Raymond

Chapter Seven

Nathaniel's POV

I stand numbingly in front of the class as 13 sets of eyes stare at me. The group of students before me held eyes wider than saucers when they first saw me. My hand grips tighter on the strap of my black leather pouch that hung securely on my shoulder as the teacher asks me to introduce myself.

"Hi everyone. My name is Nathaniel Williams and I'm from London." I say after slightly clearing my throat. My attempt at trying to break the ice was clearly in vain because they seemed practically unphased by it. I shift uncomfortably in my spot and as if she could sense my discomfort the teacher speaks.

"Well hello Nathaniel. Sorry about their reaction it's just- it has been a very long time since we've seen someone with your colour." She says as I instinctively reach for the fold of my blazer.

Before coming to class, my father and I met up with the principle and he thought is was best if we were to keep this colour situation strictly between family and teachers. Until the matter is properly sorted out, I'd have to keep the colour just like Mr. Lee said.

I run my fingers through my hair and slightly bend my head down as I take in a deep sigh. I have to pretend to have something I don't in order to keep the schools zero hindrance reputation. I lift my head to look at me new classmates and right now the word to best describe them is rainbow.

Each student wore a bright and brilliant colour. No student had the same colour, considering that even if you were to say the colours are the same, the shades made them no where close to the same colour. The colours ranged from baby blue to shocking pink, all giving off a strong sense diversity in one room.

"My colour doesn't defy who I am. Miss, may I take a seat now?" I say rather monotonously as I shift my head to the teacher, holding a bored and slightly irritated expression. I wasn't bothered by them for they only knew what I had just told them, I was bothered by what happened with Clarity and I last night.

After the whole couch scene the lights came back on. We had dinner but the unusual atmosphere had everyone losing  their appetite. Calling it a night, I walk her over to her house and she gave me her number before I left. We haven't talked since then.

"Ah yes of course, my apologies. You can go sit next to Ricardo. My name is Ms. Rosemary, I'll be your home room teacher and counsellor as Ashwater Academy. I hope you feel welcomed here. Ricardo please raise your hand." She says as she walks back to her desk and grabs a file.

I turn my head to see a boy with bright orange hair and a minefield of freckles raise his hand. My eyes then drop to the embroidery on his blazer. Pink. I wonder what that colour represents. I walk pass what would be two rows before I reach the empty seat next to the Scottish boy. He looks over to me and gives off a mischievous smile that held some sincerity behind it.

"Well you look like you've been hit by a truck. A penny for your thoughts?" He asks with a thick Scottish accent. I look over to him and sigh deeply. She did say I should get the chance to have a normal school life, might as well make some friends while I'm at it.

"It's this girl I just met. She's,well, incredibly confusing and stresses me to the core." I say as I take out my books and pens. I lift my head up as the teacher begins to ask for register. One by one she reads the names and the class would respond with that melancholic "here".

"Ouch, girlfriend trouble. Well it's will do you no good to stress about this especially with your condition. How about you hang with me and my friends until you get fully accustomed with the school? I'm sure they wouldn't mind you." He says as he turns fully into his desk after the teacher scolds him for talking.

"And lastly, Clarity Woods. Is Clarity here?" The teacher asks. My heart skips a beat at the mention of her name. The moment however is short lived when the hole class groans in irration.