doomed by renee thompson

chapter two

Rogan's POV 

I adjust my lime green bow tie. As I walk in the high school, I do my absolute best to keep my smile. It's funny, I really dislike my smile, but I smile a lot. My red rubber bands make me look like I'm twelve, but I'm fifteen, I swear. These braces "build character" according to my friend, but to me, they're a physical and mental pain. 

"Well hello" a soft voice from behind me coos. 

"Hey" I turn around to see my dear friend Paige smiling up at me. Her long brunette hair is in a neat ballerina bun. Paige is wearing a pink overall dress with a white tee underneath along with some white Converse. She smiles, her new braces-free teeth straight and shining. 

"You look dapper" she nods looking at my bow tie and matching high top Converse. 

"I tried" I shrug, combing through my hair with my fingers. My curls make my hair so fluffy and knotted. 

"I really don't want to go to biology" Paige pouts. 

"I know" I groan "Mr. Caldwell is so boring." 

"It's like, why do we have to dissect frogs first thing in the morning?" 

"Why do we have to do it any time?" I question, trying not to smile. Paige laughs her bubbly laugh, just loud enough for other people to hear. I can't help but join her in laughter. Some people glare at us, but I act as if I can't see them. 

The bell rings loudly, echoing through the halls. 

"I guess we had better get going" I mutter, rolling my eyes. 

"Yeah, you're right" she frowns. The two of us walk toward my locker. When I unlock it, I open it to see the disarray. Old doodles were crumpled up at the bottom. Polaroid pictures, mainly of Paige and I, were taped to the inside of the door. I hurry and grab my biology textbook and my composition notebook. 

"You should really organize better" Paige says quietly as I close my locker. 

"Shut up" I roll my eyes and smile. The two of us begin walking toward Mr. Caldwell's lair. He always keeps his classroom cold and dark. Seriously, he keeps it sixty degrees year round! Like, I need some variety! Paige and I look at each other with wide eyes. We both swallow hard as I open Mr. Caldwell's door. 

Paige and I somehow managed to be the last ones to show up. Mr. Caldwell clears his throat. 

"Good morning all" he says, his low voice rumbling. A few "good morning"s were returned to him. I sit near the back, Paige sits next to me. 

"Today we are going to be watching a nature documentary on the rain forest." 

"Are you kidding me?" Paige whispers as the documentary begins.

"I don't know which is worse. It's bad enough to be messing with an animals' insides, but it may be worse sitting in a cold dark room with an old documentary playing." 

"It's too cold to take a nap" Paige whimpers. She begins doodling in the back of my notebook. I close my eyes and begin zoning out. 

I feel my heart pounding on my chest, begging to escape. The cold air takes the breath straight from my lungs. I hate having to hide constantly. What am I doing that is so wrong? Why do they hate me so much?  

"You can't hide forever, Rogan" she hisses just below me. My breath hitches. I climb onto some clothing drawers in hopes she wouldn't hear my footsteps. 

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" she teases, laughing maniacally. I feel tears pouring down my cheeks. I hear her creeping toward the stairs. 

"Rogan" she coos "it's time to come out." 

I whimper just a little too loud. Suddenly, she begins charging up the steps full speed. 

"I found you!!" 

"Ro?" Paige questions shaking my shoulder. She snaps her fingers in front of my face and I come back to my senses. 

"Y-Yeah?" I stammer, blinking hard. 

"The documentary is about halfway through. Caldwell said we would finish it tomorrow." 

"Oh, okay. That's cool" I attempt to smile but fail miserably. 

"Yeah..." Paige trails off "are you okay, Ro?" 

"I'm good" I respond quickly, putting my textbook and composition book in a stack. Paige opens her mouth to say something, but instead closes it and smiles. I look at the time to see it's 9:50. Before I can say anything else, the bell rings. Paige stands up silently with her things and walks out. She doesn't even look at me before she leaves. That's the thing about Paige; if I'm the slightest bit emotional, she detaches herself. That's a big reason I try to stay smiling all the time. I love her. 

My heart pushes on my chest. 

I begin walking toward my locker. I'm still not entirely back to reality yet. When I look down, I notice the doodles Paige has scribbled at the back of my notebook. Sunflowers and smiley faces filled up a corner of a page. She's such a joyful person. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen her truly upset. She hasn't seen me that way either, but that's because I try to conceal it. As for Paige, she doesn't seem like the type to even get that low. When I open my locker, I grab my things for my next class, which is, thankfully, art. Art is really the only class I look forward to, at least this semester. 

Walking toward the art room I begin tapping my fingers on the cover of my sketchbook. The art teacher, Ms. Ashley, usually allows us to have "sketch days", where we just draw whatever we want and listen to music from our phones. I really hope that happens today. 

But I had a flashback; that doesn't usually happen.

Something feels...Off...