BLACK PEARL ≫ LEMONADE MOUTH

CHAPTER ONE

( CHAPTER TWO | SHOES )

"SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, AT TIMES I FORGOT WHAT BREATHING FELT LIKE."

Arriving at the school parking lot in her car, sitting in her car, Astrid Yoong takes out her lipstick and sits back, satisfied with what she sees; her makeup done in perfection, as usual. Yet as she keeps staring, she couldn't help but feel her smile waver for second when she lets herself look a bit too long. Quickly brushing off any preexistent feelings, she opens the door of her car, with one heel hitting the cobblestone after another. Letting herself prey around the parking lot with a slam to the car door, she spots Ray, Scott, and Jules, Patty- surrounded by the usual crowd of comically- stereotypical jocks and cheerleaders, added with a few extra stragglers that liked to surround the group like a ant to sugar.

Walking slowly towards them, Astrid stops in front of Scott and Ray as Jules and Patty cheerfully greet her with compliments on her choice of clothing today. As Ray drapes his arm over her petite shoulder, pulling her right between him and Scott. "I heard there's going to be a new girl today, coming in a month late," Scott comments laughing with a fist bump to Ray.

"How does that concern us?" Astrid questions, rolling her in disinterest.

Ignoring her, Ray continues to scan the parking lot, looking much like predator looking for his next meal, with an obnoxious yell, "hey! Look at the new girl!"

Looking over, Jules quickly joins with her own sarcastic and mocking remark, "nice shirt, freak!" With a focus to her attention, Astrid looks up to analyze the new girls outfit before stopping at her boots, not realizing her mouth was moving before her brain could think, she comments her blatant distaste for the item, "those boots are atrocious."

The new girl halted her steps for a moment before continuing her stern walk, an intent to not spare them a glance from their comments and stares. Before she could roll her eyes at the moment of continuous bullying from her surrounding classmates, she was ready to leave the conversation forgotten. "I'm sleeping into a coma bored," Astrid yells, brushing Ray's arm off to pull Scott along with her, intent to walk away from their friends yells. Once inside, they both stop, "the guys are going to skip first period to hang, are you joining?", letting him grab her bag as she stops to pull out her compact mirror. Making eye contact with her reflection quickly before pursing her lips, Astrid looks to contemplate the idea before she snaps her mirror shut with a bitter taste in her mouth and quickly turns towards him, "no."

Grabbing her bag so fast, Scott loses his footing for a second before quickly asking in a rush, "what- why?" With a smile that makes him stop to think she's holding a secret, leans up to whisper closely, "I have better things to do," and pats his chest. Laughing as Astrids' hair hits his face when she turns to strut away- without turning back, she leaves him with a comment, "why don't ask your girlfriend to join you instead."

Astrid walked in a brisk down the halls as the first period bell rung, quietly cursing when she arrived to class late, she silently passed a leggy tall brown haired women standing in front of the door, whom was holding up a red folder. Astrid watched as the entire class was either eerie silent or hushed with snickers, looking at the women by the door or the at the silent boy that was slumped over burying his face in his arms. She hoped her entrance didn't attract too much attention, other than the usual admirers. But whatever the ginger haired boy did, it definitely affected the teachers mood in the worst way as Mr.Blue-faced turned his harsh glare toward her, sneering his next words, "Astrid! Can you please enlighten the class as to why you're late?"

Clenching her jaw at the sound of her teachers voice, Astrid narrowed her eyes, "why does it matter? It's not like you ever teach anything worth anything that can't be self taught." As realization set in, Astrid was tempted to hit herself as knew that she wouldn't be able to smoothly get out of that comment.

A series of 'ooh's' echoed around the class, and Wen looked toward Astrid in admiration for her quick witted comment. For the teacher, he looked like he was ready to lose his breath from anger, yelling to the entire room, "Ms. Yoong! You just earned yourself detention with Mr. Gifford here!" Shrugging in agreement, Astrid clicked her tongue towards random boy to move from his seat, with said-boy realizing who the girl was, quickly rushed to grab his things before grabbing the chair out for her. Once sat with the Gifford boy beside her, she couldn't help thinking in irritation to not take Scott's offer to skip class earlier. So deep in thought, Astrid didn't even notice the eyes of an embarrassed Wen that keep his eyes off her.