Unattainable

Chapter 1 The Beginning of The End

"Could someone please tell me what it means to 'misjudge' someone?" Mr. Brooks' brown leather dress shoes clicked along the Social Studies classes cold tiled floor, ricocheting off the fluorescent lights that beamed down onto my open notebook. The date was neatly written in the top right corner and my name below it, but that was all.

September 15, 2014

Astrid Livingstone

Nothing out if the ordinary. Nothing original. Like me.

"Ms. Astrid?" I heard my name as I looked up to see Mr. Brooks standing over my desk.

I sat up and cleared my throat quietly. "To misjudge someone sir means to create an opinion about an individual before knowing them and eventually coming to the realization that your original judgement of them is wrong."

Mr. Brooks scrunched his eyes as he always did after having a question answered. He looked up at the lights then back at me. "That would be correct, thank you, Astrid," he smiled and moved towards the front, "now can anyone give an exa-" he was interrupted by the class door swinging open and the loud and all too familiar voice of Shawn Mendes: the typical slacker who everyone thought was "too cool for school". He hollered goodbye to a friend outside and sauntered in slowly. His lower lip under his teeth and his usual crooked grin and gleam in his eyes.

"Ah, sorry about that Mr. Brooks," he apologized as he took his seat behind me, "didn't mean to interrupt."

It was quiet a moment before Brooks continued. "No no that is alright, you can just now answer the question." He folded his arms and leaned against the front board.

Another moment of silence and I just rolled my eyes. Typical of him.

"Pst-you, what was the question?" I felt his breath on my neck behind me as he leaned towards my ear. It startled me and I simply froze.

"Give an example of someone who's been misjudged." I snapped. I was used to his lateness but if still peeved me.

"Well," he leaned back, "you're certainly not an example, your as uptight as they say you are." I could've sworn I heard him smile smile amongst the small eruption of laugher around the room.

"Settle down please! And Shawn, perhaps a serious answer?" Mr. Brooks called out.

I mumbled a curse under my breath as Shawn continued to talk about how he felt that the government was misjudged on too many levels for me to keep track off.

I drifted off into my thoughts for a few moments. For some reason in all the years I had been to school with Shawn and even though I had witnessed his antics and pranks, I felt that he was the most misjudged of us all. I had seen him on some occasions, without his swarm of friends, having intelligent conversations and lively debates with teachers and other students. I believed that the whole "tough-boy-who-doesn't-care" was just a front for someone who wanted to amount to something but what that something was, I didn't think I would ever know. He only conversed with me if he was late and needed answers, not because he wanted to. But, some people aren't meant to befriend others. Some of us are better left alone.

"Excellent examples, Shawn, and thank you Taryn for your theory that the staff of McDonalds are the most misjudged of all, due to the fact that they aren't the ones responsible for Americas obesity rate rather the Americans themselves," I looked back at my friend and smiled. Taryn and I had grown up together like sisters and she was always up for talking about the most moronic things, this subject being one of them.

Brooks clapped his hands together and spun on his heels, "Now I have an assignment for you all," a low groan ran through the class as everyone slumped into their seats, "don't groan it is in partners so it will be fun-BUT I'm making the groups." Another groan.

"You will all be in pairs and you will be creating a presentation on who you feel is the most judged person in history, they could be political figures actors, scientists anything at all!" Yet another groan only I believe someone wailed.

"Now let me see-" Brooks scanned the room counting us all, "alright if own the rows I want the first person to stand the one behind you sit and so forth. Whoever is standing turn behind you and there's your partner."

I leaned forward to see the people in front of rising and staying seated and that's when I realized who my partner was. He tapped on my shoulder and I slouched, turning slowly.

"Guess it's you and me." He winked. I cringed.

"If we do it quickly it can be done and over with in two days-tops." I said as I grabbed my bag as the bell rang and we filed out of the room.

"Are we talking about the project or something else?" He called as he ran up beside me.

I turned and glared. "Look, I'm not doing all the work myself so we will be doing this together, no matter how much we don't want to okay?"

He laughed as he looked down, "Yes ma'am your place or mine?"

"Excuse me?"

"For the project, I'm willing to give up this Friday night only. What's it going to be?"

"Well my house is kind of occupado at the moment by visiting grandparents but-"

"Nah we'll go to my place, grand parents want to meet friends."

I stopped walking. "You must be mistaken, we are NOT friends simply coworkers, I'll be there at 8." I turned to leave without another word but he reached out and grabbed my wrist.

"No miss, you're walking home with me, remember? Quick and painless?"

"How is that quick and painless?"

"Well I figure the sooner we get started the sooner I can be out of your hair."

I slumped over again and sighed. "Fine I'll meet you by the front doors." And I finally managed to walk away.

"See you later, Astrid!" He called after me. I paused a moment. I didn't even think he had ever remembered my name.

"Whatever, quick and painless." I muttered to myself as I bumped into Taryn.

"Sooooo you and Shawn eh?" She asked elbowing me in the rib.

I shrieked, "Ow, Taryn! We are just partners, besides he's kind of a jerk anyways-"

"Who remembered your name! When was the last time you talked to him?" She pestered walking into Algebra with me.

"I don't know, grade six when he hit me in the face with a dodge ball and had to apologize." I said sitting down and pulling out my next notebook.

"Exactly, and now we are in grade 11 and he remembered!" She slid into the desk next to me.

"It's a small school, Taryn." I rolled my eyes at her.

"Whatever, where you going with him tonight?"

She asked.

"To his house to do the project.."

"No I mean WHERE where? There's a party tonight and I doubt he would miss it for some dumbass assignment."

I put down my pen to face her. "Taryn, I'm serious I have no interest in him not him in I, so let's drop it and do some work alright?"

She groaned and began to scribble equations. "Fine, you're no fun Astrid you know that?"

I laughed as the teacher began to talk, "I know."