Just A Boy (ON HOLD)

Chapter 2

***Chapter 2***

My alarm clock beeped shrilly in my ear. Still half-asleep I tried to turn it off, but ended up knocking it onto the floor. Groggily I pulled myself out of bed and felt around for the alarm clock that was still beeping. When I finally laid my hand on it I turned it off and was happy to be able to hear my own thoughts again.

I was all for going back to bed when I remembered why I had set an alarm. I had to go to school early today to show Annie round. More awake than before I stood up and began getting ready.

I chose my usual outfit of loose jeans and a t-shirt. It wasn't the most fashionable outfit, but it was comfortable and I didn't care about being noticed. I honestly don't understand the obsession with boys, why make yourself look ridiculous to impress someone who, quite a lot of the time, doesn't care about you?

But I wasn't going to launch into one of my mental lectures, so I went to the bathroom to brush my hair. After I had tamed my serious bedhead and brushed my teeth, I somehow made my way downstairs. A glass of orange juice woke me up and I checked the clock. I really needed to go now if I was going to walk there.

"You're up early." My mum said coming into the kitchen.

"I told you I need to go in early yesterday." I said while packing my bag.

"So you did. Do you want me to drive you?" she asked.

"Yes please."

"Let me just grab my bags then." She said before disappearing out of the room again.

I grabbed a breakfast bar while waiting. If mum was going to drive me then I had time to spare. Five minutes later she came back and we made our way to her beat up Ford.

The car soon warmed up and it was cosy compared to the cold outdoors. I stared out the window at the light snow that had settled on the sidewalks. Most of it had melted and everywhere looked like someone had sprinkled a bit of icing sugar on it. A few footprints scarred the light snow, but it was barely any since it was so early.

"We're here." My mum said pulling up in the parking lot. I grabbed my bag from down by my feet and thanked my mum before running into the warm building. The cold air pricked at my exposed skin and I was happy to get back into the warmth.

I walked the unfamiliar path to the principal's office and when I entered the secretary looked up in greeting.

"Hello Katie, just go straight in." she told me.

I walked through the heavy doors for the second time in under 24 hours. I saw an extra chair had been pulled up to the desk and one was occupied by Annie. I sat down and faced the principal.

He was a very imposing man; it could be seen in his face. His face came to a sharp point and his eyes were like eagles'. He nose was hooked and all features combined were terrifying. He was a man I never wanted to get on the wrong side of.

"Miss Underwood, you will show Miss Clayton around now and then you will go to your first lesson together. What lesson is that?" he said, each order precisely articulated.

"Calculus sir." I mumbled in response.

"Very good, you can go now." He dismissed us quickly and we both stood up, both eager to leave his presence.

When out of the office I breathed a small sigh of relief.

"That is one of the scariest men I have ever met." Annie said. I laughed at her honesty and agreed quickly.

"Come on, I'll show you around." I smiled and looked around the empty hallway.

I tried to keep the tour short. There wasn't that much to see and the school was quite small, it was a special skill if you could get lost here.

"So why are you here? I mean why join in the middle of the semester?" I asked.

We were sitting outside the calculus room while I tried to finish my prep.

"My brother was expelled from our last school." Annie replied. One thing I had already learned about her was that she was brutally honest. She wouldn't lie about anything.

"Seriously?" I wanted to probe further, but Emma decided to join us at that moment.

"Hey Katie! Is this the new girl?" she asked. Her bright red hair flared even in the harsh artificial light and her emerald eyes shone at the prospect of meeting someone new. Emma was definitely a people person, it was impossible not to get on with her.

"Yep. Emma this is Annie, Annie this is Emma, my best friend." I introduced them quickly.

"It's so great to meet you." Emma said quickly. Annie stared up at Emma looking slightly terrified.

"Don't worry Annie, she doesn't bite." I added. Annie looked visibly more relieved until I added in an undertone, "Well most of the time."

"She's only joking." Emma laughed. "That was one time." She snapped at me.

I laughed and stood up to give her a quick hug. Annie relaxed and greeted her politely before turning to my discarded homework.

"You've got number 5 wrong." She said.

"What? Oh man I thought I had that one right!" I exclaimed and picked up the book.

"You forgot to change the sign." She continued.

"Oh yeah..." I admitted sheepishly. I found my pen and scribbled out the equation. My cheeks tinged a little pink at having made such a simple mistake. "I didn't realise you were so good at calculus."

"Well I am taking calculus, with you." She pointed out the obvious. "I would've thought you'd be good at it. This is advanced calculus." She giggled. My cheeks went a bit pinker at this.

"Today is not a good day for me." I tried to defend myself. Emma just laughed at the situation and sat down beside me.

We sat there chatting mindlessly watching as the corridors became busier as more and more students arrived. Soon our talk was drowned out by the slamming of lockers, fake high-pitched laughter and finally the bell.

"Pack up Katie, Mr Roberts will be here soon." Emma said and I shoved my books away.

The rest of the class joined us, most of them looking at Annie who shrunk under their gazes.

"Don't worry, it's not often we get a new pupil, but none of them will hurt you." I reassured her.

She smiled and found my textbook and began looking through it. Eventually Mr Roberts arrived and let us in the room. I went to my normal desk at the back and Annie followed in tow.

"Now guys we have a new pupil today." Mr Roberts announced motioning towards Annie. Mr Roberts was very laid back; I honestly didn't expect him to have noticed any change in the class. "Her name's Annie Clayton so let's welcome her to our class." His Southern accent was just as distinguishable as ever as he spoke before going to the board and beginning the lesson.

Annie seemed more interested in what Mr Roberts was teaching than the excited whispers of everyone in the class and the occasional person who turned round to look at her. It seemed to annoy me more than it did her.

***

"Everyone was looking at you all lesson." I exclaimed as we sat down at my normal table at lunch.

"They were?" she asked absentmindedly.

I was left speechless that she didn't care in the slightest. Emma sat down with us when she arrived as well as some other friends from band and class. I noticed Annie was staring at the 'popular' table most of the time. That was the table were all the cheerleaders and jocks sat. I was so absorbed in my conversation with Emma I barely noticed Daisy come over to us.

"Hey Anne." She said.

"It's Annie." Annie told her quietly.

"Whatever. Anyway don't you want to come and sit with us?" she asked.

My head snapped round so fast, I think I got whiplash. Why was the head cheerleader asking Annie to sit with her? She continued as if she'd read my mind.

"You know to sit with your..." she trailed off, but motioned towards her table with her head.

"Um, no thank you." Annie muttered.

Diasy looked put out; I doubt anyone had every said no to her before.

"'K well you're always free to sit with us it you want." She smiled before strutting off and sitting on Jason's lap.



The bell rang causing me a little headache and Annie and I left to go to our next lesson and as we hurried off I never thought to find out who Daisy had wanted Annie to sit with.







I just want to say this story takes a little bit of time to get started, but please bear with! I promise it gets better (well I hope it does)

xoxo