Damaged

Chapter 4

Cassie’s POV

When I arrive at school, I am greeted at my locker by Liam, the boy from my history class. I am surprised, but happy that I finally get the chance to properly meet him. 

“Hey, I’m Liam.” He says, with a warm and inviting smile.

“Cassie.” I reply. “It’s nice to properly meet you. You’re in my history class right?”

“It’s nice to properly meet you too. Yes. I’m also in your English class, and Maths class too. And I was actually kind of wondering. If you maybe wanted to sit with me in English? It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to. I um.. I’m new here and I don’t really know anyone.”

I smile again, and nod. “Of course, I’d love to sit with you.” I see his eyes light up, and I am  extremely pleased to be able to have this effect on him. 

There’s an awkward silence between the two of us, and I’m not too sure of what else to say. “So.. Do you come here often?” He asks, and we both laugh. I can feel the ice being broken, and I ease more into this conversation. We continue to laugh and talk for a bit longer before making our way to English. We arrive there early and take our seats. Darcie walks into class soon after and gives me a wink, before making her way towards to back to sit with Niall, whom I also did not know was in this class. 

“Have you started reading it yet?” Liam asks, referring to The Lovely Bones.

I nod enthusiastically. “Yes I have actually. I always start books early. I love reading too much to have to wait.” 

“I’m the same, I’m only up to Chapter 4 though.”

“I’m only up to Chapter 3! No spoilers.” I tell him, pretending to shush him. He laughs along with me, and I can already feel myself beginning to grow more comfortable with this puppy dog eyed boy, I just met. 

Our teacher arrives, and silences the class. She begins to talk to us about last night’s homework and I pay attention through the entire lesson. She assigns for us to read Chapter 1 for homework, and I laugh silently to myself at the fact I have already read it. I turn to Liam, who is smirking and I can tell he’s having the same thought as me. She assigns us classwork, and also homework for later on and sits at her desk to do her own work. I get started straight away on the classwork. So does Liam. 

The bell goes, and Liam and I make our way to Maths. I feel it is already decided that we will be sitting together. Darcie follows after us, distracted by something on her phone. I can tell she’s trying to give me space. I feel like ranting at her, about how Liam and I are just friends and she really needs to calm down. Liam doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe he’s just trying not to draw attention to it for my discretion. Either way, he’s being incredibly sweet about my friend’s awkward behavior. I will have to have a serious talk with her when I find a time where we’re alone. 

The three of us take our seats, with me being in the middle of Darcie and Liam. I take this time to slip a note to her. 

*Shut up, we’re just friends.* It reads. She turns to me and grins, obviously amused by how much of effect her behavior is having on me. The Maths class goes by, and I find it hard to concentrate and stay focused as maths isn’t interesting to me, and I do not do well in this particular subject. My mind goes off in a deep train of thoughts, and I find myself thinking back to when I was really shy and innocent. 

~Flashback~

“You’re so damn pathetic.” Harry spits at me. “Look at you, with your prissy white cardigans and long skirts. It’s eighth grade.. not church.” I stay quiet. Not uttering a word. I never did utter a word. He was right. My clothes were so modest. Maybe I looked like a snob. But I wasn’t going to admit it. In fact. I was never going to admit anything. Because all I did was stay quiet.