! Of course! That bastard.

"Damn, that was so rude," Eve said and started to walk with me again. I reached my locker and again, I saw Peter. He was taking his book in his locker which located next five lockers from mine.

"Rach, are you okay?" she asked.

"Yes, I am," I said as I took my books and walked to our classes. Eve said bye to me once she reached her next class. I waved at her and walked to my next class alone.

English was quite boring with Mr. Parker explaining about his experiences meeting Nora Roberts. Nobody was listening to him—or maybe a few and that's why they are Mr. Parker's favourites. I was sitting alone because Lisa, my desk partner wasn't coming to school today. After a few minutes of Mr. Parker telling about his great story, Peter came in. I was writing a poem on a piece of paper—merely a short one. Well, another weird thing, one of the hottest girls in school is a poet. Bit cliche isn't it?

"Well, Mr. Lockhart. You're late," Mr. Parker said.

"I'm sorry. Miss Joan asked me for a help."

"Okay then. Fine the empty seat for you to sit. You may sit beside Miss Grey," he said, making me choked the air.

"Excuse me, Mr. Parker, this place is Lisa's." I said.

"Well, she can sit beside Vivian when she come to school tomorrow," he said before continuing his babblings with the students in class.

Peter walked and take his seat beside me. He took out his book from his bag and placed his bag at the side of table's leg. I looked up, and his eyes were already on Mr. Parker. None of us were talking to each other. I'm busy with my poems and he is concentrating on Mr. Parker. I just realised that he saw me in my glasses. My glasses were on, right on our first day meet! Next fifty minutes in English, it was getting boring again and he wasn't talking. Yet I guess that Anthony's theory was right, he is a quiet person—an introvert person. While me, I can suit in both situations; quiet and noisy. But I'd prefer quiet than noises.

The classes ended and I sighed in relief. I pulled out my glasses from my face and placed them inside my bag. I didn't realise that he was looking at me. He walked beside me as we both were heading to our lockers.

"Rachel!"

I heard someone called me behind my back. I turned around and saw Mia and Carmen running towards us. Mia, in her shorts and V-neck shirt while Carmen was in her baseball jersey and jeans. They totally looked hot for all boys in the school—perfect clique in school—I'm trying to look at Peter to see if he drolls for both of them—but he just stared blankly at them before walking away.

"Jenny was out!" Mia said.

"What?" I asked in surprise.

"She's in medic room now," Carmen said. I looked at Peter. He walked to his locker, put some stuffs and walked away. I turned at my friends and walked hurriedly with them to the medic room.

"Jenny!" I called.

"She can't breathe just now but she's okay," the nurse said.

"Damn it, Jen," Alex said, hugging her. We all sighed in relief.

"You lil piece of shit," I muttered at Alex and walked out from the medic room. I was still wondering about Peter. There was something else about him. Something...else.