After enduring 40 minutes of being stared at, the bell finally rang and Andrea sighed in relief. She slammed her book shut and hastily made her way to the door. She had almost made it when Mr Schrodinger stopped her in her tracks.
"Andrea, yes, I was just wondering if perhaps, seeing as how Lord Marcus is new here, maybe you could show him around?" it was an order posing as a question.
Andrea opened her mouth to protest but before she could say anything the teacher interrupted. "Excellent, excellent, I knew I could count on you, eh? Ah, he's coming this way now, eh Marcus? Yes, come here please."
On his way down Marcus ignored the every student who stared at him and instead shot Andrea a confused look, which she ignored.
"Yes, Marcus, welcome to St Michael's High School firstly. I hope you like it here, I know I do!" Mr Schrodinger's attempt at casualness did not ease the nerves of either adolescent. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Yes well you must feel rather lost around here, being new and all that, so thankfully Andrea here has volunteered to show you around and, erm, I'm sure you'll make friends in no time, eh lad?"
Marcus nodded unsurely and Mr Schrodinger, seemingly satisfied with that, bustled his way out of the classroom. By then almost everyone had left, leaving only a grumpy looking Andrea and a rather confused lord.
"Right," sighed Andrea. Better get this over with, she thought. "So you've been here 40 minutes and already I intensely dislike you, but unfortunately for me I am being forced into showing you around-"
"I knew you hadn't volunteered," Marcus interrupted. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Shut up." she said curtly, before continuing her previous rant.
"This school is pretty easy to get around, science labs like the one we're in are on the ground floor and to the left once you walk in the front door." She began to walk as she talked, expecting him to keep up, and she talked very quickly. "The canteen is to the right, as is the 6th year common room and the lockers for 4th, 5th and 6th years. The hall is opposite the front door, 5th years have assembly there every Thursday morning."
By now they had reached the stairs extending upwards by the hall. Andrea made to start up them before the royal boy put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.
She turned to face him with a cranky expression, and shrugged his hand away. Smoothly he moved it up to rub the back of his neck.
"Look, uh, Andy-"
"Don't call me Andy." she said sharply.
"Ok, well, er, thing is I don't really need you." he said, feigning an awkwardness she knew wasn't real. "See, I'm kinda famous? And you're pretty average, you know? I think I can make my own friends and I'll find my way around pretty easily. But hey, no hard feelings right?"
He shot her his most attractive smile, the one he had perfected with his cousin years ago. He knew, given his social status, he would quickly be welcomed in with the popular crowd and he could tell Andrea did not share such a privilege. In an attempt to be nice he had pushed her away from the start so he wouldn't abandon her later.
Andrea however was not very happy at his efforts of kindness. She glared at him. How could he be so cocky? She should've expected it really, she'd seen from the media what celebrities could be like.
"Oh yeah, cos I really wanted to hang out with you and fan your already massive ego." she rolled her eyes. "Like I even wanted to talk to you. I'm only doing this because I was asked to, and I happen to be a nice person. So go, find your new friends, do whatever you want because honestly? I couldn't give a shit."
