Summer in January

Chapter Two

The morning went by in a blur, every class I went into I got strange glances from the other kids. I could tell they all thought my name was silly and were dying to ask. One girl even got as close as leaning forward to whisper in my ear, then thought better of it and went back to her Linear equations. I had Izzi in all my morning classes which made things easier. She noticed all the stares and raised eyebrows, glaring at anyone who dared question my 'strange' name.

At lunch I brave the cafeteria, Izzi leads us to a table which already has two boys and another girl sat at. She sits and down and motions for me to sit on the seat next to her.

"Jan meet the gang, gang, meet Jan!" Izzi laughs, the three people smile and say hi.

"I'm Rachel, the one who has to deal with Izzi going off on every person who glances at her in a weird way," Rachel rolls her eyes, I laugh.

"Don't be so harsh on her Rache! Not her fault she is just so captivating." Izzi glares at the boy sat opposite her, he turns to me," I'm Daniel, you're hot!" I blush at his random comment, Daniel was covered all over in freckles, had unruly ginger hair and a toothy grin. I wanted to laugh he was so adorable. The boy sat next to Daniel wore big square glasses, a cardigan and scarf. He picks at the salad in front of him then turns to me.

"My name is Johann, that's spelt with an J, pronounced like a Y. You don't talk much do you?" He looks at me over his glasses, taking me in.

"You're making me nervous the way you're looking at me!" I stutter, he smiles. I see Daniel cough on his coke.

"You're English?! NO WAY!" he gawks at me, I shrug. Johann rolls his eyes.

"It just means she is from a small island that is rather dominant in the world, also is has one of the biggest fashion capitals of the world!" He grins and claps his hand together, then it clicks.

"You're not really into.. Boobs are you?" I say pointedly at him, everyone on the table freezes. I get a wave nausea, was I not allowed to say that? Is that a homophobic comment? I look down at my burger, pretending to find the seeds on the bun interesting. I jump as all four of the people sat around me start laughing. "Er, what?"

Johann wipes tears from the corners of his eyes," you're right, I am not really into boobs!" I sigh, lucky escape!

"Oh no, drama at 5 O'clock!" Rache looks quickly down at her food. They all look uncomfortable, I turn round to see what all the fuss was about. I see two girls having a stand off near the entrance to the cafeteria. One was much taller than the other with black hair in ringlets around her shoulders, the other was petite and blonde.

"You little bitch! How dare you flirt with my boyfriend!" The blonde one shouts.

"Oh god, he isn't even that good looking! What's that problem Maisy?" The tall one responds, from the tone of her voice I could tell she was doing the whole I couldn't care less and this is a waste of my time act.

"He's my boyfriend Rosalind! You're such a-

"Such a what Maisy? Go on, say it!" The tall one (Rosalind I suppose) threatens.

-A slut! You, Rosalind Philips, are one big SLUT!"

The whole room literally gasps as the words leave Maisy's mouth. People turn and whisper to the people next to them, gossiping already. Rosalind takes a step closer to the smaller girl and slaps her on the cheek. She screeches and clutches her face, the red visible from my seat fifty metres away.

"You are dis-owned from my friends," She takes a pause and turns to the rest of the room," no one is to speak to Maisy or interact with her in any way socially. She is an outcast now! She has binned all my respect therefore all your respect," she takes a breath and turns back to the snivelling girl," get out."

Maisy screams and runs out, pushing past the group of teens stood in her way. Rosalind turns back to the group, who I guess are her friends. The public humiliation of Maisy had annoyed me, she had no right to do that to someone. I get up and walk confidently over to the large group, ignoring my friends protests. I walk up to Rosalind, who had her back turned, and tap her on the shoulder. She turns, surprised to see someone approaching her. She smirks as she sees me.

"You're the new girl right? January. I've heard lots about you!" She smiles are blaringly white smile. Obviously using some sort of charm. Okay then.

"What you just did to that girl wasn't cool." I stand to my full height, which was an inch more than hers. She coughs and laughs.

"Excuse me? She was the one who blamed me for her boyfriend dumping her, she deserved what she got."

"No one deserves to be publically humiliated and told to completely ignore Rosalind!" I say her name in the same mocking tone she said mine, she gasps. Her face a mask of horror. The girls stood behind mirror her expression, I glare at them.

"How dare you! Do you want me to do the same to you? Cause I will you English freak!" The last comment makes me want to rip her hair out. Our conversation hadn't even been going for five minutes yet and I already I hated her.

"Hey Rosa, cut it out! She's only been here half a day!" Rosalind turns at the voice, stood next to her was the most beautiful guy I had ever seen. Tanned, dark brown eyes and hair. He glared at Rosalind she whimpered into his arms.

"Brooke, I've had such a stressful day. What with Maisy going bitch crazy and this British Bimbo just started attacking me!" She attempts to snuggle into his arms, affection obvious. I study his reaction and see he is stiff, trying not to make her feel welcome. He sighs and pushes her away.

"Rosalind! Stop acting like the queen okay? And if I'm honest with you I agree with her, what you did to Maisy wasn't cool." She stops and glares at him, then laughs to cover up her embarrassment.

"Brooke, baby-

"Stop it Rosalind! We're over remember? Or have you not told anyone about our little chat?" Another gasp goes through the room and I feel sufficiently uncomfortable again being stood right in the drama.

"What- what are you talking about hun?" She falters, the girls around her seem confused.

"I think he's talking about a break up?" I say, cursing for blurting that out loud. But Brooke did look like he was about to punch Rosalind. She turns and looks like she's about to slap me like she did Maisy.

"Shut up you prat! Mine and Brookes relationship is none of your business, you don't even know us!" She spits at me.

"Except what she just said is correct Rosalind, now stop making things worse and go pretend to eat a salad." She looks appalled and shocked as she turns and stomps off, followed closely by the other girls. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.

"Thank you, I thought she was going to stab me!" I laugh, but stop when I notice Brooke staring hard at me.

"Are you an idiot? Look I know you're new and everything but hasn't anyone told you not to mess with Rosalind? Just stay out of things okay, and don't talk to me. If you value your life." Then he turns and walks over to a table of jocks.

I stand stunned at his coldness. Fine then, I didn't need his blessing. Then I turn and head back to my table, where four frozen faces stare at me.

/\/

Hey!!

What do you think of the characters? I like Johann right now, none of them have much depth yet but wait and see!

grace xxxxxxxxxxxx