Queen Creek Academy (Louis Tomlinson)

2.

"Oh. My. god. Did you see Louis Tomlinson this morning?"

"Yeah he looked so cute in that outfit too."

"Do you like the long hair look on him?"

"Girl duh! It makes his eyes pop you know."

Dorothea rolled her eyes. Heather, Kady, and Veronica were the most annoying girls ever, yet everyone seemed to adore them. ALL they ever talked about were boys, especially Louis Tomlinson. 

It was like every girl at QCA was obsessed with Louis. He was good looking and all, but he was just a boy, damn!

Dorothea tried to continue reading her book, but the blonde trio continued to talk. 

"I asked Casey to hook me up", the one named Heather said.

"I thought ya'll dated already?", Veronica asked.

"Yeah that was freshman year. It doesn't count."

Dorothea felt that she had enough of this fruitless conversation and picked up her things and left the library. Someone should really reiterate that the library was for studying and reading, not talking about boys. Dorothea decided she would have to continue Hamlet at home. It was more comfortable anyway.

Dorothea made her way out into the hot, sticky Arizona weather. She silently cursed herself as she forgot to apply her sunscreen. She couldn't wait for fall to start and for this heat to finally let up a little.

She walked for a few minutes thinking until some sharp voices caused her head to lift up. 

She looked in the direction to where the shouts were coming from, and she realized that it was from the soccer field. Speak of the devil, Louis Tomlinson and his friends were on the pitch kicking some balls into the net. 

They were shouting and high fiving and hugging in utter excitement. Oddly, she liked this scene. It made her feel was warm and cozy and friendly to see human beings react so well to each other.

She stopped to watch them for a bit. 

"Alright lads", Louis' British accent rang out. "Step back and let me show you proper football skills."

"What are you gonna do Lou" the one named Andy shouted out.

"I'm going to hit it off the top of the goal."

Louis positioned the ball onto the ground front and center to the goal. He took a couple of paces back and then quickly and with utter finesse, kicked, sending the lime green ball flying in the air. A loud bing rang out as the ball pinged the top of the goal, followed by the excited cheers of his friends.

Dorothea wondered what it felt like to have friends like that. Ones who cheered you on with whatever you did and had the same interests as you. She hadn't had a friend since she started QCA two years ago. She was a loner by force not choice. She literally was the only black girl here and no one at QCA was friendly.

Despite being equal to them in wealth and opportunity, Dorothea was still somewhat of an outsider. She only believed it was how she looked that outcasted her. 

No matter though. Dorothea walked through high school holding her head high and hustling. It was all she had, social life was not an option for her at this time. It was sad, but no matter, her time would come when the gifts of happiness and friendship would be bestowed upon her.

Dorothea was so lost in her thought that she didn't notice she had been spotted. 

"Its rude to stare!" the one named Andy shouted.

All the boys turned to her, scowls appearing on their once happy and smiling faces.

She took in all their expressions--complete disdain was written on every one of their faces except Louis'. His brow was puckered, but his bright blue eyes possessed a look of curiosity at her presence, not disdain.

Dorothea was perplexed by this and decided she better continue moving on.

"Sorry guys. Good job. I hope you win nationals this year", she called out and continued on her way.

"What the hell does she know about soccer", she heard one of them mutter. 

Alot actually, Dorothea thought. Her dad used to play back in Nigeria and she watched the tourneys with him every year.

"Don't be rude", she heard Louis say in distinctive British accent. "We need all the support we can get."

Dorothea couldn't contain her shock. This was the first time she had ever heard of someone sticking up for her. Or was it that he was just concerned about nationals. She reckoned she would never know.

But oh how wrong she was!

***

"Okay ladies and gents we have announcements", Mrs. Dubois shouted at the unruly class.

"Today your last period is going to be homeroom. On your schedules it shows the teacher and room number so plan accordingly. You know we have these things every month. Your teacher is giving you an assignment to complete each month."

Dorothea rolled her eyes. What was this? They didn't have this last year. Weird.

The bell rang signaling first period was over. She packed up and left, heading to her locker. On her way there, she spotted Louis Tomlinson shoving his things into his locker, with a pencil between his lips. He checked himself in what Dorothea assumed to be a mirror and closed his locker.

His eyes locked with Dorothea's and she felt her heart skip a beat.

With his blue eyes staring into her hazel ones, he removed the pencil from his lips and tucked it behind his ear. He gave her a small smile and made his way down the hall in the opposite direction.

Did he just smile at me?, Dorothea thought. No way! Louis Tomlinson?! He doesn't even know I exist. Well, not until yesterday when she had been caught staring.

But surely he would not remember her.