Five Smiles

Chapter 1: The Countdown Begins

Chapter 1

Five months. Just five months. One semester until Noah could leave. Noah sat at his bedroom desk staring outside, watching as the raindrops raced down his second story window. He ran his right hand through his messy brown hair and tapped his pen rhythmically on the piece of paper that had been standing blank for almost half an hour. Noah let out a frustrated breath quickly scribbling New Year's Resolutions at the top. To...get better grades? Be kinder? Get a haircut? New year. New hair. He shook his head with a laugh. What was the point?

"Screw it," He tossed the paper in his hands over the side of the desk.

As Noah walked to school he ran his fingers along the metal barb wire fence that outlined most the houses along the street. The snow was nearly gone from the ground, but a brisk sligh wind still flew through the air. Noah closed his eyes as he listened to the silence of the street. The only sounds that he could hear were his light footsteps and his heavy breath. Maybe he should walk to school more often. After a few minutes of walking Noah could see the entrance to Northfield High School ahead.

Five months. Just five months. One semester. Noah thought as he pushed through the clear glass doors. Shoot. He was late. He broke into a small jog trying his best to avoid the crowds of tired students, feeling like a character in a video game. Just as Noah reached his locker his momentum kept his feet going slamming his body straight into his own locker. Smack! His head connected with the metal door ending his heroic reign. He reached up to feel the bump forming on his head, but found that his hands had been conveniently pinned behind his back. Noah felt a hand pressed against the back of his head keeping it pressed to the locker.

"Whatcha doing Noah? Gonna go meet your boyfriend?" Noah could feel the metal slits in the locker pressing into his cheek. "Better not be late." Nick shoved his face into the locker once more before continuing down the hall laughing with his friends. Touching his cheek to feel the hard imprints the locker had left on his face, Noah slammed his right fist into his locker receiving some glares from nearby students.

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6 to the right...20 to the left...13 to right...Nope. Brooklynn shook the lock again. No luck. She glanced around the hall to see it slowly emptying out. She was going to be late. Great. Detention on her first day; just what she needed. The new year had already been bad enough. 6 to the right...20 to the left...13 to right. Finally. She quickly grabbed her calculus book along with the material needed for her next two classes before racing off down the almost empty hallway. Room 254. She slowly opened the door pulling several gazes upon her.

"Class we have a new student. This is..." The teacher searched her cluttered desk. "Ah, this is Brooklynn. She just moved here from Ohio. Brooke you can take a seat next to Noah." She motioned at a desk in the middle of the room. A few snickers escaped into the room.

"Brooklynn."

"What was that?" The teacher questioned.

"Brooklynn. I don't like being called Brooke." She stated before turning and heading towards her desk.

"Be careful. Don't let his gayness rub off on you." A guy muttered as she walked by.

"That would be a shame wouldn't it." His friend added elbowing him in the side. A couple more laughs filled the room.