Damaged beyond repair

Chapter 6

                I once again find myself running through the school's halls, afraid to check my watch. I'm going to be late, I just know it. Because of my nightmares, I overslept, on my second school day. I check the note in my hand again, and see that I finally arrived at the right classroom. I hit the brakes and am barely able to grab the doorknob to stop me from sliding on. I open the door and walk in, and instantly, all eyes are on me. Most of them look unimpressed, not interested, but some of them look at me as if I personally offended them. When I check the clock on the wall, however, I see that I still made it, with just one minute left.

"Oh, great, you're back." Sven's tone is dripping with sarcasm. Some of the students start laughing, but I choose to ignore it. It doesn't take these students as long as the ones from my other schools to start hating me. I've barely been here two days. Leilani waves at me, which makes the ignoring a lot easier. I walk up to her, only to notice there aren't any free spots around her. I glance around me, and immediately change directions, making everybody laugh at me once more. As I take all the necessities out of my bag, I hear my name.

"Hey, Alex, do you know that Madonna song?" Davey asks me from his spot in front of me. I stare at him, confused. What is he talking about?

"You don't? Here, let me sing it to you." He dramatically puts his hand on his chest and starts singing in a high-pitched voice.

"Like a virgin, touched for the very first time!"

The classroom bursts with laughter, and I can feel myself turning red. Leilani grabs her pencil case and flings it at Davey's head.

"Quit it, you rotten potatohead!" she shouts at him. Just like before, I can feel the urge to giggle creep up my throat, but my subconsciousness kicks it back down. In that moment, mister Avery enters the room, and everyone grows quiet. Mister Avery starts speaking, but I'm not listening. My eyes don't leave Leilani's direction. I do not mean to stare at her, but for some reason I can't help myself.

Her black hair flows from her head to her shoulders, like a calm, dark river, where it splits into a river flowing further down her back and into a little stream crossing her collarbone. When she moves her head ever so slightly, the lighting creates a blue shine on her smooth hair. She bends forward, her head almost touching her book, causing her hair to slide forward, hiding her face from me like a veil. She swipes it back and tucks it behind her ear. Her slightly colored skin and her yellow top create a beautiful contrast, and as she tucks her hair behind her ear once more, I notice her fingernails are painted in the same shade of yellow. She sticks her pen in her mouth and chews on it, thinking about something. She then bends forward again, takes the pen out of her mouth and starts writing, causing me to jolt back to reality.

I wasn't paying attention, yet again. I look around me, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing, when everybody starts laughing. I look up to find everybody staring at me. I once again turn red and hide my face in the books.

"What's going on here?" mister Avery asks. Davey looks at me before turning back to his books.

"Madonna lost her way for a second," he says, his remark earning him a few giggles. Mister Avery shakes his head and continues class. I take this opportunity to find out what we're doing. I find the right page and start working. It doesn't take me long to lose interest again, though. I look up and my gaze finds Leilani once again, just in time to catch her taking out a hair tie to get her hair out of her way. To her left, one of the girls turns around and catches me staring, and gives me a look as though I was something she hoped not to step in.