Be My Eyes

2: It'll Be Fun

"You sure you want to go to school today Iona? Because you dont have to..." Iona's dad said quietly from her bedroom door.

Iona so desperately wanted to stay at home, she hated school and she didnt feel like facing anything, however the thought of being home alone all day and just lying in bed with her own thoughts seemed more dangerous so she had made the desicion to go.

"Dad i feel fine, my head doesnt even hurt anymore, i just tripped, you know how clumsy i am" Iona smiled, hopping up onto her tiptoes to kiss her dad on the cheek before saying goodbye and heading downstairs then outside and down the road.

She made her way to school slowly, taking deep breaths and trying to avoid a repeat of yesterday. She couldnt let people get to her, not again.

The first two lessons passed slowly, she sat by herself at the back of both classes and took minimal notes, trying her best to focus and understand.

At lunch she quietly stood in the loud canteen line and grabbed an apple and a sandwich packet, taking the food to an empty table and sitting down. She wasnt alone for long though as someone sat down next to her.

"Woah are you really going to eat all of that?" Said the boy from yesterday, Parker.

"No actually...did you want some?" Iona offered, taking one half of the sandwich and holding it out. She didnt do this as a gesture of kindness but because she genuinely didnt want it and assumed he did, she couldnt think why else he was sat there.

Parker stared at the sandwich then looked back up at Iona, "that was a joke...put the sandwhich down" he said, waving his hand, a smile on his face.

Iona put it down and watched in bemusement as Parker began to eat his burger as if he werent moving.

"What do you want?" Iona asked after a moment of gathering her thoughts.

"A name" he replied, mouth full of burger and an infuriating smile on his face. Iona shuffled u comfortably slightly, not looking him dkrectly in the eye, eventually she let out a loud groan.

"Iona! My name is Iona" she stated through gritted teeth. Parker watched  her for a few seconds longer before nodding and continuing to eat. "Anything else?" She asked irritably.

"Nope"

"Then why are you still sat there?" Iona asked, still feeling extremely confused, and Parker's lack of intention to explain himself was becoming more and more insufferable.

"Oh...were you saving the seat for someone else?"

Iona couldnt explain the rush of anger that surged through her stomach and chest at that very moment. She stood instantly with such force that Parker actually jumped, and she began walking away.

"Hey wait!" He called after her, she could hear him getting up. "Hey come on, i'm just joking around...wait!" He called, running up to her side and spinning her around.

"Come on, i just wanted to give you some company" he stated calmly and Iona let her fists un clench.

"Thank you...but i dont need any"

"You sure about that?"

There was a long silence where Parker took it apon himself to fill the gap and he blew up his cheeks like a chipmonk before letting out a long breath of air. "Well i'm getting the sense that you're not much of a talker! Thats okay, i can do the talking, you have history next? Well what a coinsidence i do too! Lets walk there together!"

Before Iona knew it, Parker had his hand on her back and was nattering away in her ear as they walked to History. "...And then my mum screamed 'it's the middle of the night!' But i couldnt help the fact i got lost in the woods i mean talk about drama queen-"

"Wait...what were you doing in the woods?" Iona interrupted, not quite following Parker's story, however she could feel the slight tug of a smile on her lips as she listened to him ramble.

"Looking for Ruins, sheesh keep up!" He tutted, shaking his head as if that were normal. "Anyway i think she was tottaly over reacting i mean there was only a little bit of blood..."

by the time Parker was finished telling Iona his story, saying how he fell out of a tree, cutting his arm and his mum had thought he'd been mugged and beaten up when he came home, they had reached their history classroom.

"Is that actually true?" Iona asked before going in.

"Yes, why wouldnt it be?" And he sounded genuinly confused at her question that Iona figured he must be being serious and she found herself smiling up at the boy.

"Are you smiling?" Parker said, his own lips pulling up at the corners smugly.

"At the thought of you getting screamed at by your mother...yes i am smiling!" Iona replied, pushing passed him into the classroom, leaving Parker in the hall with a dumbfounded look on his face and a stupid smile he couldnt seem to get rid of.

Deep down Iona felt pleased with herself at 1. Having actually spoken to someone and not regretted it...yet and because 2. She had managed to make them smile. The unfamiliar feeling felt warm in the cold pit of her stomach as she took her seat at the back table.

She watched Parker come in and a taller boy came crashing in behind him, bringing his arms to Parker's shoulders so forcefully Parker actually stumbled.

"Phoenix! Where you been?" Cried the boy who Parker was now forcably shoving away from him, grinning.

Parker rolled his eyes and together they sat down on the table at the front. The other boy was taller and had a broader build than Parker, his hair a very fine blonde - the opposite of Parker's thick and bushy brown hair.

He was obviously Parker's friend and Iona recognised him slightly, he was always in the way when she wanted to see the board, a downside of being at the back...but one thing was still bothering her and that was what the boy had called Parker...Phoenix?

As the rest of the class filed in and Parkers other friends filled their table her thoughts returned to school and the hell that was trying to memorize pointless factual information.

Towards the end of the lesson, as Iona was beginning to shove her stuff in her bag she could feel eyes watching her and turned slightly to see Parker's friend looking at her. Parker was talking to him and he smiled before turning away. This made Iona extremely uncomfortable, she hated the thought of anyone talking about her, she began to panic that Parker was complaining about her, telling all his friends how weird and shy she was.

Iona could feel her face flushing and she just wanted to leave so when the rush of students got up to go, she squeezed in amongst the crowd, ready to head to next lesson, when a hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Parker- what do you want now?" Iona asked as she saw the boy behind her, he removed his hand and his friends came up behind him. Iona, feeling slightly intimidated tried to stay calm and quiet.

"My friends and I were planning on going exploring after school, want to join?" He asked, folding his arms and Iona felt completely taken aback.

"Um..." she wasnt sure what to say but there was an immense pressure she felt in her gut to say yes as she looked at all the faces of his friends and Parker had a confident look on his face as if he knew she would agree.

Parker stepped foward and smiled "Come on! It'll be fun!"

AN: Should she go, or will it be more trouble for her than it's worth and can she trust the group of miscrients?

Hope you liked it x