The Unexpected

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I walked out of World History, musing over the test we had just taken. Mr. Carter usually didn't give us our results until the day after, and I hoped I had at least passed.

I continued to my next class after stopping at my locker. When I came to the office, l the door opened in front of me and I paused when he came out. I smiled kindly at him, but it faltered when he stepped toward me.

"Um, do you know where English 2 is?" He asked me, glancing down at his schedule.

"Sure, that's my next class," I said, and pointed in the direction of the English class. "Do you need to get anything from your locker?"

He shook his head. "No, I just now enrolled so I don't know what we need. I didn't bring anything."

"You're in luck. Ms. Wilson is the lecturing type so we barely ever even need to bring a pencil."

"Wouldn't want to get in trouble on the first day. I have a reputation to maintain, you know." He grinned at me, and I automatically knew I would like him. Not that I didn't already...

Over the next hour, I had learned his name (Aaden Yaretzi), that he was in fact the guy from the restaurant last night (he apologized for being agitated and explained that it wasn't because of me), and that he had almost every class with me, with the exception of Chemistry and World History. He explained that his parents decided to uproot from family and friends, leaving bustling New York City for a quiet little town in Oklahoma. Why here, however, was one question Aaron didn't answer.

To my disappointment Aaden disappeared at lunch. I was going to introduce him to Emma, and vice versa, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Who are you looking for?" Emma asked after I glanced around for the fourth time.

"That guy I was telling you about- Aaden- I was hoping he would have lunch with us, but I can't find him."

"Ricki Young, what am I to do with you. Daydreaming first about Zachary Freeman and now a stranger you just met?" She shook her head in mock distress but I could tell she was holding a grin back.

Just then the cafeteria doors opened with a bang. The noise echoed though the room and most everyone stopped to look. Aaden strolled in like nothing happened, completely ignoring the curious stares. I stood up and waved him over. He glanced at me, but walked in the opposite direction.

"Why did he ignore me?" I asked Emma, who looked up from her greasy slice of pizza.

"Maybe he didn't see you?"

Aaron ended up sitting at an empty table on the complete opposite side of the cafeteria. I stood up again. "I'm going over there."

Emma shrugged without saying a word. She had been quiet today, but didn't say anything about 'the incident'. Other than that she seemed fine. My best friend spidey senses, however, told me the opposite.

I picked up my tray and made my way to Aaden's table. I was passing the 'popular/stuck-up' kids table (every school has them) when my foot caught on something. I dropped my tray in an attempt to catch myself. Being my oh so graceful self, however, that plan completely failed. I ended up falling right into my pizza. The tray clattered to the floor, catching the attention of the student body for a second time. Laughs started up somewhere in the room and more followed.

I sat up, sauce dripping off my shirt and onto the tile floor, and a hand was thrust into my face. I looked up, still stunned from my unexpected fall, into the eyes of Courtney Vega. She was one of the occupants of table cool, along with her three clones and their jock boyfriends. By the look on her face I knew it wasn't just air I tripped on, but most likely her sequined Toms.