The Art of Stealing Hearts (On Hold)

4. The one with the bitching

~|Chapter 4|~
•The one with the bitching•

"I'm sorry you had to pick me up."

Stealing a glance at Tyler Brady's stoic face, I realised that he was not going to answer. His hands were clenched on the driving wheel, his foot pressing hard on the gas. I was sure he was driving way past the speed limit, but since the road-running wasn't making me puke, I wasn't going to complain.

It was okay, I told myself, I didn't need him to speak to me. I was here because of my parents' diagnosis, I wasn't here for a new family. Back at home, after Ava's-after losing Ava, I had to accommodate the stares of all my classmates and about everybody else who went to the same school. Once, I got so pissed at this freshman who kept staring at me, that I marched over to give him a peace of my mind, but Lincoln somehow managed to talk me out of it.

"We're here." Tyler said shortly as he hurried out of the car.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and rushed after him, kinda like a lost puppy, a feeling I did not like.

"We are terribly late." He stated the obvious as we walked into the school building. The corridors were deserted as class had long since begun, and I was late for my first day. "Now do you know where the office is?"

Did he not understand that this was my first day? "No," I bit my lip to keep myself from making a rude remark.

"Then have a good time finding it," he snapped and began walking away.

"Ass!" I called after his retreating back. Even if he heard me, he didn't bother to look at me again, which was totally fine by me. I could find the freaking office without his Majesty's help.

Okay, I'll admit, it took me a while to find the office. Then it took me another while to find my first class. 'Colton High' was just as big as my old school, but it would take some time for me to learn my way around.

After being excused for coming late, I was allowed to sit; I took the first seat I saw was empty, unfortunately that was one in the front. No introductions, which was a relief. The worst way to introduce yourself is to stand in front of your potential friends and tell them what you like to eat for dinner.

I kept an eye out for Cat, the redhead I had met at Starbucks, but I didn't see her. Not until break.

"Johanna!" A voice that sounded strikingly similar to Cat's called after me as I looked around for a place to sit, lunch tray held in one hand. I turned out to be right.

The redhead joined me, a smile on her face. "I was wondering when you'd show up." She guided me to a table where around half a dozen teenagers were already seated. I counted two girls and three guys. "Hey guys," she called. "I want you to meet Johanna, the girl I met at Starbucks."

I smiled as everyone looked at me. I wasn't nervous about meeting new people, never had been. Back in school, Ava and I were the social ones, we could always talk to everyone. "Hey," I muttered. The gazes on me were neither unfriendly, nor hostile; merely curious.

"Hey Johanna, I'm Helen. Come on, have a seat," the blonde scooted over to make space for me and Cat. Setting our trays on the table, we joined them.

"Johanna, meet Summer, Donald, Daniel, Paul and of course, Helen."

"Call me Don. So Johanna," Don examined me through his lashes. "Where are you from?"