Damaged

Chapter One

I pulled my car into the parking lot, scanning for a spot within the twisting maze of cars. I found one near the front of the lot across from the school and pulled in. I sat there in my car letting it sink in, this is my senior year, this is the end all. The light sound of the drizzling rain made it easy for me to zone out for a bit while I waited for school to start. I had moved to New York this summer because my mothers photographing career finally began taking off and it wasn’t working out well in Michigan. I was okay with it, I wasn’t going to complain many people would kill to live in a state like New York so I don’t take it for granted. My brother Ty on the other hand dreaded the idea of moving and it took us almost the entire summer to get him warmed up to living in New York. The sound of someone being bashed into my car, startled me out of my own thoughts. 

“What the hell?” I shouted taking a step out of my car to see what idiot hit my car with their body. A boy with short messy curls sat at the base of my car, his knees hugged up to his chest. “Are you okay?” I questioned, poking the boys shoulder. He looked up with glossy eyes, his lip trembling. 

“Faggot!” Another male voice shouted, I spun around, a small group of boys stood there shouting at the guy sitting on the ground.

“Back off now, and leave him alone.” I shouted at the group, a defensive mother side taking over me. A beach blonde one stepped forward, his many tattoos in clear sight. His appearance took me back a bit as he came into view.

“What are you going to do about it princess?” He was the same male voice that shouted faggot retorted, taking a step towards me.

“I-I..” I stammered, trying to come up with something quickly.

“Exactly. I’ll leave him alone for right now but next time ill make sure i don’t shove the fag into your car.” Him and his group pushed passed me, knocking at my shoulders a bit as the headed towards the unopened school.

“Are you okay?” I bent down next to him, lifting the boy up with myself. He nodded slowly, gathering himself back together.

“I’m Ashton, thank you.” He said grabbing my hand and bringing into to his lips. I smiled at the sweet gesture, acknowledging his praise.

“It was nothing really.” I laughed awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood up. “By the way I’m Rosella.”

“Can I call you Ro instead?” He asked, as we began to walk towards the now open school.

“No one has ever called me that but sure.” I said tightening the grip on my back pack strap. I was extremely nervous and those boys definitely did not start this day for me out on a good note. 

“I’m guessing you’re new here?” Ashton spoke up, fiddling with the end of his button up shirt, right where the last two buttons meet.

“I am, is it obvious?” I questioned, fixing my hair as we walked through the doors.

“No, it’s just i’ve never seen you around.” He answered, turning his head to look at me. “I’ll show you to the main office if you want.” He added as we walked down the first hallway, a few people whispered looking over to me as the opened there lockers.

“Um, yeah that’d be great thank you.” I replied, following him as he turned down a smaller hallway. Teachers walked by us in a rush to get to their classrooms before the students did. 

“Here you are.” He laughed, extending hims arm out to usher me into the main office. 

“Name?” An older secretary asked from one of the many desks. I walked towards her, Ashton trailing behind me. 

“Rosella Thompson.” I stated quietly as she typed it into her computer.

“Ah I see okay, let me print out your schedule, it’ll just take a minute sweety.” I nodded and sat down in the small chair in front of her desk and tapped my foot impatiently as the paper slowly printed out. Ashton hovered behind me, one of his hands rested on my shoulder giving me a sense of tranquility. The day was already feeling rushed, like I didn’t even have a moment to myself to think. I was silently praying Ashton was in some of my classes and that the blonde haired boy wouldn’t be in any. He seemed like a royal dick and i’d hate to have to spend the year with him. “Here you are.” The secretary said handing me the blue sheet of paper. I grabbed it from her hand and stood up, thanking her for the schedule. Ashton and I walked out and back down the hallway, he examined my schedule closely as we walked.

“We have 3 classeswith one another, but I suggest we don’t spend them together.” He whispered as we got to the end of this hall.

“Why?” I questioned, it was a bit rude of him to say something like that when all i’ve been to him was nice.

“If you haven’t put the pieces together i’m not popular. I don’t want to bring you down along with me. The second we leave this hallway, I don’t know you, you don’t know me. Goodbye Rosella.” His arms wrapped around me quickly, pulling me into a hug before he scurried out of the hallway and down the other hall. I couldn’t help but feel a bit empty, I had lost the only friend I made in a matter of minutes. Truly I didn’t care that he wasn’t popular, that’s not something that causes me to judge people. I would’ve loved to stay his friend but the feeling was clearly not mutual. I walked down the hall to my first class, English. I rushed into the room, I was one of the last people to enter, tumbling over my own feet and landing onto the floor in front of my new classmates, what a great first impression. Someone had quickly gathered up my books for me, placing them on the first desk in the front row, not exactly the seat I would’ve chosen for myself. I looked up to see who helped me to be greeted with a pair gorgeous green eyes but who they were on lowered the appeal greatly.