Hidden Talents

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I'm walking back from my morning skate and the sun is just coming out. In the distance I can hear someone playing the saxophone and I close my eyes and just stand there listening to the music. I love how this city never seems to sleep. Someone is always doing something. I stand there for a few minutes just listening to my surroundings. I can hear birds chirping, the low rustle of wind in the trees and the footsteps of someone running past me. I take in one more deep and open my eyes and begin to take a step, but have to stop suddenly because there is a cluster of 5 or 6 girls running and trying to push each other out of each other's way. I watch them go by as they follow the guy who must've ran past me when my eyes were closed. "Weirdos," I mutter to myself as I roll my eyes at them. I continue on to the cafeteria to grab some tea and croissants for JJ and me.

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"I have fuel to get us through this morning!" I announce as I walk into our room. JJ walks out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and another around her head. "Thank God, I am absolutely starving!" She says as she scurries over to me and grabs one of the 4 cups of tea and 2 of the 6 chocolate croissants I got us. I place the rest of the food on my desk and grab my things for a shower. "Do you need anything from the bathroom before I head in there?" I ask as I am heading towards the door. "Nope, I'm good. Just don't take too long classes start at 9 and its 8 now."

"Oh, don't worry I will be in and out!" I laugh as I shut the bathroom door. I turn the water on to its highest setting and peel off my skating clothes. As I step under the water I feel all the muscles in my body begin to relax. I stand there just for a few seconds and then wash my hair and body and do a rush shave job. I turn off the water and step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself and walk over to the sink and brush my teeth.

When I walk out of the bathroom, JJ is already dressed in studded jean shorts, a white tank top, and a black blazer. "I. Want. Your. Shoes." I say in monosyllables as I walk over to my closet. "Thanks babe, you can borrow them whenever!" She says looking at me from her mirror as she applies mascara. "I will most likely take you up on that!" I say as I fish through my clothes. I settle on a purple tank top, skinny jeans, and some brown flats. Once I am dressed I blow dry my hair and then braid my bangs to the side so they are out of my way today. I apply just mascara and a touch of lip gloss for make up. And finally put on some gold stud earrings, a long knotted chain necklace and a couple of simple rings. "You ready?" JJ asks as she grabs her black mini backpack. I give myself a once over in the mirror and then look at her, "Yeah let's go," I reply as I grab my brown leather messenger bag, phone, and keys and follow her out the door.

The courtyard is busy with students heading to classes and talking with friends. JJ and I are heading to our first class, Presentation and Performance, with a teacher named Jax Stone. Former lead singer of the band Dark Days, whom I actually love. We are making are way across the grass when I hear, "Charlotte, JJ! Wait up!!" We both turn around and see Tessa running to us with a boy in tow behind her. When she reaches us she hugs us both and says, "I am so glad I saw you before classes started today! I wanted to wish you luck!" She is an absolute sweetheart. She then begins babbling on about something that happened last night with the performances after JJ and I left, but I'm not paying much attention to her because I am looking at the boy standing in front of me. He looks a little lost and flustered and is sidled toTessa's side like a toddler to his mother. "Hi, I'm Charlotte," I say as I stick my hand out towards him. "Hey, my name is Paul," he smiles as he takes my hand and pulls me into a hug. "I'm not too big into handshakes, hugs are more my thing!" He quickly becomes sociable and he reminds me of one of my old best friends Jeremy Abbott. I laugh as he releases me and quickly introduce JJ. "Okay, well we have to get to class but come find us at lunch!" I quickly say as I tug JJ with me. I look at my watch and see we have about 3 minutes to get across campus to our class.