Miserably Delightful

chapter 3

The majority of homeroom was spent trying to avoid conversation with Luke. He was a rather kind boy, and I found that I enjoyed listening to him prattle on while North occasionally would interject and tell him to let me get a word in. Whenever North would interfere, I would quickly reassure that I liked listening to Luke, and then a small amount of bickering between North and Luke would ensue.

It wasn't exactly the worst way to spend homeroom, but it didn't allow me the proper amount of time to ready myself for what the rest of the school day would be like. As Luke babbled about something having to do with chocolate, I mindlessly nodded along as my eyes concentrated on the clock, eyes narrowed on the hand as it came closer and closer to the end of homeroom. I wasn't prepared, and I thought I might begin hyperventilating as the bell rang.

I even might have blacked out slightly when the shrill sound filled the room and my grip on the desk tightened ten fold.

I only settled back down on Earth when Luke, who was standing in front of my desk, asked, "Sang, are you okay?"

I took a deep breath, and flashed him my Trust Fund Baby smile that was utilized almost constantly in order to please the public and my parents. Luke seemed to relax at the sight of my smile and I scooped up my things before he could do so. I didn't need anyone worrying over me; I had gotten by with only my brother's and myself for a very long time and I could continue to do so.

"I'm okay," I reassured him, shuffling my feet as we got stuck behind a group of teenagers who thought that the doorway was the absolute best place to have their absolutely important conversation. Irritation spiked in my bloodstream, and from the look on North's face, he shared the sentiment. My eyes rolled into the back of my head and then my foot was connecting with the back of one of the boy's feet. "Hey, I know you're not used to binge punctual to places, but I am so find a new location for your conversation on who's the hottest in homeroom."

The boy who I had kicked turned to face me and shot me a dirty look, but I schooled my face into one of precise indifference. It was another look I had mastered: when the rich bitches at my old school would talk about their new gifts from their daddy I had worn it without a second thought, and I slipped into it sometimes without knowing it when Marie talked to me.

"This isn't the rich side of town anymore, princess," the boy sneered at me and North took a step towards him, obviously not liking the threatening tone he had towards me.

I shook my head at North, letting him know that I had it under control. Growing up with three brothers who had big mouths and no filters along with a sister who found herself in cat fights often had conditioned me into stepping into fights. "You're right. This isn't the rich side of town, but I'm sure my brother, Zain Sorenson, wouldn't have an issue with laying your ass on the ground. Or you know, I could take a go at you. He did teach me a thing or two."

At the mention of my oldest and most fearsome brother, the boy paled some and ushered his friends out of my way. I grinned widely and sent a wink his way, before slipping through the doorway, my pace faster than regular due to the fact that I didn't exactly fancy being late to class just as I had told the door blocking asshole. Luke and North immediately matched my pace, both staring at me, as if waiting for an explanation.

No explaination would be offered, not only because I didn't have one, but also because my anxiety and nerves had hit me full force and I began to tremble uncontrollably. Even if I didn't mind name dropping my brother like that, it didn't mean I should. It was easier to bullshit when I knew that my brothers were in the same vicinity as me, but I had to remember that I was all alone, barely over 5 foot, and a nervous mess.

When I didn't say anything, Luke nudged me gently, causing me to flinch away. He was interrupting my process of trying to calm myself down before class. I sent an irritated glance his way, briefly wondering how easy it would be to ditch them and if friends were as overrated as people made them out to be. I brushed away the thought nearly instantly, knowing that without the protection of my brothers, I would need at least someone to go to, and Victor and his strange group of friends might be it.