Lessons From Throne

Chapter Nine

MONDAY

"Where are you," Sev asked me on Face Time, she was obviously in Mr. Stewart's room as school was about to start. I shuffled through papers on my desk as I printed out sheet music to play. I was deciding whether or not I would go to first hour today. It was partially because of what happened over the weekend and I genuinely didn't want to go to class, not all day at least.

"Maybe not requesting to follow teachers on Instagram, Sev," I rolled my eyes. She scoffed and then looked away from the camera, the call obviously going on mute. "You declined and unfollowed, undoing everything I did. Where are you," she asked again

I shrugged at her and put the warm paper on my stand. Her eyes wandered to the side of her as they widened until she sighed, going on pause for a few seconds. "Come to school, Lux. The weekend is over," she reiterated before ending the call.

I nodded as I thought of what she said, going into my bathroom. I really didn't look that bad. I was in a Cal Poly sweatshirt from my sister and some grey sweatpants. My hair didn't need to be combed since it was in two French braids so I slung my backpack over my shoulders and grabbed my keys.

OMNISCIENT

Layla turned off her car, taking the key out and grabbing the lanyard to shove in her front pocket. She sighed with her hands on the wheel while thinking about his face. Would he mention the weekend, me following him even though I dm'ed him to tell him it was Sev, could I ask about the girl, why did he request to follow me? It was probably his girlfriend which pissed her off. Layla truly couldn't think of anything but giving up.

As she pulled up to the school, she could hear the school bell ring. She already knew that she would be late but it signified it for her and made her contemplate if she even wanted to go at this point. Nevertheless, Layla closed her car door behind her and started walking into the front doors without security.

Walking directly past the office so she didn't have to get a pass, she went up the stairs two at a time. Elisa was playing in her ears, her Italian words slurring together so fast that she wasn't too sure of what she said since she wasn't fluent in Italian.

Layla took a deep breath before she entered Mr. Stewart's class, wondering what he would say about the trip to the grocery store. Would he mention his girlfriend or the fact that she looked like crap, Instagram? She sighed as her hand was now on the door knob. Layla could leave... Layla could let her feet guide her back down the stairs, out past the office and to her car. She could forget about the embarrassment that Sev caused and she caused herself. But as she looked down the hall where the steps were, they looked more menacing to her than the door, so she opened it.

Mr. Stewart stood at the front of the class as he marked up the board. His back was turned towards her but he was only wearing a white shirt as his jacket was on his chair. He turned towards Layla and smiled, but she didn't return it this time. "Thank you for showing up," he said, nodding his head toward her seat next to Sev.

She slung her backpack down to the ground and pulled out her chair before sitting in it. Layla didn't bother to take out her headphones but went on Instagram instead. She followed Elijah last night, someone she liked freshman year that an old friend of hers dated. Elijah was always around but never enough for them to be friends.

_passenger: Elijah

stopelijah: Lux

_passenger: I'm bored

stopelijah: that's great?

_passenger: no, it isn't

stopelijah: me too actually