The Devil In Disguise

CHAPTER 6: Charm Your Way In

I made a friend in Maths; her name was Lola. She was quiet, kind and funny sometimes.

My homeschool teacher had taught me well and I understood everything going on; I wasn't off to a rocky start; at least, not academically.

But Chemistry was the interesting one.

When I walked in, everyone was in their new seating plan, ready to start Year 11 Chemistry. They chatted and laughed like nothing was wrong with the world. Normal kids with normal lives.

I looked at the SmartBoard, where the seating plan was projected onto the screen. I sighed in relief as I read the name 'Simon' next to mine; at least it was someone I had met.

Turning around, I walked to my seat in the middle row and sat down, getting my pencil case out of my bag — when Xander and Simon walked in together, looking as if they were in deep conversation. My gaze travelled to Xander and I analysed him.

I could see why he was popular. He had messy, brown, nearly-shoulderlength hair, streaked with shades of natural ash. His eyes were forest green; I could almost imagine looking into them and feeling as if I were in the Amazon. His lips were set in a serious shape but when he was amused, he'd do this smirk where the corner of his lips would lift up and an amused glint would appear in his eye.

Suddenly, his head turned sharply — and his gaze landed directly on me. Instead of looking away, because that would be too obvious, I narrowed my eyes slightly, not breaking eye contact. After a few milliseconds, his forests blinked and looked away as if nothing had happened.

"Karissa, right?" Simon asked cheerfully, putting his backpack down with a thump and collapsing into his chair somewhat gracefully. He tilted his head at me, grinning; I felt my stomach flutter.

No! I told myself. This is how he charms every girl he comes across, it's obvious. Don't fall for it.

"Yeah. Samuel, right?" I purposely got his name wrong. He blinked at me, trying to hide the confusion on his face. Evidently, girls rarely forgot his name.

"No, it's — er — Simon," he said in a befuddled tone, looking at me like I was an alien. I almost smirked; I seemed immune to his charisma and it was baffling him.

"You don't sound so sure," I stifled a laugh, lifting an eyebrow. A slow grin crept onto his face as he really looked at me for the first time. "You're kinda funny," he said honestly and my insides did a little jump.

"Tell me something I don't know," I said and he laughed, shaking his head.

"Okay, everybody, quiet down!" the teacher, Miss Nickel, shouted above everyone's loud voices. As the noise levels rapidly decreased, I suddenly felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise, as if someone was watching me.

Instinctively, I turned around, my eyes finding Xander's, whose eyes were on me again. He didn't break eye contact this time and I started feeling uncomfortable. Glaring at him, I mouthed 'What?' But he didn't say anything back. Instead, he smirked that smirk, but it didn't reach his bright eyes, which were analysing me.

I didn't smile back, but instead rolled my eyes as I turned back to the front. Even then I felt his gaze lingering on me. Why was he looking at me like that? It creeped me out ... but curiosity bit at me, too.

Realising I wasn't listening, I whispered to Simon, "What's she been saying?" Simon scoffed and looked at me with mock-dissapointment, shaking his head. "You should have listened..."

I huffed out a laugh, rolling my eyes. "Don't be a twat, Simon, just tell me."

"Alright, alright. Since it's the first lesson, we're just doing an experiment to ease us back into the course —"