After the Storm

Chapter 10: New Friends

**Mirror Rose**

My breath felt as if it was captured in my lungs and my heart fell into my stomach. This person standing a few feet in front of me had just witness a passage of my life that no one was suppose to read.

Millions of ways to escape flashed through my head: running out the stage door without turning around until I was safe in my room but they might follow me there. Beg and plead for myself not to get detention for being out of my room after curfew. No wait...play Innocent, maybe they came in after the song or what if they heard the whole thing?? I'm new here so maybe whoever it is would take it easy on me...hopefully.

This is a situation I don't know how to get myself out of ..

Deciding to break the silence , it was my turn to speak. " Who the hell are you? "

" Yeap it's you, " the figure started to walk closer to the stage, I refused to make eye contact and looked at my feet.

It was the last person I wanted to see. Luke.

"What are you doing here? " He said, now standing in front of me.

"I could ask you the same question, " earlier images of him kissing that bimbo was now replayed in my head. A cold shiver radiated my skin.

Luke started to laugh ..what did I say that so funny ...um nothing.

"Mirror why did you lie and say you didn't play any instruments?" His entire body suddenly looked saddened. Those blues eyes no longer were starring at me but now the floor.

" Why does it even matter?" I really didn't want to start this conversation. I made my way to the edge of the stage avoiding contact with Luke.

"Like hell it does, " my body suddenly stopped and my forearm seemed as if it was alive. I turned only to find Luke holding me in place. "Mirror, talent like that definitely shouldn't go unnoticed. I don't know..," his hand went to his hair. "Hearing you play wasn't like reading off some paper but its like you were playing from true feelings. It was amazing."

"Look...I really don't want to talk about this right now especially not with you anyway." All I wanted to do was walk away and go to my room or someplace quite. I jumped off the stage and stood there not quiet sure what I was waiting for.

"I know your upset with me.." No I was beyond upset. I was a fool for even thinking to give him a try. To let anyone see me unguarded, it made me feel pathetic.

"No I'm not just upset Luke," now our eyes locked as I turned to face him. He needed to see , hear and possibly feel how much I was hurt. " I'm beyond pissed. Do you know how hard it was for me to let down the walls that blocked everyone out? I did though... for you. I thought every guy is like my father, inconsiderate, arrogant and a liar.. then you came along and I thought 'Hey maybe its time to give him a try' but I was so stupid, " now my voice came out as shouts. " I will tell you one thing. I have never felt like this about a boy before..how my body reacts to your touch. And strangely I liked it because it was real." I couldn't stand there much longer, letting my feet take me to the exit door. I need to get out ..

"Mirror please let me explain what happened ...it's not whag you think .." I cut him mid-sentence.

"You know what? That's another thing.. you guys always have an excuse. Let me tell you what I learned from my father. Excuses are just another way for someone to tell you their lying." And with that I walked out.

*****

"Goooooodddd Morning Paradise Falls. It will be 86 degrees today starting in the morning with low 75 degrees. ...." That was the annoying sound that I had to wake up too at 6:30 am. I guess Paradise Falls really wants to make sure that every student is present. Well at least we don't have to wear uniforms.

It took about 30 minutes to get ready this morning: 10 minutes in the bathroom. 10 getting dress, 5 minutes for personal time and 5 minutes for straighting up my room.

Noise erupted from behind the door, students voices crowded the corridor. My bag was on my chair and my new schedule laying right next to it.

7:15-7:45: breakfast

7:48-8:45: 1st period w/ Mr. Wright Pre Calculus.

8:48-9:45: 2nd period w/ Ms. Jackson English.

9:48-10:45: 3rd period w/ Mr. Lily Physics.

10:48-11:45: 4th period w/ Ms.Miller World History

11:48-12:30: Lunch

12:35-1:35: 6th Music w/ Mr. Peters

1:35-2:15: Study Hall

Those are the classes I read off, but I am skipping breakfast as much as I love to be alone I don't want to be the 'odd ball' on the first day.

I wasn't looking forward to class with Luke today, especially not after last night. I couldn't show him how he hurt me, crying wouldn't get me anywhere and it would only show how weak I am. I would not let that happen. But now isn't the time to think about that, I need to find my first period class.

Pre Calculus is my best subject. I enjoy doing math then learning different methods to answering one problem.

Standing out side Mr.Wright's door, my heart pounding against my rib cage.

'Well here goes nothing '.

Mr.Wright looked like he was in his early 20s and just graduating from college. A little chunky around the waist area, and had the style of a 12th grade nerd.

"Hello there you must be Mirror Rose?" His barely sound like it. reached puberty.

"Yeap that's me." I handed him my schedule. Looking around the class, all eyes were on me. I spotted an empty seat in the back next to a girl who looked like she took math beyond serious. I'll take what I get.

"Well Ms. Rose I'm glad you joined now than later. Would you please take a seat, anyone that is empty. "

I made my way to the empty seat that I spotted out. I lucked out not having to introduce myself to the class, those were the worse moments.

"Hi I'm Jezabell," the girl who sat next to me said as I sat down in my chair.

I never really really worried about making friends at school. They're just people you see very day then when you graduate, you never see or talk to them so why waste time making friends. But maybe I could have at least one. "Hi I'm Mirror. "

"So your new here, how do you like it so far?" She wasn't half bad looking. Her hair was black but curly and it looked natural. Her green eyes looked like gems on her peach. She what some would call beautiful but to quite to be popular.

"Well I came Friday so I could get used to the environment," class seemed to go faster than I expected and I wasn't far behind actually I was two lessons ahead. But during class I learned a lot about Jezabell Taylor. She was 17 years old and from Los Angeles. She was sent here because her adoptive parents didn't want her taking advantage of them. Crazy.... I know. Anyway she is a straight A student who, like me, stays out of the radar from other people. Well I wouldn't count my behavior record 'out of radar ' but like I said before those weren't my fault. She is going to Stanford University next fall to be a lawyer. I told her some stuff about my life not including my mother, my father and definitely not about Luke, just basically the bare minimum. I simply explained that I got into trouble at school and they didn't know what else to do so they sent me here.

Simply enough.

We had next period together Ms. Jackson.

Jezabell said she was a wiz in English, I even thought about asking her for tutoring but I think I'll see what comes to be in the class.

We grabbed two seats in the back but making sure we were able to see. The classroom started to fill up with students but no sign of the teacher yet. I put my head on my desk, second period and I was already tired.

I heard the door open but didn't bother to put my head up. "Hey Mirror she's here," my new friend tapped me on my shoulder. Lifting my head, the woman that came into sight was no other than the one who was sucking face with Luke.

"Good morning class," her voice sounded like someone killed a cat or was it just me...

Great this shall be fun....