Never The Less, She Persisted

Chapter Seven

We drove up to the school and parked into a parking space in front of the school.

      "You'll be fine Gemma, you'll do great here." Sterling 

I let out a deep breath as Sterling got out of the car and made his way up and into the school. I got up and out of the car. The car locked on its own and I straightened out my shirt and backpack strap. I walked up to the school and opened the front door and immediately entered a swarmed hallway with students. I grabbed a small piece of paper out of my pocket which had my locker information written in it.

~ Locker #3 Combination: 3 - 27 - 3 ~

I looked up to look at the locker numbers that were near and saw numbers ranging from 686 - 500. Great. A LONG walk away. I kept walking down hallways till I finally found a hallway with the numbers 60. I walked farther down the hallway, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10,9,8,7,6,5,4, and 3. I felt like I walked to the end of the Earth trying to find this locker. I guess they like throwing the freshmen in the dark hole oblivion.

     "Gem!"

I spun around on my heel to see my best friend Alice Birch with open arms waiting for a hug. I walked to her and hugged her.

      "Are you ready for our first year of high school Gem?!"

      "Uh yeah I mean like yeah sure?"

      "C'mon it will be fun, we'll go to homecoming, join the cheer team..." as she was talking her voice started to fade within my head as I noticed a particular brown haired boy walk into the hallway.

Grey Winston. Ordinary high school football playing teen by day, party player at night. I looked at him and then his eyes went from the hall to me in an instant just like he knew to look at me when he did. Like he knew that someone was looking at him. That someone being me. I looked looked back at Alice and her blonde hair to make him look away from me as well. I felt the heat rising to my cheeks as I still felt his eyes on me. He grew closer and closer to where Alice and I were standing.

      "Good morning ladies. How are you enjoying your first day at Elk Creek High so far?" Grey asked when he finally got to Alice and me.

      "Well, pretty great if I do say so myself. I already found my locker and set it all up." Alice said gleaming towards Grey.

I knew I had a shocked look on my face. The school has barely been open today. How the heck Alice, how do you possibly move that fast?

      "I um... just got to mine." I pointed at the locked behind me and Grey nodded his head. 

      "Well I will leave you two to do your things you have to do." he said with a smile on his face. "I'll see you around I guess."

      "Great chatting Grey." Alice said with a smile.

He nodded his head.

      "See you later Gemma."

When he said my name my heart instantly dropped to the floor.

      "Earth to Gemma? Are you okay? You know... you never REALLY told me what went on with the two of you at the party Friday."

      "I know Alice. I've just been trying to wrap my head around things. So much is changing and I don't wanna screw up before freshmen year even starts."

      "I get it Gem. But you just have to lighten up."

I opened my locker and hung my backpack in it and grabbed a note book and a pencil to help me get through the day.

      "And I AM trying to do that Al you know I am. Its just..."

      "Complicated. I know. You say that for EVERYTHING."

I shrugged my shoulders.

      "Shit. My schedule, I never picked it up on the way in. Ugh by the time I go get it and..."

      "Relax Gem. As your best friend I already knew you were going to 'forget it' so I got it for you." She said handing the folded schedule to me.

      "You didn't have to."

      "I wanted to and needed to. I owe you."

      "For what exactly?" Now i'm curious, what did she do?

      "Uh just owing you for always being there for me. So I decided to start returning the favor." She said with a smile.

Yeah I don't believe her one bit. I know when she's lying. I raised an eyebrow at her and folded my arms.

      "Okay okay, I knew that Grey walks these halls because they're closer to his car and his classes typically."

      "And how did you find this out?"

      "I have my ways."

I gave her the look again.

      "I asked your brother okay? I wanted you to meet up with and talk to Grey okay?"

I sighed.

       "Al you know I don't need you to be cupid for me right?"

      "I know I just. I want you to be happy. You were so happy at the party. Can you really blame me for wanting my best friend to not be happy?"

      "Al I was ' happy' because I was drunk and high. But thank you. I love you so much Alice."

      "I love you too." she pulled me into a hug and it felt great.

Also it felt great because I knew that look was my lucky charm with her. She knows I mean business when that look appears.

      "Alright so I am assuming you already know my schedule so how many classes do we have together?"

      "All but your two super smarty pants classes."

I laughed at her. The only reason I got those was because I took a aptitude test and she declined to take it and I apparently did very good so the counselor put me in advanced classes.

      "You're just jealous for my brains."

      "Well one of us has to have them. I got the beauty remember?"

I rolled my eyes.

      "Well c'mon lead the way. You don't want to be late do you?" I said.

She smiled and took my hand and led us to class. 

This should be a great first day.