Peripheral Vision | ✓ [NOW PUBLISHED AS HUNTINGTON AVENUE]

Chapter 14

C H A P T E R  F O U R T E E N

Zach's P.O.V.

Finally, I've gotten used to the penetrating stares of my peers, and I'm able to almost completely ignore them. The whispers though, are another story.

Everyone in this school thinks I'm a freak, and that they should stay away from me. It honestly hurts my feelings that people think of me that way and that they can't see past my condition.

I made my way through the hallways with care, pinpointing each person's voice so that I could avoid them with no trouble. I clutched my textbooks firmly in my hand as I made my way to my second class. I could feel my palms sweating with nervousness as I cautiously walked down the halls.

Almost like it was perfect timing, I felt a pair of hands roughly shove me against the wall, sending me into the lockers which lined it.

"Out of the way, wise guy," Jonathan scoffed as he walked past.

I rolled my blind eyes in disgust, quickly getting myself together before anyone else noticed our collision. I let out a sigh, continuing on to the classroom, which was a few more doors down the hallway to the right. Upon opening the door, I felt even more stares, and heard more whispers.

"There's the blind guy," someone whispered.

"Yeah, stay away from him," someone else replied almost inaudibly.

I ran my fingers through my hair, ruffling it a little bit. Nobody ever gives me a break.

I cautiously walked over to a desk in the corner, seating myself down while putting my textbooks on the small table in front of me. Since I was unable to write properly due to my impairment of sight, I made mental notes and copied them down onto my computer when I got home.

Throughout class, I couldn't lead my thoughts away from the operation in three weeks. I wondered what it would be like with vision, because I obviously couldn't remember outside of my dreams. The anxiety I felt overpowered my thoughts more deeply than I anticipated. More and more, I felt myself drift away from the lecture of the class.

"Zach," a harsh voice exclaimed loudly. "I called on you about four times."

I quickly straightened my posture, blinking a few times nervously. "Sorry, sir."

Almost immediately, I heard several laughs around the classroom, bouncing off the walls. I sighed, putting an awkward smile on my face. In an attempt to cover it up, I pretended to pay attention, even though my mind thought otherwise.

Thankfully, the bell rang after a few more minutes, and I grabbed my textbooks as I waited for everyone to leave the classroom. After I was certain that everyone had exited the room, I walked outside, and down the hall towards my locker.

I shoved my books inside my locker, slamming the door shut. Before I could turn around, I felt someone elbow me in the spine, slamming my head against the locker. I grunted in disgust, but mostly in surprise. Pain shot through my backbone as I turned around and was met, once again, with the voice of Jonathan.

"What's with you bumping into me all the time?" he sneered, pinning me against the locker.

"What's with you not minding your own business and leaving me alone?" I retorted, shoving him back.

I felt more pressure on both of my shoulders, enough to prevent my escape.

"Because this is more entertaining," he spat, roughly shoving me against the wall once more.