Practice

Chapter 3

European history. Why had she chosen European history? She cursed herself as she slumped in her seat. On her left were history nerds, shooting up their hand every time the teacher asked a question, and on her right sat stereotypical losers who threw papers and cut up eraser around. The lesson had only just started and already the group on her right had made a stupid remark about her, claiming she was a stuck up princess because she didn't participate in their petty games. Tyler found herself daydreaming in a matter of minutes. What was Sophia doing now? Probably sitting on the benches where her group met in second block, laughing at some stupid joke one of the boys made. The resentment and anger she had felt for the past week blossomed blissfully in her stomach with each passing second. Here she was, sitting in a classroom on the other side of the county while Louis - the dickhead who should be the one suffering, was probably surrounded by girls just waiting to be in the position Tyler was in last week. 

Her heartrate quickly returned to normal as she was met with the face she saw in her homeroom only hours ago. A face she had regretfully forgotten throughout her past hour with Eleanor. She smiled as his voice drifted into her ears, the melodic sound sweet yet sultry at the same time. The excuses for his tardiness couldn't have come at a better time, his feet shuffling to the empty desk behind her. He hadn't seen her, she assumed. He didn't smile, or even look down towards her. His beautiful green eyes were on the floor as he moved past her quickly, books in hand. She hadn't looked back - she didn't want to look weird. Although she was aware of his position due to the sound he made as he collapsed into the chair, the light puff of air and stagnant grunt to quickly follow. 

What should she do? The different ideas pulsed through her brain quicker than her previously speeding heartrate. She couldn't ask for a pen - who came to school on the first day without a pen? A phone charger? No, that was stupid. The girl begrundingly accepted the fact that she wasn't talking to him today, not in this lesson, anyway. The rest of the forty minutes was spent, for her, in acute silence as she waited for his voice to ring through her as he answered a question, or asked one, or, if she was lucky, asked her something. What she would do to hear her name roll of his tongue... 

"So, what was the main goal of the British post 1900? -" A history geek quickly explained the answer, the random voice blaring through Tyler's daydreams. "Yes, that's right Liam. The British had a clear vision. They wanted to own everything. So, your homework today is to read over chapters 1-2 and make summary notes, remember -" The bell rang, and the people on Tyler's right instantly shot up, "This is your future, not mine."

Tyler picked up her books, hoisting her handbag over her shoulder as she quickly glanced back to steal a quick look at the boy. She had to remember to ask Eleanor for his name. Fuck, Tyler damned herself as she quickly turned. Of course he was looking right in her direction. "Uh, hi." Shit. Shit Shit. Tyler heard the voice, the voice that she'd been replaying in her head for the past lesson. Was he talking to her? She turned, his eager smile confirming her assumption. 

"Oh, hello," She smiled, feeling her cheeks heat up. Tyler was determined to not let this first encounter be awkward. This set the tone for their whole future - first impressions were absolutely everything. 

"You're new, yeah? I'm Harry.. By the way," He stood from the chair, standing at least an inch taller than her. This just gets even better. Tyler was always the tallest at 5 ft 10. She usually stood a few inches taller than boys, too. Heels were just a nightmare. 

"Yup, today's my first day. I'm Tyler, but you probably knew that from my awkward introduction.." Was she being too short with him? She didn't want him to get the wrong impression. "What do you have now?" She asked, instantly regretting it. Eagerness is just as bad as being cold. 

"I actually have a lunch block, which is kind of good but kind of bad because you're hungry but you're kind of not, but you are.." He mumbled, nodding to her to go through the door of the classroom first. She quickly scuffed through, smiling as a thank you. 

"Hey, me too. Do you mind taking me? I don't know where to go.. I'm meant to meet Eleanor.. Damn, I forgot her last name.." Tyler was nervous, but she wasn't a complete bimbo. She knew how to flirt, even though the words felt awkward and completely unnatural stumbling out of her mouth. 

"Calder? We're pretty good mates, actually. I sit with her and some other lads so I can definitely take you." Tyler silently thanked God - someone was definitely up there working their magic. What luck. First, he's in her homeroom, then, he has her lunch break, and now he sits with her new and only friend. 

"Oh, that's convenient. That'd be great. I can't seem to find my way around here, it's a maze." He agreed, explaining that they have the largest high school in the county. He then went on to tell her that they had the largest population, and that "the demographic was extremely varied." She couldn't help but laugh at his useless blabber. He seemed to know a lot of random things, things that she wouldn't normally care for. But coming from those perfect lips, with his sugary accent and smooth voice, Tyler would be interested in anything. 

"So here we are; welcome to the infamous West High cafeteria," He smirked, a mischievious grin on his face. "Be sure to not let anyone trip you," Harry added as he opened the doors for her, his hand on her back as he pushed her in jokingly. 

Tyler rolled her eyes as she navigated her way through the tables, the network of paths ordered into rows. She spotted Eleanor's head a couple of tables away. She too was extremely tall, and quite clearly stood out from the rest of the group. Loud yells and shouts were being flung in all different directions, and she vaguely picked out Harry's name every couple of minutes. He was being called to the other side of the table, she assumed. "I'm gonna go up that end, but it looks like theres a spot next to Eleanor for you," He directed her eyes to the vacant seat beside the petite girl, quickly stalking over to the boys calling for him. She recognized the same tattooed boy from homeroom this morning, picking at a plate of french fries. 

Tyler quickly made her way to Eleanor, who was surrounded by look alikes. It was amusing, really. This whole school was like a replica of her old school. The 'main' girl sitting in the centre, surrounded by girls with their hair the same way, wearing the same clothes and speaking the same way. Eleanor turned to her, introducing her to the group. "This is Tyler. She's from East High." The group of girls all watched her intently as she sat in between Eleanor and a blonde with a nose piercing. "That's Perrie," She introduced them all one by one, the girls smiling as their name was called. 

Tyler was grateful that Eleanor had opened her group up to her. She couldn't really contribute to any conversation, or laugh along at jokes just yet, but she'd work on it. When the girls all returned to eating or talking amongst themselves, she turned to Eleanor. "Oh my god," She smiled, resting her head on her hand. "How cute is that Harry guy," Tyler whispered, making sure no one else could hear. 

Eleanor agreed, gushing to her and explaining Harry's story. He moved to their school last year from Britain. His parents are apparently extemely wealthy and heard that the American education system was more nurturing for a child like Harry, and moved him at once for his two most important years of school. Tyler was intrigued, nodding along and hanging on Eleanor's every word like a school child to their teacher. The bell interrupted Eleanors explanation, and Tyler was extremely disspointed. She wanted to ask about the olive skinned boy with the tattoos, but decided that she'd have to leave it for another day. 

Tyler spent the rest of the day dreaming about her future at the school. Perhaps the move was a blessing in disguise. A new beginning with a new group of friends, new boys and new adventures. Her mind, regardless of if she wanted it to or not, travelled down the road of the past. What if she ended up making the same mistakes? She couldn't face the embarrasment of another story of her inadequacy. Or the betrayl. She couldn't deal with it, and she made a promise to herself then and there - she will never make the same mistake again.