The Shy One

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

"April."

I hear my name being called.

"April?"

I'm snapped back to reality and look up. I see Bex with a concerned look on her face.

"Are you ok?" She whispers. I lightly nod and turn my attention to my right.

I remember that I'm in class, Sociology to be exact. With Dr. Britner.

I pull my sleeves up, over my wrists, in attempt to recover from my disturbing thoughts and flashbacks, and try to focus on what the teacher is saying.

The thoughts end up returning and I freeze.

The name runs through my head like a carousel.

I bring my hands up on my desk and analyze my fingers.

Bex looks over at me and smiles in attempt to get me to smile back, and I do.

Distracting myself with my phone case, I'm able to clear my thoughts again and focus on my teacher's words, and watch him rant on about deviance.

These don't happen often for me.

Actually, they weren't so bad until I finally told someone..

Soon enough the bell rings.

I stand up and start packing my things as Bex stands up and does the same. I throw my bag on and wait for her.

"Ready?" I ask her as she puts her bag on.

"Yep, let's go" Bex and I walk out and head to our next class, which we also have together. As we enter the room, Mr. Nile is at his desk looking through videos on his monitor.

Horticulture. It's not a bad class, but it could be better. We have two greenhouses, the newer one is much bigger than the older, where we grow and breed using both aquaponics (in the old) and hydroponics (in the new). We grow basic vegetables and breed Tilapia.

Bex and I take our seats at the table closest to the door. She lays her head on the table and I look at her. "Late night again?" I ask her.

She nods, "yea night shift again. My boss is a dick." We laugh and then the bell rings, starting the period.

~~~~~~

Fast forward to lunch and I'm with Bex in the nurse's office, like usual.

"April, did you get me pickles?" Bex asks me with a ridiculous grin.

"Yes Bex, but they only gave me two this time instead of three."

"How dare they!" She dramatically gasps. I can't help but laugh.

Lipsy walks in, making her way over to sit down.

"Hey guess what!" Bex almost yells.

"What?" Lipsy questions.

"April got me pickles!" She does a goofy dance in her chair. We all start laughing. There is never a dull moment with Bex, she always knows how to make us laugh.

"You and your pickles," I mumble.

"You're just jealous."

"You're weird Bex," Lipsy comments.

"No you are weird for not liking pickles!" I start giggling at her comment.

Bex looks over at me, "April, you okay? You spaced out again during class."

"Oh, yea. Just zoned out I guess." I shrug and force a smile.

Bex looks me over, "If you say so..." she says as she bites into her sandwich.

I look down at my plate. Its just that I can't get him out of my head.. Ever since I told my mom what happened.. I think to myself.

~~~~~~~

After lunch I walk with Bex and Lipsy until we part ways to get to our next classes.

I walk into my class, study hall. I basically do nothing, I just spend the period in the nurse's office helping the nurses and stuff.

Mrs. Mabbis waves me out and I head back down stairs, plugging in my earbuds. My go-to spot is always the nurse's office. Has been since sophomore year. I file for them, clean up around the rooms, and hang there until the period is over. I feel like I owe them for always helping me out.

As I walk into the room, Mrs. M (the nurse) greets me with the warmest smile, "there you are! The stack isn't as much today, Sarah and I did some filing earlier."

Sarah, someone I met in middle school, we've been pretty good friends since then. She also helps out around the office.

"Alright, cool!" I smile and set my stuff down next to the second desk.

The school has two nurses. Ms. Dewl only works until 1, so she usually isn't there when I am for study hall.

Soon enough , students start walking in asking for cough drops and to lay down for the period. I set to work at the filing cabinets, matching the documents with the names on their folders.

I never really understood the school nurse stereotypes and jokes, that they just give you an ice pack and tell you to get out. I had great relationships with each nurse I went to school with. They've helped and took their job seriously. Kinda makes me sound like a dork doesn't it?

After I finished filing I sit in the old, noisy chair at the vacant desk and scroll through tik tok (Yes I have one, don't judge me) until the bell rings. I say my goodbyes and leave to finish off the rest of my school day.

Soon enough, the day is over and I'm out in the student parking lot, getting in my old, black Civic. She's old but, I love the thing.

I only live 10 minutes from school, but I definitely prefer driving to sitting on the bus for 45 minutes. It gives me more time in the morning.

****

Pulling into my driveway, I look over and feel slightly relieved that his car isn't there.

I still have an hour.

As soon as I get inside, I greet my excited best friend. My golden retriever, Zeus.

He's my baby and friend, has been since I was 7.

I quickly head upstairs and get tackled by a giggling toddler.

Marylin, a very bright 2 year old that can already count to 10.

"April!" She yells as she clings to my waist.

"Hey baby," I hug her and lift her up, walking into the living room.

My stepmom is sitting on the couch, scrolling through Facebook on her phone.

She and I have a pretty good relationship, she's been in my life since I was 8, and my brother was 6.

"Hey momma." I joke and set Maddie back down on the floor.

"Hey you," she smiles, "how was school?"

I shrug, "eh, same as always." I sit on the couch. We sit and joke about memes until a car door closing is heard from outside.

I already knew who it was and I got up from the couch, collecting my stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't upset that he was home, just didn't want to hear the fighting, didn't feel like getting yelled at or getting another lecture about how terrible I am.

After gathering my things, I headed downstairs to my room, just before he came inside. Typically I just do my homework and read in here.

As I start to close my door, I hear Maddie excitedly call for him and then his warm welcome after. Sadness stings in my chest and I set my stuff down on my bed.