In Life & Love.

Chapter 1~ New Kid on the block

Rion yanked his locker open, anxiously searching for his history book amongst the dust, files and that week old banana skin that made a home of mold. Fumbling through his files he managed to locate his book, with a frown on his face he ripped it out of his locker hastily and slammed the door shut.

" What's the hurry Murry?" Rion looked up to see Maddi standing next to his locker with a wide spectacular grin.

" History!" Rion snapped, " History is the problem here! I have got a speech to do and I'm forced to present in front of a whole class with that jackass teacher!"

" Hmm Mr. Collins, yep, sure we're safe to say that NOBODY likes him", she snickered.

" You'd be right there Maddi, I can't stand the man"

Maddi laughed and suddenly swung her head to the right, she tensed and her delightful face turned sour.

" What's the deal with that new guy?" she yelped abruptly," Have you seen the way he walks! Too cocky if you ask me".

Rion turned to look where she was looking, A tall young man, a Senior too, was walking down the corridor surrounded by all of the schools most popular students, they must've been giving him a tour of the school.

He was slim and had a muscular build, he wore his jacket fitted perfectly over his shoulders and he wore his tie like a business man. He had soft brown hair that fell perfectly in style and hazelnut eyes, vibrant and piercing. Rion took a moment to watch his supposedly "cocky" walk. His hands were in the pockets of his coat and he was taking long comfortable strides, it seemed like he was really at peace and had figured himself out entirely, a hint of jealousy snaked through Rion.  The kid had skin like porcelain and a smile whiter than snow that almost gleamed. He looked so perfect it didn't seem real.

" Hellooo... Rion".

Rion turned back to see Maddi looking at him confused " I literally called your name six times, what planet were you on?"

Rion hesitated " I was just.... Thinking about my speech ".

She lowered one eyebrow and turned back to face the new guy who was now about halfway up the corridor.

" Wait a minute, what the hell, is that Sage!?" She exclaimed.

" Yep, that's Sage," Rion chuckled

Maddi pouted, " I don't like it when she gets involved with that group"

" They are her old friends Maddi, I'm sure she's just being kind".

" Kind doesn't cut it! She's with us now, we are the ones who helped her, she's clean now, drug free for heaven sakes! They aren't! What if she goes back!"

" Maddi calm down, I'm sure she's just saying a respectful hello and how are you".

"Respectful my ass " squawked Maddi.

" What was that?" said a familiar but annoyed voice.

" Oh Sage! Hey, we were just...
"Save it " Sage whimpered, with a cross look plastered across her face.

Maddi began apologizing profusely and the silence grew louder.

Rion pushed his wavy black hair back to form a perfect Quiff .

" Well this is awkward, I'm off to class now anyway, speech time... great", and he took a rushed step from where he was standing. He extended his long arm to look at his watch.

" I am late, how!?"

Panicking he began to run, he ran through the corridor, around the corner and smack bang straight into the new guy. Rion's book catapulted into the air along with his notes which separated and spun about before raining down on the both of them. He paused, awkwardly staring at the brilliant man that stood in front of him. " Um I'm so sorry dude, I didn't mean to ".

" It's alright, it happens, my name's Aiden, I'm new here", he held out a slender hand to shake.

Rion grasped the hand, " I'm R...Rion" he choked, " Nice to meet you".

He bent down and scooped the paperwork into his arms, along with the heavy book.

" Well I'd best be off".

" Wait a sec, do you know where room H3 is?" Aiden asked.

" That's my history class, I'm actually headed there now", he shuddered at the thought of performing his speech in front of Aiden, he seemed so cool and relaxed, obviously popular already. There was something about Aiden that made Rion feel inadequate, he put it down to jealousy or maybe it was something else that he had never quite felt before.

" Right this way sir", he motioned for Aiden to follow his lead to the H blocks.

Sir! He thought to himself, why the hell did I call him sir!

Aiden smiled and followed right on through. They walked along the garden path until they reached the classroom.

Mr. Collins swung around in his chair spilling his cup of hot coffee all down his white dress shirt, he had a stomach the size of Jupiter and his shirt buttons could barely contain it, his face was red and angry and his grey hair was matted and straw like.

" Rion Taylor!" he roared, " Late again!"

Rion looked down at the ground in embarrassment he dare not look up to witness the whole class staring at him.

" And you are?" he glared at Aiden.

" I'm new, Aiden Lewis ".

" Right boy, to a seat now!"

Rion proceeded to walk behind Aiden still he didn't want to even glance up.

" Did I say you could sit down", Collins balked at Rion, " Get up here! You'll be the first to present your speech, a fools punishment!" he slammed his big scaly fist down on the desk, sending adhesive notes flying everywhere.

Rion took a deep breath, placed his books down on the table behind him and snatched his speech from the book.

He finally peered up at the class, walking on until he was standing right before everyone, trembling in his new blue Nikes while holding his work.

He began, "My thoughts on w.. w..war" he sucked in a short breath of air ," I think they were...No! Wrong line", he accidentally muttered out loud.

Two girls sitting in the front row began giggling and passing him judgmental looks that set off Rion's anxiety.His chest felt heavy and tight like he was fighting for oxygen, the nerves in his legs were running amuck and he couldn't stop them from shaking, his hands too. His face went from a healthy shade to a sickly white and his body was heaving with adrenaline.

He didn't notice that he had stopped talking for a whole minute until someone realized his condition and shouted out across the classroom to Collins,

" I think he's had enough, let him off the hook" .

Relieved with the anxiety subsiding he was able to lift his head and clock back in.

He had recognized the voice that saved him. It was Aiden.

Rion mimed the words thank you to him as he crept back to an empty seat.

Watching student after student perform their speeches fluently brought him anger and confusion, but soon enough with the hands of the clock ticking away, the class ended. The high-pitched scream of the siren screeched and echoed through the school permitting everyone to pack up and go home.