The Art Of Self Embarrassment

CHAPTER 3

It was like a scene from a Hollywood movie. Papers flying in the air slowly with 'the girl' and 'the guy' standing by the lockers in an almost empty corridor.

Except, this wasn't a movie and my phone had slipped to strike right on the pinky of my toe. The pinky of my toe!!! WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THAT HURTS!

My books had escaped the shackles of my hand and were flying freely in the air, one hand of mine was still on my throbbing head, the other holding my recently hurt pinky. I was a jumping kangaroo.

The extreme feeling of misery subsided when a book that had jerked out of my hand, hit Adam's head. Ouch. That must have hurt. Now, he was mirroring half of my posture, hand on his head. Serves you right for scaring the crap out of me, I mentally scoffed.
It was awkward. I was awkward. He was awkward. And we were both silent.

Clearing my throat, I began, "I am sorry, it just... I... I did not.. I mean that book.. It accidentally hit you, I'm sorry."
"Oh! No, no, it's alright, let me help you with the books."
"Thanks", I smiled.
We were both kneeling down and collecting my scattered books. I looked up to see him gathering my books. Something hit me right then and there. This guy, he is so much more than just his looks. He is nice, a gentleman. He is one of the top students of school, good at sports and all the co-curricular. He is good at everything he does. He is smart and funny and cute. Where do I stand? How could I even think of any possibility of me and him as something. Sure I get good grades and I am good at some of the co-curricular but I stand no where near what he deserves. A perfect looking girl, a girl with beauty and brains. And I am not that. Not even close.
That is when I decided, I will get over my crush on Adam Waters. I will stop having feelings for him.

"Here you go", he smiled at me while handing me half of the books.

"Thanks."

"I actually wanted to ask if you have another copy of the script?" he asked.

"Umm..no. I just got the number of copies required for us all", I explained.

"My friend accidentally spilled juice on my copy, it's all smudged now", he started scratching the back of his neck, embarrassed.

Keeping my feelings in check, I avoided looking at him while he was being adorable.

"Well, you can have mine. Get it copied and you can return it back tomorrow."

His face perked up at that. "Thank you, Aurora! I'll make sure to give it back by tomorrow."

I strained a smile in response. "See you tomorrow then?" He asked.

"See you tomorrow," I confirmed.

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"I'm home!" My voice rang through the house. I could hear Mama humming a song in the kitchen. The delicious smell of food entered my lungs and all my exhaustion dissipated from my body just like the first rays of sunlight that hit your body warming it all up after a chilly winter.

"I made your favorite food", Mama announced just as I entered the kitchen.

"Chinese?" I asked with a giddy smile on my face. She confirmed it with a nod. I engulfed her in a hug and kissed her cheek. 

"Oh please! Stop buttering me and set up the table", she ordered with a grin of her own on her face.

"Oh My God! This smells so good!" I exclaimed while savoring the delectable smell of food right from the pot. A hand smacked me on the head. Ouch. 

"Mama!" I whined.

"I told you not to bend that way on the pot with the stove on. And your hair is untied. Who's going to be responsible for hair in the food?" she scolded me.

"Oh...hehe...I'll set the table up." I excused.

We both enjoyed the food. Afterwards I made my way to my room for homework. My room was not a typical teenage girl's room. I did not have a pink wall or a full-length mirror dresser or any makeup on show. I did not have my photos hanging on the wall or cushions with heart emojis or stuffed toys. I had a neatly made bed in the center of the wall  with blue and white sheets on one side and a dresser on the opposite side. Opposite the door was the wall with a window and a soft-board with my collections as in photographs, some artwork and my certificates pinned on it. It was quiet important to me. The touch I gave it always represented my mood. Somedays I would change it to all bright colors, yellow, green, pink etc. And somedays it would be all grey, black and blue, just like my mood. I had a working desk on the opposite wall. Post-it notes always covered the wall above my desk. That's how I liked it. Blue fairy-lights danced above the headboard of my bed and a neatly placed rug rested by the footing. I liked it all simple and clean. A habit most of the people of this town had as if inherited in their genes. Lying on the bed, I rested for a while by randomly scrolling through my social media. After wasting enough time, I worked on my homework.

Then I headed downstairs as usual, spending time with Mama until Dad came home. My Dad worked at The Hill Station, the main news broadcasting channel of the town. It reported all the news that spread across the town about the other parts of the country and the world and also covered the events occurring here, in the town. People trusted it. People believed everything they gave away. It was co-owned by the loaded people of the town, the Waters, the Crowns, the Henshaws and the Cliffords. When I was young, my Dad told me that they were the good people of the town. People who worked hard for our safety and welfare. That he was working for the people who were working for our well-being. I believed my Dad. Until recently, my views of the world in which we live is changing. Of course I see the good they do. But I have begin to realize that there is something hidden, something big and something not good going on behind the back of the people of this town. But I was a small part of it. A small, insignificant girl of Greyson Hills.

I went to bed that night thinking about how different the world would be without these customs. Freedom for everyone, no classes and ranks for anyone, everyone would be just who they are and accept it to live prosperously. Everyone would be ordinary and anyone could be extraordinary.

But somewhere in between all this, I don't know how he still managed to get in my head. Maybe another hundred reasons why he could not be mine. So I prepared myself for my newfound mission. Getting Adam out of my head. And I will be adamant this time.

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I have not been able to write in a while. I sincerely apologize. 

This chapter just gives you a little view of the atmosphere at Aurora's home.

Love you guys!

Until next time.

Love, your writer.