The Mask

Chapter Two

Jade's POV:

As I walked into my first period class, I tried to ignore the whispers circulating around me as I made my way to the back of the class. 

"Hey, check out patchwork Thirlwall..." 

"Looks like she's a dressed a bit on the bad side, but then again, was there ever a good side?"

I kept my head lowered as I sat down next to Niall, who somehow had gotten to class before me. "Just ignore them," he said, and took my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. 

Niall is just like the brother I wish I had, but I will probably never think of him in a romantic way. Probably. That's just the way it is, and I'm pretty sure Niall feels the same way about me. If we ever got into a relationship and ended it on bad terms, I would lose my only friend. And he's a really good friend, too.  

I looked up at the whiteboard, where the teacher had written the first ten math problems to be solved. I sighed, copying them down onto my paper as something hit the back of my head. I turned to see a ball of paper at my feet. I bent down, and picked it up. Tears glossed over my vision as I unfolded the paper and read the words hastily scribbled onto the sheet.

You look like you live with pigs, dressed in those rags. It makes sense, because you're a big fat ugly pig.

Niall snatched the paper out of my hands, eyes darkening as he read the words on there. 

"Don't listen to them Jadey, you're amazing just the way you are," he said.

I sighed, dropping my head into my hands. I just wanted this day to be over.   

Perrie's POV:

"Now, where is my locker? I have the number right here..." I muttered to myself, scanning the rows of lockers hoping to see my number. But they all looked the same, and some of the numbers had been scratched off, or the plaques had fallen off. "Helpful," I grumbled, dragging a hand through my blond hair. 

"Excuse me, you seem a little lost," a voice said from behind me. 

I turned around to see a boy standing there behind me. He was decent looking I guess, with his sideswept black hair and soft brown eyes. Still, something about him was slightly unsettling, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"I'm Zayn," he said, smiling. 

"Hi," I said, inching away from him. 

"What is your name?" Zayn asked. I did not answer, and kept slowly backing up. 

"I said, what is your name?" Zayn stepped closer to me, and grabbed my arm.

"Let go of me!" I struggled to break free, but he grabbed my other arm with his other hand, and lifted me slightly off the ground. 

"I don't like when people don't listen to me," Zayn hissed. "Be a good girl now."

I shook my head, my brain clouding over in panic.

"Put her down Zayn," a voice spoke firmly from behind Zayn. 

Zayn put me down, and turned around to glare at the boy who had spoken. 

I looked over Zayn's shoulder at the boy who had helped me. He had dirty blond hair, fair skin, and lovely blue eyes, just like mine. 

"Stay out of this, Niall," he hissed. 

Niall looked at me pointedly, and I realized he was distracting Zayn so I could get away.

I scampered away from where the two boys were deep in an argument. I saw Niall randomly walk away from Zayn, who looked like he was in the middle of yelling something at him. 

Zayn turned around, and seeing that I was gone, stormed away in the opposite direction of the way I had gone. 

I breathed out a sigh of relief, and turned around. I looked at the locker number, and saw that it read B32. I smiled, delighted that I had found my locker. I put my backpack away, and got out my books for math. 

"Let's see...Mrs. Killip, math, room A8...okay where is room A8?" I wondered aloud. I wandered through the halls for some time, when I finally came across a classroom door with a sign next to it that said: Mrs. Killip, Room A8. 

"Finally!" I muttered to myself. I thought I would never find it. 

I checked to see that all of my books were there, and my pencil case. Satisfied that I had finally remembered to bring everything to a class, I faced the door once again.

I took a deep breath, and turned the doorknob. It opened silently, and I stepped into the classroom. All of the students were staring intently at their notebooks, writing things down. I looked at the whiteboard, and realized that they were coping and solving practice problems from the board.

Oops. I thought. Guess I'll have some catching up to do.

I walked over to the teacher's desk, where Mrs. Killip sat, grading papers and sipping coffee. I stood there awkwardly for a while, and she still did not look up. Finally, I quietly cleared my throat and she finally looked up.

She looked confused for a moment, and then her eyes filled with clarity. Standing up, she said in a very buisness-like tone, "ahh, Miss Edwards. Finally decided to show up?"

Finally edited it. Phew. I'm a lazy lil human