Run

Chapter 1

I stare blankly at my A-level maths book. A multitude of letters and numbers flash in-and-out of my vision, becoming blurry figures that fade into the fog of my mind. What the actual fuck? You would think by now that people would have realised that letters and numbers do not mix. They are obviously two very different things, yet they cling to each other like Romeo and Juliet's powerful but sickening love.

Sigh

My eyes dart across the spacious classroom drinking in the sight of the different appearances, until I spot him, an aura of confidence. Jack Reys. Oh, what I wouldn't give to run my hands through his effortlessly tussled curly light brown hair. Anxiously, I roll my bottom lip in between my teeth as I languidly stare at the way his shirt sticks to his chiselled back. Too enamoured to look away, I hadn't fully processed the action of the turning of his face to stare directly into my eyes.

I wonder if he looks as good with that shirt off! What is wrong with you Becka, you have a boyfriend remember?

"Oh!" Snapping out of my trance, I catch the glint of humour in his eyes and an aloof crooked smile before a burning sensation flushes across my caramel like cheeks as I quickly look down in embarrassment.

As the lesson comes to an end all I can think about is his smile: he was smiling at me, me.

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"Gosh! Somebody, anybody, you sir! Kill me! Kill me now! Don't hold back, I'm giving you permission!" I moan in exasperation as I collapse into the arms of my best friend Ross.

"My dearest and oldest friend, as much as I would love to - I simply cannot - I need you for our project. Then, if it is still your desire to die I will willingly slice your throat in half" he says in a posh British accent. I stare at him in utter disbelief "You absolute twot!" Swatting his arm, I come to rest against the dreary walls caving us in like prisoners. 

"And I love you too, even if you are a cynical figure invading my life" he broadly smiles, leaning against my bleak grey locker.

"Yet you want to kill me" Jokingly, I ruffle his dark hair then push him away as he lets out a sound that resembles a hyena on crack. I type in my locker combination and get out the books I don't need for tomorrow to take home.

"Boo!!" a shriek of surprise escapes my mouth, as my second best friend in command leaps onto my back like a wild leopard going in for the ultimate kill. "Fucks sake Shantelle" I clutch my chest, adrenaline pumping through my veins causing my exhales and inhales to become shaky and unstable, as I stare at the bag of balls that is my Latina friend. Then I decide to lay it on a bit thick, "I could have died, died Shantelle, then who would help you squeeze your back pimples? N-O-B-O-D-Y" I say pocking at her on each letter.

"Exaggerate much? Geez, I was only trying to surprise you, no need to get into such a tiff" she replies with what I believe what was meant to be a Liverpool accent but really just sounded like she had inhaled a high dosage of helium. This girl may be one of my best friend's but I really wish she would think before she acted. She should honestly feel bad but all she does is giggle away like a spasticated trumpet after I literally condemned her for her actions.

"Watch out Tellytubby, Becka's in a bad mood. Any minute now she's going to sprout two red horns along with a tail." Narrowing my eyes at Ross, I imagine red lasers blasting through his skull.

"Wait a second... is that... a massive red lance forming between your palms?" Shantelle gasps, feigning innocence. "Remind me why she's so grumpy again?"

"I actually don't know. Maybe she finally realised the word 'fam' is no longer considered cool or hip as the kids of this generation would say nowadays"

"I'm right here you know and we are the kids of this generation, idiot!" grunting, I begin to depart on my journey, but Ross grabs my arm, in a friendly manner, and pulls me back towards the group "Seriously, what's wrong?"

Obviously, he hasn't done anything wrong and I know I'm just a little bit on edge after practically humiliating myself in front of Jack through the act of passively staring into what was probably his soul.  Shaking him off and unconsciously rubbing my temples I exclaim, "It doesn't matter I'm fine! Let's just get to class and get this day over with because I am so ready to hang myself". Without a backwards glance, I do a 'never before done in the history of A-levels' rush to my Sociology class, in a hurry to get away from all the questioning.

The echoing words of Ross' "You're obviously not" is the last thing I hear until, I am out of earshot.

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An aura of sadness surrounds me as I slump into the passenger seat as Ross, the only one of us with a qualified driver's licence, drives me home; ah, home: A place I wish that I did not have to live in but alas, I do because you don't always get the things you desire in life. Shantelle sits, with her legs crossed, hands clinging tightly at the seatbelt around her and posture straight, at the back as she believes if in the incident of a car accident, she would most likely suffer the least as she's more protected but I've already told her she's "chatting shit."

To fill the awkward silence that my mood had evidently caused, I switch on the radio to Nicki Minaj which immediately, yes immediately, got my friends bopping and rapping loudly, with the windows down thus i decide to join them. We reach a traffic light, so I stick my head out the window and proceed to shout "A hundred mother fuc-"

No. Fucking. Way. I freeze as I see Jack in the next lane peering with a raised eyebrow.

Are you fucking serious? No. Fucking. Way. No. Fucking. Way. No. Fucking. Fucking. Fucking. Fuck.

Slowly, I retreat back into the car and shrink down into my seat, to become a speck of dust drifting away. "Why are you slithering down into my precious baby girl?" Ross questions me as he starts the car up again. "Nothing, just trying and failing to get my pen" I say fruitily, sinking lower and lower in my seat.

What is wrong with me?