Vanity Teens

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen:

I couldn't look at them, at anyone other than Max. Even though he'd been in the bathroom, even though he'd seen all of my forbidden fruits and everything I had on offer, I could only force myself to look at him.

For some strange reason, he kept me grounded, even in such an embarrassing situation. When I found the will to look at Sam or Vienna, my cheeks flamed and flushed fuchsia, and I couldn't stand to look at them much longer.

I don't think there's really anything weird by that, though. I mean, Max has been my friend since my first day of secondary school. I was only ten. I mean, everyone else was eleven, but I was born just after August, so while everyone else had reached a good age, I was the age of someone in the year below me. I knew it would be a bad thing, everyone was growing body hair in later years while I stayed as bald as an orangutan's plump, pink rear. I was always embarrassed, but Max was the same age as me, our birthdays were only a few days apart, so we were the youngest bastards in our year. I actually remembered meeting him that first day, I couldn't forget it. He was my best friend.

Flash!

I was so scared, it was my first day of secondary school. Everyone was a stranger, everywhere I looked there was a new face that terrified me. Any of them could be bullies, or bitches, or even worse... sexy as fuck.

It was surprising for me to be so young and know what I want, I know, but believe it or not, I don't really care. I'd known for about two years that I was different, that I liked different things from everyone else. But it was my secret, and I had to keep it to myself.

"Hey there deary," said a sweet, womanly voice behind me. I was in a hallway where all of the other students at this big new academy for British specials were towering me, I was so tiny compared to them all. I was an easy target.

As I flipped around, I looked up to see a pretty face, my new form tutor: Miss Humble. She had short shaved hair that made her look like a guy, but by her face you could tell she was a woman. She had long eyelashes that batted whenever she blinked, and her lips were a vibrant red. She had one of the sweetest, honeyed voices that I had ever heard, and it made me that little bit less scared.

"Y-yes?" I stuttered, being the shy kid that I was when I first started school. I knew I would someday overcome my shyness, but maybe when I get more comfortable with my surroundings.

"You're Mr. Ariel van der Gorz, aren't you, dear?" Her voice was like honey dripping onto warm, bubbly pancakes. She was really encouraging.

"How do you know?" I asked. No one knew me around here.

"Oh, hon, you look just like your father," she said happily.

"You know my dad?"

She brushed the question off, not giving me an answer. "A little. Never mind that, though, dear, come with me, you're in my form. We'll get to know each other very well in these next few years, you know, so you better get use to me." I felt her hand rest gently on my back as she guided me along the hallway. She almost shielded me from the other students, which was nice, but I couldn't brush off the subject of my dad so easily. I didn't even know him, so how did she?

My mind went blank when I stopped outside of a dark blue door. I was afraid to open it, so I stood aside and let her do it. She gripped the handle tightly and whipped the door open, urging me inside. I was late on my first day, yes, how pathetic.

"Welcome to your form, Ariel."

"Ari," I mumbled lightly, pushing my way further into the classroom.