Blind side

Chapter 2

 Its a new day, a new school, and new people.

I tie my dark hair up into a bun and throw on light wash jeans and a soft red shirt. After applying a little make-up, I'm ready to go. I grab my bag and slip on my Vans, heading out the door. First impressions are everything in this world, people will judge you for the rest of you life on what you look like and how others view you.

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I look at the mini map of the school and find my new English room, I already feel eyes on me in the hallway. 

I sit down in the last chair by the window on the left side of the classroom. Already insuring no one can come up from that side, and so that nothing falls off my desk from that side and I don't have to turn my head and whole body to see it and pick it up.

The bell rings and everyone gets seated. I can already see "clicks" from middle school forming again and grouping together, and a ton of eyes and whispers focused on me, the new girl.

Not the cyclops, the witch, or the "blind" one.

Just me......

Just Cora......

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After English is over, a group of kids surrounds me.

One of the girls extends her hand,

"Hey, your Cora right?" she asks, she's tall with black hair and a sharp jawline. 

I give her a fake smile, "Yeah, nice to meet you, what's your name again?"

She continues the small talk, and I find out her name, Julie. One by one I learned the others names and store them in my brain like data.

This happens in practically every other class i'm in, even in the hall. Since this is a small school,  word gets around fast. 

But I know all to well, that means it takes even less for rumors and lies to spread. 

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By the I get to lunch, I have nowhere to sit. Its not like i'm not used to eating alone, most of the time I couldn't even eat in the lunch room. So I glance around for an empty table, however every single one is packed.

I see a hand shoot up and it starts waving in my direction, I look around, wondering who that person is waving to. There is no one around me, and I realize he's beckoning to me. 

A moment hesitation.... what do they want from me? Will they find out and make fun of me? Will they use me? Blackmail me? A thousand thoughts went through my head, and I decided on the best one. Fake it till you make it and never get emotionally involved. 

After all life is a game and were just pawns fighting an endless war. 

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I start walking over, and see the hand belongs to a boy about my age, with dark brown hair and a bright blue beanie. Hes surrounded by other boys and girls, a lot of them are laughing with each other, and the ones that notice me give me welcoming smiles. 

I can already tell this group from one look, the "cool" kids.

They run the school, with a mix of jocks, druggies, and nerds packed into one group, they control every other click. 

The boy who waved motions to a seat across from him, "Hey, I'm Liam."

He's definitely the leader figure, essentially he controls the whole school.

I sit down confidentiality but coldly, this type of group were my worst bullies. I don't want to be here, these are the best people to build "friendships" with but the worst to make enemies. I will have to watch they're every move and never give them a chance to control me. 

Wearing a fake smile I respond, "Hi, I'm Cora... Thanks for inviting me over." 

I try to make it sound genuine but I'm not the best at being fake nice in a big group of kids like this. Its hard to stay on focus with so many people to please.

They barely seem to notice though and they start berating me with questions.

"Where did you move from?" one guy quizzes 

"Grays river." I say trying not to flinch, just the name is like salting a open wound.

Before I can even finish my sentence another girl asks the next question

"Why did you move?"

"ummm... My dad got a better job..." I respond hesitantly, I know i'm overwhelmed but I cant give them anything to use against me.

"Do you do any clubs? Or sports?" I hear someone ask.

I ponder this one, "I've never done anything in school, but I do swimming, and piano out of school..."

This peaks everyones interest, especially the boy who invited me over.

"Why piano?" he asks

He got me 

If i respond really why i'll be weird, but if I respond falsely he'll be able to tell immediately. 

I turn away quickly, pretending I didn't hear him. 

I messed up, bad. He was to good at detecting me, then again I was practically being interrogated so I had to put all my energy into answering instead of worrying. 

The rest of lunch was spent with me on the hot seat. I could never get close to these people, I knew the type of people they were best. 

After all, I always saw the dark side of the fake perfect they showed everyone. The thought looming over me, consuming my every action, every word.

I would never let my self get close to someone just to get hurt. 

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I think back 4 years ago, the day my sister left.

It had been a beautiful sunny day, and she took me to the beach. We swam for hours, then shopping, then ice cream. A normal day, so no one could have prepared me for what she said to me next. Everything is still hazy up until she told me what happened. 

Phrases like "I was desperate..."  "I didn't want this to happen..." and the worst of all....

"Goodbye."

They all still echo in my mind like a distant memory.

She was my rock, she knew it hurt every time I was treated differently. She kept me from doing reckless and painful things. She gave me fun that I could rarely find outside the books I obsessed over. 

Then she was gone...

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I come back to reality, and when someone asks me if i have siblings, I lie. 

Its easier to tell it how I see it now. 

"No, I'm an only child." I respond dully.

Just as I'm answering, a familiar face flashes by.

One that I  never wanted to see again