If Not Now, When? // Book 1

Chapter 2: Feb 1

Chapter 2: Feb 1

Before class, I met up with Livia, Kasey and Adele. We hang out at recess and lunch every day. Kasey and I met outside the canteen in year 7, and we started talking. We were complaining about how long the lines were. She then introduced me to Adele a year later. We agreed to meet up in front of the library every lunchtime from that day onwards. The next day, I introduced them to Livia. We've been friends since.

I dropped off the folders in the other care groups before heading back to my own. Once again, I sat next to Kasey. I opened my computer and scrolled through the daily messages once again. My classes for today were; Math, Religion, P.E, Economics and Business and finally Drama, which sucked but it meant I had something to look forward to today. Kasey was working on a drawing of a character she was creating for an anime, Tokyo Ghoul.

The bell rang and I was soon on my way to Math. Again. This lesson we were doing modules. Again. I finally finished my first module and started another, although I quickly got bored of it and started sketching out some hand models. I can't draw hands very well, so I spend a fair bit of time perfecting my technique. Same with eyes. I can draw detailed eyes, but it doesn't match my style of drawing, so I end up drawing them on their own. The hands still ended up looking like shit though. I just can't get the proportion right on anything.

Period 2 came around and I headed to R.E. I saw Sheldon line up.

"Hey, Sheldon. How were your holidays?" I asked.

"Fine. How about yours?" His cheeks became slightly pink. He didn't make eye contact, but that was normal.

"Good, I didn't do much."

"T- That movie our parents took us to was weird wasn't it?" He chuckled.

"You weren't even watching, though?"

"I kinda was. I just prefer the music."

"Makes sense, better than interacting with people."

"Right. Well, I'll see you around after class, I guess?"

"Probably."

Sheldon seemed... off.

That was weird.

Mr. Kaminski brought the class in and the first lesson, as usual, consisted of an introduction to our topics and assignments. He told us we wouldn't need our bibles and swear I heard everyones parents protesting in the distance for making them buy it. It's a useless book, really. Well, maybe I can sell it, then it won't be useless.

Recess came and went far too quickly for my liking. P.E and Economics dragged on for longer than it needed to. Everything for the first two days of term is introductions to the subjects, I don't think there is any need for an explanation.

Finally, lunch came around. As per usual, Adele invited me to walk to the canteen to buy lunch with her. We passed through the courtyard, several handball squares lined the asphalt. Out of nowhere, Adele blurts out "I think someone has the hots for you."

"What? O-okay, no. You're actually crazy. No one likes me, if you don't count my brother but he's a dick, so," She nodded her head towards Sheldon, who had been through kindergarten and primary school with me and Shannon. Well, we've known each other for 14 years. We used to hang out all the time as kids. We got along quite well. Our parents were best friends when they were in high school. They had one thing in common. Both our families, no, we're not related, have this rare gene which causes us to be born with wildly coloured hair. I only know of a few other people in Australia who were actually born with hair like ours, but they're scattered across three other states, I've never seen them in person. Scientists can't figure out where the gene came from. Anyway, I've gone off track. Our parents have known each other since forever, so when they each had children, we basically grew up together. Although... Shannon and Sheldon hate each other, so I was the one who spent more time with Sheldon. Yeah, Shannon was a dick when we were younger... Actually, he still is. We haven't been in touch as often as we were as kids but saw each other over the holidays because our parents forced us to come along with them to a movie we didn't even want to see. Sheldon didn't watch it, and neither did I, really. I attempted to make conversation, but Sheldon had his earphones in at the time.

"Sheldon? Absolutely not," I looked over at the dark-skinned teen, immediately noticing the red streaks scattered in his hair. I was confused and tried to hide it badly with an awkward laugh.

"Yeah! He's been staring at you, and he's all weird and shy whenever you're around," She said.

"How did you even notice that? Nevermind, that's normal, he's always been a shy kid. And he keeps to himself, so even if he does like me, he wouldn't do anything about it..." I mumbled towards the end. Sheldon was never one to open up unless he really trusted someone. I stayed quiet for a few minutes, because it just wouldn't register in my head that someone would ever like me, never mind someone I've known for over 10 years. He'd probably friend-zone me.

"Yeah? Well this is high school, everything is different now." She snapped. "He can't be the same as he was 10 years ago. Just ask Shannon if he's said anything, at all!"

"Geez, ok, calm down. Sheldon would not talk to Shannon, they're practically mortal enemies. They don't like each other," I was still confused because no boy actually likes me, that's crazy. Guess everyone really got to my head over the years, huh?

--

On the bus back home, it was mostly a silent ride, if you're ignoring all the screaming teenagers, half of who I hate, but I eventually worked up the courage to ask Shannon if Sheldon had talked to him recently.

"Why would he? We literally hate each other," He asked.

"I know, but Adele said that she thinks he likes me, but you know he's always been a bit weird and shy, but she thinks it's different... Can you, privately, and please don't be an arse, go talk to him about it?" I whispered. Gossip has always gone quickly around Murry Secondary, I don't need everyone talking about us. It was awkward, asking Shannon to do that, but it's not as awkward as asking your parents, let me tell you that..

(It's happened before, don't judge me.)

The bus dropped us off once again. Dad was leaving for night shift and Mum was going to be home in 15 minutes. I finished off my homework and turned on the oven to preheat it. She was coming home with chicken sticks and sausages, something we'd usually do on the barbeque when Dad was home. They are still really good, though. She makes her own potato salad and it's fucking amazing. Sorry, digressing again.

I turned on Netflix and watched a few episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine before having a shower and heading to bed at 10pm.