The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter two.

"Wait," I paused in question, "what do you mean you won't be on the bus this afternoon?" My eyes looked from Gwen to the crowd of people in the cafeteria and then back to Gwen.

She shrugged with a sorry expression crossed over her face. "I'm sorry, Avery. My mom's picking me up to babysit straight after school while she and dad are working late."

I buried my face in my hands with a moan. "You can't leave me alone on that bus with those people!" I said in frustration, looking up at her.

She smiled, her shiny white teeth showing. "You're so dramatic," she shook her head, "you'll be fine. It's just one bus ride."

"With people." I said in distress. This couldn't be happening. Who was I going to sit with? If I was alone, and everyone was with their friends, I would be the loner who talked to nobody. I pictured the bus and where everybody usually sat. I could easily sit at the front where I didn't have to speak to anyone.

"Let's face it," Gwen said, curling her blonde hair with her finger, "you need to be more social. It'll be good for you."

I rolled my eyes. That was something my mother would say to me and most of the time, I didn't exactly listen. It was still the first day which was going by slowly; every class I was checking my phone to see if it was nearly time to leave. All I wanted to do was go home and watch the rest of Grey's Anatomy, they left me on a cliff hanger and that was not okay.

Did Izzy and George both die?

"Can't you just," I trailed off, trying to think of a good reason quickly but, that wasn't happening anytime soon.

"Sorry," Gwen said with her 'I'm so sorry but I'll make it up to you' look. The bell finally rung, interrupting our serious conversation. The crowd of students disappeared slowly as we got up to follow them out of the doors and into the corridors.

We both followed the crowd in an endless walk to our next class. I was dying to get home and every time I was at school, that was all I thought about and the fact that people were nearby. I wanted this year to be over so I never had to deal with any of these people again. It was harsh but, I had social anxiety and it sucked. Once Gwen and I said goodbye and departed to our separate classes, I mentally sighed and headed into English which I loved so I shouldn't be complaining. I liked the teacher and the topics so it would be an easy class.

Another thing I did like was that Jace O'Connors was in that class but every girl was eyeing him up. I avoided eye contact as usual and headed to the back of the class where I sat next to nobody. Jace sat at the front with a bunch of girls who were all over him.

They were mostly cheerleaders and it made me a little jealous but, Jace wasn't even worth it. Not even close.

*

Today wasn't my day.

I was late! Are you kidding me? Out of all the days I was catching the bus alone and I was late. Gwen couldn't even save me a seat because she wouldn't be there. I raced through the corridors and skipped my locker, usually I would put all of my books in my locker to make my bag less heavy but today, I couldn't do that.

I rushed past nobody as the corridors were empty; I was so afraid to miss the bus. The walk to my house was half an hour and I didn't want to walk so I continued to rush past all of the classrooms until I made it outside.

The clouds were grey and the sky was light, making me squint but I saw the bus, still waiting as a few more students entered the bus. I quickly rushed towards the bus and made it just in time. I flung my bag over my shoulder and took a huge breath in as I stepped onto the bus.