Deception || harry styles

Chapter 2

Deception

As the bus arrives at school I huff before standing from my seat. I pull my back pack strap over my shoulder and walk into school.

I pass all the cliques. There are the goths who don't give a shit about anything. Then there are the jocks- all the soccer, basketball, football, baseball, cheerleaders bundled into one group. The nerds are sitting in the library, probably already working on college homework. The 'popular kids' are sitting at the lunch tables and snickering at everybody passing them. Including me.

"Nice sweater Cassie," one of the cheerleaders yells to me, sarcasm thick in her voice. I know I look silly wearing a long-sleeve when it's seventy degrees out, but I'd get even more crap from them if they saw my cuts.

I re-adjust my beats before turning the volume up to the maximum. My sister said I wouldn't have hearing when I was older because I listen to music too loud and too often. I just told her to live in the moment and have fun. I wish I could follow my own words.

I pass the technology-geeks and when I turn the corner to my locker there is a big bundle of the die hard punk-rock kids. They at least don't give me any attention, so I don't have to put my mask on.

I wish there was just one person. One person- that's all I'm asking for, to be able to share everything with, without getting judged.

I hastily do my combination three times before it finally clicks. I pull it open and jam my black and purple backpack in the center. I grab my first two period class' materials before slamming the locker shut.

I scurry to my least favorite class- math, and arrive just as first bell rings. Third bell doesn't ring for ten minutes, so I pull my iPhone out and pull my beats up to cover my ears.

I pretend to be smiling happily and returning gestures of waving to the people who walk in. People think there is nothing wrong with me, and so I play my part in pretending there is nothing. I'm sure some people have noticed my cuts and anorexia before, but no one acts in on it. And why would they? I mean, to them I'm just doing it for attention.

I only wish that were the case.

I'm drained back into my music. While Counting Stars is playing a ruler taps my shoulder. I look up and see my math teacher, Mrs.Hale staring back at me. I slowly pull my beats down without losing eye contact with the lady.

"Can you solve the equation on the board for me?" I slowly look up at the board and all that I see is a jumble of letters and numbers entangled with equal signs.

I slowly shake my head no and she just smiles devilishly.

"And if you had been listening in on the last ten minutes of class you would know that I was saying by the end of this class you will be able to solve things like this. I do not want this to happen again," she glares at me for the rest of the hour. As soon as the bell rings I grab my binders and rush out the door. People start to pile into the small hallway, and soon I am squirming through the halls squeezing in between people and almost puking when seeing a couple French-kissing against the lockers.

I walk into American History and am immediately sucked into a lecture.

Finally fourth bell rings and I'm allowed to go to lunch. Well, more of just a free hour to read and listen to music, since I am always by myself and don't eat.

I find my usual spot in the back corner and get myself comfortable. I can lean my back against the wall, and so I do. I pull my headphones on and pull out Paper Towns. I will admit, I'm a sucker for anything to deal with John Green. I have his quotes written on my wall everywhere, once I finish cutting I usually sit on the verge of my bed and begin to read them. Getting lost in the depths in which he writes.

Right as I'm about to finish the tenth chapter I feel like I'm being watched. I shake off the feeling considering it's probably the 'popular kids' snickering at my sweater.

"Is this seat taken, Cassie?" I look up to see a girl with wavy brown hair, ocean colored eyes, and a tall slim frame.

"I-I'm sorry, what's you're name?" I question stupidly. How does she know me? I'm not in any clique and I sure as hell do not stand out very well. Well maybe a little when I'm in a sweater and it is seventy degrees outside..

"It's Payton" she smiles at me.

"Are you new this year?" I knew most people in out grade. She just wasn't a familiar face.

"No, I've been here since fourth grade," she laughs lightly at my stupidity. I don't really like her already.

Oh come on Cass don't be a b.itch for no reason.

Have an open mind.

I begin to mentally criticize myself, but am soon snapped back into reality by the girl's voice.

"What? Sorry, I'm not used to having company," I respond.

"I said, where's your lunch?" She bites into her sandwich, quickly wiping away the excess jelly on the corner of her mouth.

"I'm, um, not hungry?" It was supposed to be more of a demand but came out a question.

God, do I suck at social skills.

How do they converse so well in books?

"Oh, okay," she responds un-surely. I know she suspects I'm lying, but why tell her my story when she is only going to sit by me for one day?

Suddenly a lightbulb goes off in my head and I remember Payton. She was best friends with Ariana. She hasn't been to school the last few weeks, that's probably why she is sitting by me. When Ariana comes back she will just forget all about me, right?

Curiosity gets the best of me and I ask, "where's Ariana?" She immediately pales and tears are on the brim of her eyes, I can tell I hit a nerve.

"She um, sh-she died a few weeks ago," tears are now spilling out of her eyes like a stream.

Shit. I suck at comforting people usually.

"Oh, I didn't know or else I wouldn't have had said anything, sorry," I hug her and begin to rub her back.

"See, that's what I don't understand about society," she says when she is completely done crying.

"And what is that?"

"People say sorry for things they had no part in, it's completely and utterly pointless. It doesn't help at all because when people try to rid you of pain it only make things worse for the both of them," I can't help but think of John Green as the words spill from her mouth. I want her to write down what she just said so I can put it on my wall.

"I totally agree," and I'm not lying. "So, do you like John Green?" I attempt to take the attention away from my horrific question.

"Love him!" We begin to converse about all his books and his quotes. All too soon the bell rings signaling lunch is over.

"Hey, Cassie, give me your number?" Payton asks me right before we part ways. I smile and grab her planner and write it down. I mouth "call me" to her and we both laugh as we turn our separate ways.

Should I let her enter my dark world and allow her to explore my mind? Or do I sit back and allow my life to carry out the deception it is? I have spent so long building up my walls to keep people from hurting me, but what's left for a harmless girl to hurt? She couldn't break my walls, could she?

(Hi bb's sorry I haven't updated I've been working on my other story also

[sorry for any typos]

Please vote comment and recommend love you allll

~Olivia)