Listen to me.

chapter 2

Sam's POV

"Ow , What was that for!?" Alex shrieks and jumps in his chair , his temple starting to to turn red and swell . I saw the entire thing from my seat in the row behind Alex's. Halfway through Mr.Lester's lesson about the Pythagorean Theorem I noticed something out the corner of my eye . While Mr.Lester or "phil" was gleefully explaining "Next you find the sum of "A"squared plus "B" squared" I saw Chad, the "popular" kid lean forward and whisper something in Alex's ear. I saw Alex's jaw tighten and his hand start to shake, and then he replied to Chad.

A few moments had passed and I saw Alex finally relax and then Chelsea started to talk to him again. I think she asked him a question about the work which I am currently aceing. While he was turning around, Chad threw a punch that was meant for Alex's forehead but thankfully it was too early and it collided to Alex's temple.

He'll be fine, a punch to the temple doesn't hurt THAT bad

"Is there a problem back there?". Mr. Lester's ears perk up and the class goes quite. All the eyes in the class go to Alex and his cheeks turn a dark ruby tint. I feel bad for him, he doesn't deserve any of this .he's the nicest person I've talked to in this awful school. "I-I-it's nothing, sorry" he speaks, barely audible but Mr. Lester thankfully hears him " No No, it's ok, don't apologize, as for you Chad , could I see you in the hallway".

As Chad saunters out of the room with an unsettling smirk on his face the class goes deadly quiet and snickers are heard from Jake and Chad's other friends sprinkled through the class. I hear my heartbeat in my ears as the laughter gets louder and Alex starts to sink farther in the chair, trying to disappear from this torture. Anger floods my veins and my left hand tightens around my pencil, he does not deserve any of this, it should be me.

After a few awkward minutes of solving the Pythagorean theorem handout and watching out of the corner of my eye as people question Alex, Mr.Lester finally arrives back to class. "I have a special announcement," Mr.Lester proclaims and everyone else seems to forget the scene that they witnessed minutes ago . Chad is nowhere to be seen, hopefully he's been suspended.

"Since the first term is now, unfortunately, drawing to a close, it is now time for your first semester's big project!"

Mr. Lester exclaims and the class groans in frustration and I hear someone whisper "are you kidding me, another one" under their breath.

"The project is about getting to know someone that you have not had the chance to speak to this term and not the usual "favorite color" or their height, that's boring . I want you to focus on one aspect on this person's life such as their family history or the the origin of their first or last name , or something amazing like that. It will be due in two weeks from now and it will be presented in class" Mr. Lester declared with a smile and raised eyebrows.

"Even though some of you , as I can see, are clearly adamant on who you want to work with, I have assigned partners" Mr. Lester speaks as he reaches across his desk to fetch a paper with, what I assume is a list of names written in pairs on it .

A collective groan fills the classroom and drifted upwards like smoke in a burning house. "I have a list here with names, but before I commence with that , Jean could you please collect the math handouts with PJ." A pale girl with fiery red hair in a green cardigan nears my desk and collects my sheet that I thankfully finished before the said "incident" took place while a lanky boy named PJ trots around the front of the room, his dark brown curls bouncing with each step and his green eyes full of excitement. Why is he so happy? , it's Monday and we've just been assigned another project.

Let him be happy, it's not hurting anyone.

Mr. Lester continues, " and the pairs are . . ." and begins to delve into the list. I don't hear my name in the starting pairs so I drone out the rest of the things I hear and lean my head in hand as my eyes flutter close.

I don't know why Mr. Lester is making us do this project, Everyone I seem to have contact with doesn't talk to me anymore. In my last school, in grade 8 I did have a friend, her name was Louise. I guess you could say that she's not around anymore. This year I don't see the point in making any friends because it was Louise that made everything better in my life.

Without her, it all seems purposeless.