A Single Droplet

Chapter Three

The whole lesson we were planning our first practise assignment with our partners, so it had been a chance for me to talk to Harry. At first we talked about our assessment; the guidelines where for it to have impact and clearly show a message, through image and quote. I came up with a few ideas about social impact where as he mentioned we should teach a lesson that people can be who they please to be. I was intrigued by his idea, and we talked about it for a good while before we started straying from the topic. I kept meaning to ask how he knew my name but we were discussing so many other things and I didn’t want to ruin our discussion. I was sure there was a harmless explanation.

“Be who you want to be, not what others choose to see?” I raised my eyebrow at the cheesy quote then stifled a giggle.

“What?” He pouted at me as to look jokingly hurt, which only made me laugh harder.

“That quote is so over used, it even rhymes, and we need something different.” I noted matter-of-factly as he seemed to be contemplating something. He looked at me intensely and for a moment it felt like I’d forgotten my name.

“Well what do you suggest? Got anything you want to do?” His question shocked me, I had expected seeing as it was his idea that he would come up with the quote. I thought about it for little while until I remembered a poem I had read. There were a few lines from it which I knew would be our perfect quote.

“You are a thousand things, but everyone chooses to see the million things that you are not.” I had expected him to say something about the quote but instead he just looked at me again.

“And who am I then?” his face was so serious, pleading almost.

“I don’t know yet, I only met you today. I know there’s probably a lot more to you then seems though.”

“Oh really, and why’s that?” his comments had gone back to playful, filling the space between us with mass sexual tension.  I dodged answering his question and instead asked the one I had been waiting to be answered all lesson.

“How did you know my name?” he seemed slightly thrown off at my question.

“Sorry?” and he sounded confused as ever, panic rose within me.

“My name, at the beginning of the lesson, you called me Raven, but I hadn’t told you my name yet.” His cheeks grew red and my panic seemed to have subsided, he looked more embarrassed other than anything else.

“Oh, well when I took you to the nurse, and she asked for your name, I didn’t know it. So I grabbed one of the books out of your bag to find your name, and it said Raven. So I figured that was your name.” The worry completely fled my mind. This boy was a genuine cutie, who had no idea who I had once been.

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When the bell rung I feeling of slight disappointment became acquainted with me. I knew I had only met this guy and that I was supposed to be staying away from them all together but something about him just intrigued me. “It was nice getting to talk to you today, sorry again about our earlier incident.” He spoke interrupting me from my thoughts.

“Oh gosh don’t be! That was all me for not looking where I was going.” I saw him attempt to say something more but cut him off quickly. “No buts, no ifs, no more. It was all me, end of story. We should get together sometime, just to discuss our assignment.” Harry eyed me suspiciously and I immediately felt self conscious.

“Yeah of course, do you want my number?” I nodded and took out my phone as he dictated his number for me.

“Sweet thanks. Well I’ve got to get going but I guess I’ll see you third period tomorrow.” He smiled his gorgeous smile once more before turning and leaving, a smile seemed to play on my lips too. The first day of school didn’t happen to be quite as I expected but I did end up coming out of it with two new friends. Wondering out towards the car park I thought for sure I would be alright now but there standing by the gate was Maisy.

The moment our gaze met I saw her eyes widen the same way Daren’s had earlier that day. I could tell she was shocked but trying to hide it. There standing next to her was Ryan for sure looking down at his phone. Maisy was my old best friend, and for a girl with such an innocent childish name she was nothing of the sort. Maisy was the first person to ever introduce me to drinking and parties, the first time I got high it was her I tripped out with. Everyone called her May, I guess the name was more suited to her but for some reason she had always been Maisy to me.

When Ryan raised his glance from his phone sure enough he mimicked the same wide eyed expression I’d now seen three times today. Ryan wasn’t one to stay silent as Maisy had; he always had an opinion that needed to be voiced. “Look May, are you seeing what I’m seeing? The home wrecker seems to have turned herself into some sort of ghost. Now that’s a cool magic trick.” Maisy glared at him and he knew he was pissing her off but he didn’t seem to care. I now felt self conscious of my pale complexion, I guess without all my dark eye make-up there was really no contrast to my face, and I was as he had said, a ghost. “You can change your looks as much as you want Raven, but you can never change what you did or who you are at heart.” I didn’t speak; I didn’t want my voice to betray me so I flipped him the bird and walked off to my car, him calling profanities behind me. I could hear Maisy shouting at him to calm down but Ryan wasn’t the type to be tamed.

 

As I drove I tried to shake off what Ryan had said, but I couldn’t get rid of his voice in my head. Had I really not changed at all? Was I still that same person? This was not going to be a pleasant drive home.