Three

23 1 0
                                    

Thursday, September 9

Waking up this morning was a lot easier than yesterday. I'm actually somewhat excited today. I feel much better than I did yesterday, now that my headache has mostly let up. I'll probably just take some Advil to school with me today just in case it comes back. I get up and put a couple into a baggie and slip it into my backpack. Then, I go into my bathroom to shower and wash my hair, which doesn't take nearly as long for me to do this morning, thank God. 

I step out and dry off, blow drying my hair today to help me achieve a pin straight look. Once it's all dry I run my straightener over it quickly just to tame any flyaways and split ends. I then spray just a little bit of hairspray and put on some mascara and pink lip gloss. It's a little cooler out today so I'm just wearing some ripped skinny jeans and my lavender champion crew neck with matching vans and darker purple socks. 

Once I'm pleased with my appearance I go down to see my mom and grab something quick to eat on the way to school. I say goodbye and tell my mom that I love her and grab my keys. As I'm walking out the door, I see a moving van a few doors down across the street. The neighbors must have sold their house finally after the months they've been trying. They were a nice older couple and I'm sad to see them go. Mrs. Dann had the best cookies and she would always bring me some ever since I was little. 

I drive to school and arrive about twenty-five minutes before the first bell. On my way to the cafeteria to eat the breakfast I had brought with me, I'm stopped by my guidance counselor, who was with a boy I've never seen before. What could she possibly want before school even starts?
I open my mouth to say good morning to Mrs. Stevens but she interrupts me, seeming as though she's in a big hurry. She looks at me with an obviously fake smile that only she can pull off this early in the morning and gestures to who I think is a new student, as I had never seen him before.

She smiles at me again and says, "Good morning, Sophie! I was hoping you could do me a favor today. I was going to call you down to my office once the late bell rang but I ran into you before then, thankfully. Making my job easier." She laughs and continues. Just get to the point. "Anyway, Harry, here, has just moved to our district and I was wondering if maybe you could guide him around the school for a couple of days or however long he needs. I'm asking you because both of your schedules match up almost perfectly so you could just walk each other to class and you can help him find his way around here in no time."

She looks and sounds way too enthusiastic and it looks like it throws Harry, I think his name is, off a little bit. I guess I'm not the only one questioning how this woman has so much energy at 7:45 in the morning. 

I stare blankly at the two of them for a second thinking about her favor. "Sure, Mrs. Stevens, I'd be happy to show him around a bit." I turn my attention to Harry. "What do you have first period?"

He studies my face for a moment before saying, "I have forensics with Sommer. Room S14." 

"Okay, perfect, that's where I'm headed as well." Then I remember what I was going to do before I was stopped. "Actually, I was heading to the cafeteria to eat breakfast... But I can just eat it in Sommer's room, I guess." I signal for him to follow me and without a word, he walks toward me and I lead him down the hall and to the science wing. 

Mrs. Stevens seemed to have forgotten a couple of key points while introducing this kid to me. Other than the fact that he's gorgeous, with these bright green eyes and long lashes and short brown hair but still long enough. He's going to have every girl at this school drooling on him all the time. I also noticed something when he spoke to me. I think he had an accent of some sort but I wasn't really paying attention when he was talking like I should've been. 

To make this walk less awkward and since we don't know each other at all yet I ask him, "So, where are you transferring from, Harry? I thought I heard an accent."
"England," he replies shortly. Well, that makes sense. Just another reason to have every girl all over him. He looks at me and then back at his feet as we walk some more. 

I can't help but try to make conversation in this slightly awkward silence, sort of wishing he wasn't in the same class as me for first period. I ask him, "So what made you decide to move here?" 

His reaction surprises me. His eyes meet mine for a split second and I swear I could see them darken a bit and his eyebrows pull into each other. He doesn't look too pleased with my question, which I saw nothing wrong with. 

"Would you mind your own business, please?" he snapped. His jaw tenses and his eyes soften just enough for me to tell that he didn't really mean to snap at me like that. He's probably just stressed out from the move and doesn't feel like talking about it. 

I look down at my phone to check the time and say, "Yeah, sorry. I was just curious." With a light chuckle, I add, "It's not every day that we get someone from so far away around here." 

 "Okay, it's whatever."

The rest of the way to class was quiet. When we finally got to Mr. Sommer's room, I offer for Harry to sit with my friends and I but he rudely declines, saying that he doesn't want to get involved with our "preppy drama" and "popular groups".

I can't figure out what Harry's problem is. I don't think I did anything wrong. I thought I was being friendly enough. Maybe he's just a bit stressed about being the new kid, especially after moving here from another country. He doesn't have anyone here, yet, and that can really scare someone and make them feel small or lonely. But I'm willing to try and be his friend if he'll give me the time of day.

——
Hi! I was going through some serious writers block this past month but I think I'm just about back on track with my ideas. Hopefully, I can update more often now!

Darling.Where stories live. Discover now