Who I am

Chapter 1

Fiona’s POV

As I slide into my seat, I feel the bare skin of my legs rub against the chair and cringe. I know what I must look like to the rest of the class. They say my name all over school; write it all over tables, lockers, toilet doors, like I don’t already know. I guess it’s my own fault though. I walk around this school in a pink dress which can only just be considered a dress and a pair of heels. I can’t expect to be called classy, can I? I just want to go home and lie in bed and never have to come back but that’s not how life works, my parents remind me every day. My Dad says I’m his girl and I just want to make him proud, even if that is by being the most popular person in this building and not having any real friends, or so people say.

Aimee slides in next to me, a grin plastered across her face in a slightly suspicious manner, the atrocious sequins of her dress sparking in the light. Her deep blue eyes stare into me and I lean back in my chair, throwing one arm back into a leaning position, I flick my blonde hair back over my shoulders with a matching grin. I raise my eye brow at her, glancing around to see what it is that she could be thinking about. Not seeing anything, I lean inwards and cup my ear with one hand in my normal position when she tells me secrets.

“Spit it out.” I hiss.

She leans inwards, I know she’s rolling her eyes and carefully she pushes her face close to my ears, her breath warm against my neck as she speaks “Did you hear about the project? They think that it’s a good idea to match us up with people in the class we don’t really know that well... FOR FUN! Then we have to do a presentation at the end about what we’ve learnt about the other person?” she complains loudly, so loudly there was no point for whispering.

I can’t believe it actually, although I do think it’s a good idea. I’m not going to tell her that though because I know what she’d say. “Gross!” I say with disgust in my voice and turn back to the front, tapping my nails against my desk. I wonder who I could get. I look around the class, I know everyone. Or they know me at least. Do I really need a chance to talk to anyone? If they were worth knowing they’d want to know me.

On the bright side, I guess if it’s just an assignment if I get a guy I could easily convince him to do it for me and if it’s a girl then I could persuade her to do it and we could make friends. I smile to myself, knowing that I always get my way as wrong as it may be. No worries in my mind, I sit up in my seat, brushing down my dress and looking upwards as the teacher begins to speak.

“I’m almost entirely sure that you will all know about our project because of a few people who have a very low standard of keeping themselves to themselves, Ms.Kelly.” The teacher moves her gaze, shooting daggers at Aimee who sits silently, giving an angelic smile. She returns her look to address the rest of the class “I’m going to pair you up and there will be NO swapping, NO arguments and most of all, no falling out. Your partner will stay as your partner no matter what. You will be asked to deliver a report on your partner near the end. I will be expecting it to be suitable and it can be delivered to the class in any way that is appropriate...” she pauses for a second and I could swear she gives me a look as if warning me. Averting her gaze I don’t look up till she continues. “This isn’t any old project, I will be expecting something substantial, something that you have actually learnt about the other person. Not a ‘secret’ but an understanding. If you don’t complete this task, I will fail you on the whole year. It’s simple.”

The whole class sits open mouthed at this revelation, except for my friends who flick their hair without a care. I clamp my own jaw shut, trying to hide the horror that I can feel in the pit of my stomach. How is someone else’s education supposed to rest on knowing me when I barely even understand what kind of person I am and I AM me!

“Whatevs, this is going to be a drag.” I hear Aimee mutter to herself whilst checking over her nails and part of me wonders why I’m even friends with her. Nothing about this seems exactly right at the moment.

The teachers stops dead in front of me with a slip of paper in her hand and a grin appears on her face as I extend my palm, dread appearing in my stomach. She pushes the paper with force into my palm and swallowing the lump in my throat I clutch it in my hand, bringing myself to my feet.

“Why don’t you start us off Fiona? I’m sure you’d like to share with the class who your partner is.” She suggests, all too knowingly and I do as she says, following her to the front of the classroom where she stands, her arms crossed.

I unfold the paper in my hand, my heart beat fastening its pace and I pray to myself that it’s someone I would mind. My eyes widen with horror as I stare down at the paper and I look at the teacher but she already knows who it is. My horror is obviously apparent to the rest of the class because they stare at me shocked just waiting for me to announce who my partners going to be them, half hoping it is and the other half begging that it’s not.

“Connor Young.” I announce, the name almost catching on the tip of my tongue as I try to say it. “He’s my partner.” I almost scream inside of my head, wishing it was anyone but him. Connor, why did it have to be you? I ask myself but by the look on his face, I know he wishes it would of been anyone in the entire world other than me as well.