Unravelled

[CHAPTER 3]

CHAPTER 3

Lara's POV

I stepped into Algebra and quickly came to a halt. My jaw fell open. I let my eyes take in the surroundings of the classroom. Words like Algebra sucks and Jade + Oliver were smeared in white on the chalkboard. Chairs were on top of tables and paper planes all over the floor. The teacher's desk in middle of the class, with its chair missing in its place. From where I stood, the class was a mess.

It was unlike last year where everyone was seated in their places, decently trying to make conversation with one another and fitted into their cliques.

At my side my best friend, Lia uttered, "When they said lots of newbies, I didn't know it'd be this many." She was right. My eyes surveyed the class again to see many unfamiliar faces and almost half of the students I hadn't seen before.

Wilson High School is indeed known for student transfers and exchange. No, not because this school has a low acceptance rate. In fact, we actually made it to top ten in the state for the past eight years. And also the basketball champion for four years in a row. Well, it's just that it is the only school in the area that accepts students regardless of their backgrounds and academic achievements.

Which explained the unfamiliar faces we were seeing. "This is not what I had expected," she added.

"Guess you won't be spending most of your nights with us anymore," I nodded towards a group of boys who just came in through the back door. She looked over to their direction, eyes getting wider but then held them in check and turned to me, "Like I said, no more boys this year."

"I could've sworn they all look better than Ty-" I stopped, realizing the name I was about to say. I wished I could take back those words but I knew what's said was said. Instead, I slung my arm over her shoulder and said, "Any other guys that we know of."

Truth is, I wanted to cheer her up but words didn't turn out exactly how I wanted them to be.

Tyler, was the name I almost said. He was Lia's ex-boyfriend. They'd been going out for two months before he told her he had to move to Manhattan. She could no longer contact him after that but still, she convinced herself that he was just busy. He'll call soon, she kept saying. And just three months ago when we were two towns away, we saw him making out with another girl in front of a nightclub.

That was when she vowed she would never date ever again. Well, at least until college.

"Yeah, whatever. And I really don't get why we should have Algebra on Monday mornings," she mumbled, clearly avoiding the topic we were discussing about seconds ago.

I rolled out a sigh. Between examining parts of the body and finding x, I would take the former anytime. Nevertheless, I could still manage a B but as for Lia..., well, she was always on the borderline, just enough to pass.

The bell rang, sending us both to the nearest empty seats, which were side by side. Lia pushed her table to mine, making them a shared table.

Mr Crawford walked up to his desk which was now stranded in the left corner of the room, not surprised to see the condition of the class. He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Sighing, he said, "I've seen worse."

He put his glasses back on and asked, "Now where's my chair?"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Over here!" Bryce waved both of his arms in the air to catch our attention. Lia and I walked over to that table, each carrying a tray of our own. Both of us sat down as Bryce said dramatically, "I'm so glad that last year's seniors left this table for us. Oh, how I love them!"

"They did not leave this table for us." Cameron said, munching on his burger. "Besides, I thought you hated them."

Bryce rolled his eyes, turning to me instead while looking at me taking the last bite of my sandwich. "No drinks, eh?"

"Don't even bother asking. This girl...," Kelsey pointed at me. "...and this one over here...," now pointing at Scott who was sitting beside her, "...only wants strawberry yogurt today."

I laughed and put my head on her shoulder, "You know me well, I'm touched." Scott handed me some coins and said, "Go get me and yourself one each. My treat."

"It's such a shame that this cafeteria still doesn't sell them and we've got to walk so far just to get to the machine. I mean c'mon, most of us wrote that down on our survey forms last year," Bryce almost whined. "And that damn machine only accepts coins!"

"The nearest one isn't that far. Besides, if they were sold here, what's the point of having that damn machine?"

Bryce shot a playful glare at Cameron. All four of us laughed when Cameron smirked. It's always entertaining watching them teasing one another, which had always been how they got closer. In fact, they were closer to each other than any of us.

The six of us had always been together since our freshman year. I met Lia and Kelsey first in the foyer. We started talking when two boys, Bryce and Cameron approached us and continued the conversation we were having. Later in the hall, we saw Scott looking a little lost so we invited him to join us. We started hanging out during breaks, after class and even during our free time ever since.

"Thanks, Scott. I'll be right back." I got up, with the coins in my hand and made my way out of the cafeteria.

Cam was right. The nearest machine was just outside the gym, next to the cafeteria I just walked out from.

When I got to the machine, I was thankful that there wasn't a long queue. Just one before me. A girl was standing in front of me, digging for some coins in her purse to feed the machine. I peeked into her purse, only a few ten dollar bills were seen. Her hands started moving to her jeans pocket, then she looked up to the ceiling, obviously frustrated.

I counted the coins in my hands and looked at the credits on the machine. I handed her some coins while smiling, I said, "This should be enough for a yogurt."

"Thanks," she said.

I was walking back with my yogurt when I accidentally knocked into someone. Again.