𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍 ➥ 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄

highway to hell

I walk into the halls...stuff is sure about to go down. But first let me describe you what the highway on the way to hell is like. Constant stares, constant glares, pushing, bullying, and it's much worse in person. The teachers don't care. Hell, the principle isn't even here most of the time.

For $10,000 a year at a prestige English academy, you would expect decency and class. But it's everything besides that.

There were old text books, dirty lockers, small windows, irresponsible teachers, and to top it all off a school that was meant to have only 400 students but has 780. There was no order in the school. No one faced any disciplinary consequences.

Gigi punched me in the arm for absolutely nothing. She always does that but she always comes up with a stupid reason. I never retaliated. I would just feed into her words, after all—she was my girlfriend. We had been dating for 2 years. At first, she was a sweet, innocent, shy girl. But popularity took the best of her. Instead of studying on a Friday night, she went to parties.

"What did you do that for, Gigi? Why do you always have to punch me in the same spot." I clutched my arm and took a step back from her. But I laughed it off.

"You were staring at Camille's botched boob job. That's utterly insulting considering you are my boyfriend and you'd rather stare at something fake than at me." Gigi huffed.

"Who said you weren't fake?" Gigi sent me a glare, "I'm kidding." I assured her with a kiss. I left Gigi stranded there talking to her friends. I walked towards the new girl.

"Hey, I'm Zayn."

"Not interested Zayn." She replied not laying an eye on me. But not in a disrespectful way. An annoyed way. Not a great impression but it has to start somewhere. Her blonde locks fell right below her shoulders and her blue eyes were focused in sorting her locker, "but now I guess I have to introduce myself as well. I'm Perrie, nice to meet you."

"Perrie? Like the platypus?" I joked and she laughed as well.

"That is painfully funny," Perrie said, "but no, not like the platypus."

"Where'd you get that." I pointed to her forearm. Her face turned bright red. I quickly realized what I had said and I just wanted to kick myself in the throat.

"Oh it's nothing," she mumbled and I immediately dropped the topic. It was obviously a sensitive topic.

"Are you new here? I haven't see you in these halls before," I chuckled and a small smile was brought up on her lips.

"Yeah, I'm new. I transferred from my old school in South Shields. My family and I wanted a fresh start." She answered. She was arranging books which since were falling out of her arms and onto the floor.

"Let me help you with that," I picked up some of her textbooks that had fallen and our eyes met for a split second, "maybe I could show you around some time?" She slightly chuckled as she turned to face me. Okay maybe she didn't want me to take her out? Perrie still didn't answer my question.

But I could feel that she was warming up to my presence. We laughed for awhile as she was telling me stories from her old school.

"Hey, do you mind if I can take you out some time?" Perrie shyly smiled at me, I know it was too soon and I have Gigi but I really liked Perrie. She was nice, not an in obvious way but she was.

I could tell there were stares. And Gigi was one of the watchers. I could hear her whispers from a mile away.

"Yeah sure. I'd like that. I barely know my way around London so I'd need a tour guide I guess." She warmed up to me. But I could still sense some unwanted attention on her end.

"If you don't mind me asking again, what are those scars from?" She suddenly became quiet. I wanted to know, I didn't want to be rude or anything. I didn't want to cross any lines but it seems like I already did.

"Zayn, can you just mind your own business." She slowly closed her locker, "I would really love it if i was left alone right now." She softly muttered that last part. She stared down at the floor, "I'll just catch you later."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I-i just wanted to know. I was curious," I apologized and Perrie sped up getting ready for her first class.

"Have you ever heard the expression, curiosity killed the cat?" Perrie finally had her books straightened out, took one last glance at me and left right as the bell rang, "bye Zayn."