I approached college with a glum and saddened attitude, I did not want to be here, but more than anything I was actually terrified of people, I didn’t want to get pitied, I just wanted to blend in and fly under the radar, become Mrs Invisible for the day. There’s nothing wrong with Blackpool College, in fact I loved it here, but word travels fast, really fast, there were just some people I was willing to avoid completely, one of them being Jessica Ellington as she's the Queen- B and if anyone stood in her way or took something she thought was hers… she would make your life a living misery. Now Jessica and I used to be friends right up until the middle of high school when she started to wear push up bras, G-strings and skimpy clothing that did nothing good for her figure, just a bad reputation. When I didn’t follow her and became part of the ‘geek squad’ as she called them, she decided to do anything in her power to make sure I suffered, which is quite sad really.
I walked through the main doors with my hood up and my head down, hoping to be avoided but as I looked up I saw the usually wave and smile from my best friend Claire, I allowed myself a sigh of relief, nothing seemed to have changed, she was still as perky as ever and eager to talk. I forced a smile on my face but she saw right through it and a frown on her face quickly appeared,
“Hey” I dryly said to her
“Hey,how are you feeling?” she pleaded with genuine care and curiosity, my reply was a shrug and sigh
“I’m ok I guess”
“Hun, it’ll all get better you’ll see, and if you ever wanna talk well I’m here for you yeah?” her lip slanted and she lifter her hand to place it on my shoulder in a sympathetic manner, I knew she meant well but I just pulled away mouthing ‘sorry’ before playing with the sleeves of my hoodie, twisting and pulling them
“It’s just hard at the moment, I’m sorry again” she nodded in reply and quickly changed the subject
“Anyway, I hear there is supposed to be a total hottie joining our college today!!” I just rolled my eyes “what? A girl can get excited can’t she?” she mock pouted at me to whom I must admit cheered me up and I even managed to laugh too “that’s the spirit… But I hear he’s Italian!”
“Where did you hear that?” I asked her, pretending to be actually interested.
“Word gets around” she squealed, I couldn’t believe she was excited about this guy when she has been chasing Matt Powell around for months! The bell rang and for once I was actually grateful of its piercing sound, it meant that I was one step closer to the end of the day when I could just go home and relax… it was going to be long week. First Period was Biology with Miss Sharpmen, she was a delightfully perky woman who cared greatly for all of the students she’s ever had and at 45 she was looking wonderful for her age, you would swear she was at last 15 years younger. Approaching the door I noticed it was already open and filled with my classmates ‘great’ I thought, I walked towards Sharpmen when I saw her expression sadden but tighten and her green eyes filled with the up-most pity possible.
“Why hello Miss Jones, welcome back” the side of her lip slanted and like Claire she reached to touch my shoulder but I pulled back a little too hasty, she nodded and motioned toward my usual seat and I mouthed ‘sorry’ to her before darting up the back to avoid the stares of my classmates. I slumped down and reached in my bag for my bright blue pen and my black notebook before slumping over my desk and flicking my hood down.
“Class I have an announcement to make” she began and I felt my stomach knot and convulse, praying to god that this announcement was not about welcoming me back “we have a new student joining our class and college” I was relieved and this must be the new kid that Claire was babbling about earlier “now I expect you to treat him kindly and fairly and welcome him graciously, now young man would you like to introduce yourself?” And so in he came, my heart came up to my throat, I thought I was going to throw up, he was beautiful, every aspect of him made me quiver with joy and anticipation, he was flawless. He must have been about 5”9, short black shiny hair, lightly tanned skin, muscly but not too muscly, toned, great fashion sense and stunning midnight and sapphire blue eyes. What was frightening, was that I had dreamed about him just last night!
“Thank you” he said in the voice woven by angels “My name is Leonardo Carter” he wasn’t Italian although his name suggested it “But I would prefer it if you just called me Leo” he ended with a smile that was aimed at Sharpmen, but I swore I heard a sigh from some of the girls in the room.
“Well Leo, if you could take a seat up the back over there” she gestured in my Direction with a faint sweep of her hand “then lesson can begin” Leo began to make his way across the classroom before sitting in the seat next to me, I noticed I was staring at him the whole way so I quickly averted my gaze and prayed to god he didn’t notice, but out of the corner of my eye I swear I saw him smile as he run his hands through that shimmering and flawless hair. Sharpmen started her lesson by welcoming us back from the weekend, hoped we had a good weekend and even added the mention of ‘those who have returned, we hope you feel better now’ crap and then got talking about cellular structures and photosynthesis, then as she turned around to write on the white board I noticed Leo shuffling in his seat to face me
“Hi” he said and I couldn’t help but get lost in those eyes
“Urmm, hi “I stuttered back to him
“My names Leo, Leonardo Carter as you just heard” and he chuckled before running his hand through his hair again ‘Vanity’ i thought
“Yeah, I heard” and I started to turn away
“You’re supposed to tell me your name” he chuckled
“Sorry” I mumbled feeling a little more than foolish right now and bit the corner of my lip “My names Jen, Jennifer Jones but please just call me Jen”
“Why’s that?”
“I hate my name” I whispered, and I saw that I had totally confused him and was now fully aware that Sharpmen had stopped talking and all eyes were now and us both.
“Problem, Miss Jones?” she accused raising a brow, I opened my mouth to explain when Leo cut me off
“Why no Miss Sharpmen, I was just asking Jen here about the reading list that we have to have, I wasn’t sure if we had to have one or not, so I guess curiosity killed the cat, I’m so sorry to disturb your lesson and I assure you it won’t happen again” he added with a usual and very overused school boy grin, Sharpmen quickly spun around to continue her lesson, although out of the corner of my eye I could see Jessica had focused her eyes in my direction but not just a simply glance, these were daggers… these were daggers that were pinpointed, this wasn’t going to end well.
YOU ARE READING
Lullaby
خيال (فانتازيا)Jen is miserable, hurting and lost... not seeing the point of a life she once loved, covering up and swooping under the radar seemed like the only option... until Leonardo appeared that is.
