Shudder

2

I slipped past all of the eyes that I felt were staring at me that walked towards the massive doors just like myself and into the large commons.

I dreaded even stepping foot inside said commons once the wave of awful noise from the mingling students slapped my ears. It created a ringing noise within them and a dull headache that would grow steadily throughout the day, I knew.

Claire and Dean would tease me because I could hear things from "a mile away" as they put it. But no matter their teases, it was true, I had a wonderful sense of hearing, so wonderful I hated it right now.

I slapped my hands over my ears with what I thought was a soft groan until I felt burning eyes on me. My feet picked up the pace and I worked my way through the dreaded commons that served as a waiting slash hang out spot for those who arrived before the five minute bell rang for class to start.

Unfortunately it was located right where everyone entered the building and stared at you. I hurried faster and had just made it past the school's cafeteria, almost to the classrooms, when a hand snagged my arm.

I held back a scream, chiding myself that this was reality, I wasn't dreaming and my past was indeed my past despite my vivid, reoccurring nightmares.

The hand that had grabbed my arm, dragged me to a halt and spun me towards a body. I pushed my hair out of my face and was met with one of the few friends I actually had -- Jason.

He gave me an apologetic smile and released my arm, his green eyes soft underneath his black hair. I couldn't help returning his smile, Jason was adorably cute, but I worried that a relationship would create a rift in the friendship I needed so badly.

"Hey," I murmured quietly. I hadn't seen Jason Williams for a few weeks, we'd hung out quite a bit this summer, but we both had maintained jobs and hanging out had become a chance thing.

"Hi Rori," he said, flashing another cute smile at me and yet again I returned it.

"How have you been?" I asked, honestly curious.

"Oh you know, the same--"

"JAAASON!" a feminine voice squealed and pounced on Jace from behind, making him stagger forward a few feet. I backed up immediately, annoyed and startled at whatever girl hung on Jason.

"Oh, hi. Winter," Jason mumbled, his face reddening a bit as he gazed at me.

A rush of confusion whipped through me at Jace's reaction while I watched him set Winter Evans on her feet.

"I guess a few things have changed," Jason murmured, glancing nervously between Winter and me.

It was then that I noticed Winter's stance and how she curved right into Jason's body and the tight way Jason's arm held onto Winter.

They were dating, together, boyfriend and girlfriend.

My heart tripled in my chest and I felt something shatter deep within me. Of course it'd be Winter, she was a gorgeous brunette with the brightest blue eyes anyone had ever seen.

"Oh," I said hollowly.

"Winter, this is my friend, Rori and Rori this my girlfriend, Winter."

Jason introduced us formally, yet Winter and I both knew each other and had classes. He merely did it to, probably, appease Winter of her status and let me know they had become "a thing".

I waved at Winter who gave me a mega watt smile and a bright "Hi!"

"So," I said awkwardly. "How'd you two meet?"