Breathe

three

I notice how noisy the classroom is.

People yell across the room and chatter to their friends. Some scribble down last minute homework. Others smile mischievously, gossiping and texting at the same time.

I sit on top of a desk, a group of people surrounding me.

"So Cole, what did you do this weekend?"  The pretty blonde drags out my name, while leaning her body in my direction.

I think back. All I really had done this weekend was sit at home and stare out the window.

Then I remember Nora. My eyes widen.

"What is it, Cole?"

I really shouldn't let her get to me.

"Nothing much." I shrug, trying to maintain the cool guy attitude I've built up for myself. "Just went to a few parties, that's all."

"Oh, those must've been fun." The girl's voice is high and I can tell she's trying to be flirty. It might have worked if her failed attempt at a lip bite wasn't distracting me so much.

I nod, trying to show I'm uninterested in this conversation.

She doesn't give up. "Where were they at?"

Luckily, the bell saves me.

The girl clearly looks disappointed as our teacher, Mr. Murphy, instructs everyone to return to their seats.

The day's lesson starts and I sink into my desk, trying to zone out the world. All of the voices have just begun to fade into the back of my mind when I hear a loud knock.

Everyone stares as an annoyed Mr. Murphy walks over and swings open the door.

I choke on my own breath.

Everyone directs their attention to me, ignoring the girl in front of them.

"Oh no." I mutter.

Panic is slowly rising inside of my body, and I swear the fear is squeezing my organs until there isn't an ounce of oxygen left.

"Everyone this is our new student." Mr. Murphy reads off of a small slip of paper.

"No. Oh please, no." My hands clench under the desk.

"Do you know her?" My ex-girlfriend, Tiffany, says as she flips her hair in the air.

Tiffany is very close to being the cliché girl every school has. She's stunning, clever, and a natural born leader. However, she's not the cheerleading captain and she's not a tiny blonde with a fierce attitude. She's actually a red head who likes to remain quiet most of the time.

Only, sometimes her inability to talk can make her come off as a complete brat.

"No." I shake my head at her. "I've never seen her in my life."

At that, all of their heads whip back around to stare at the person standing awkwardly at the front of the classroom.

I notice how her hair is drenching wet. It parades down her back and slings droplets across her face every time she moves. I notice how her clothes sag, and I realize they would actually look nice if they would fit her body right. And most of all I notice how sad her eyes look. She heard what I said.

Of course I had seen her before. I could never forget a face like that.

"Introduce yourself." Mr. Murphy leans against his desk, obviously not interested in anything going on.

"Um."

I stare at her shaking hands.

"My name is Nora Nightingale and I'm from-"

"The sewer?" The boy beside me, who just so happens to be one of the stars on the football team, pipes up. "Because she kind of looks like a rat."

He pretends to whisper his last words but says them loud enough for her to hear.

The room erupts in cruel snickers and laughs.

I smile, even though it kind of makes my stomach sick.

I shouldn't care what they think of her anyway.

"Alright class, settle down." Mr. Murphy extends his arm out, motioning for Nora to sit in an empty desk.

Her head lowers as she slowly walks to her new seat.

I find myself counting how many desks away it is from me.

Two rows ahead and one seat to the right. I wish she was farther away.

Derek, the guy that had made the joke about her, leans over and whispers, "This should be fun."

His grin is wicked and somehow I know he isn't talking about the class.

He's talking about the girl twirling her lime green pencil back and forth.

The girl who's face is either covered with tears or raindrops- I can't tell.

The girl who is allergic to flowers.

The girl who is too ugly for me.

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tell me what ya think *wink wink*
this chapter isn't that great....
but it's the only thing I've wrote for like two weeks(?) so I might as well post it.
it's just been a rough month so yeah.......

well, enjoy!!