Open Arms

Chapter 2

​The first bell was just ringing as I got to my locker. It took me four tries to open my lock. "Today's going to be one of those days, isn't it", I thought to myself.

I ran up the stairs to period one Chemistry class.

​I hated science. I really do, only because I totally, royally sucked at it. I just didn't get it.

​Mr. Pedigree, my chemistry teacher, walked in and wrote the date on the chalkboard just as announcements were starting. After standing up, and singing the Canadian National Anthem, our ancient secretary, Mrs. Salisbury, went on and on about stuff that nobody actually cared about. She did this for a good ten minutes. Her thick British accent was excruciating over the speaker because of the way she pronounced her "s's" so sharply.

​After she was done, I immediately shot my hand in the air and asked to go to the bathroom. On my way out of the classroom, the door was stuck and I had to ask my 250-pound linebacker friend, Cole, to open it for me. He just patted my head and laughed at me as I thanked him. Damn, today was going to be a long one. As I rounded the corner of the hallway, I took my phone out of my back pocket and read my texts.

​I had multiple texts from each of my five cousins. There were texts telling me to hurry up, from earlier this morning, one from Tyson asking me if I wanted to go to Booster Juice at lunch today with him and his friends, and a few from my youngest cousin, Holden, bribing me to help him beat a level in Call Of Duty.

​As you can probably, and for your sake, hopefully tell, I lived with my cousins. People asked me what it was like. I told them the truth. It's loud, energetic, hectic, privacy lacking, but never boring.

​As I opened the door to the stairwell, to do some laps on the second floor, I was knocked back, and literally flew in the air, landing on my butt. Annoyed as hell, I looked up.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry", the boy, exclaimed. He's about 6 foot 5; maybe taller, broad shoulders, lean, and, as some people would say, totally jacked. He leaned down to grab my phone that had gone flying when I fell. He picked it up and winced. It was shattered. The only thing holding it in place was the screen protector that came with my crappy case from a kiosk at the mall.

"I'm so sorry. I'll pay for the repairs and stuff. I'm so sorry...I didn't even see you...I wasn't paying attention..." he went on, rambling apologies.

I look up at him still on my butt, "It's okay", I laughed a bit, saying, "I've been searching for an excuse to get a new phone anyways". Relief instantly washed over his tanned, flawless face.

He then realized that I'm still on the floor, and reached out a hand. I took it and he effortlessly picked me off the ground and onto my feet.

"I'm Hunter" he introduced himself.

"Carson", I said.

"Well this certainly wasn't the best introduction", he said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. We both laughed.

"I've never seen you before", I said, "Are you new?"

"Yeah, just moved here from Toronto", Hunter replied.

"Wow, that's a big move", I said, "What grade are you in?"

"Eleven", he said.

"Same", I said, "Well, new kid, anything I can help you with?"

"Actually, yes", he laughed, "Can you help me find Mr. Pedigree's class, in room..."

"310", I interrupted, "I'm in the same class. Come on, I'll show you".

"Thanks", he smiled.

We approached the classroom and just before I reached for the handle he said, "So I guess this means you're my first friend in West Vancouver. And this school".

"Oh yeah, we're going to be besties for life now", I joked. He laughed. "Come on BFF, let's go inside and be tortured together", I said and we both laughed and quietly entered the classroom.