The Meaning

1: Unexpected Acquaintance

It's the middle of December, the last week before the winter break. It's a snowy monday and it's 7 AM. The alarm's sound fills the room and almost instantly he hits it and gets up. He sits on the edge of his bed for 5 minutes every morning. He doesn't know why, but he's used to it. It's an unbreakable habit, he has lots of those. He takes a quick shower, washes his teeth, dresses up then eats some cereal, coffee is not really his thing. He picks up his bag and leaves his dorm room. He walks past other rooms, and there is an outstanding variety of what can be heard from inside. In one room you can hear an alarm blaring, which means the poor person in there will probably be late. In another room you can hear as someone is trying to practice his presentation speech, but that doesn't really matter his mind will go blank when the time comes. At the end of the corridor there is a room in which multiple people are having... fun. Mating fun. Cain smiles as he walks past that room.

After a 5 minute journey he reaches the school. 
(Okay, which classroom is it in?) *looks at the timetable* (Classroom 111, that means it's science. Fucking great.) 
He steps into the classroom, 10 minutes till the start of the class. So he goes and takes his usual place. This class is almost fully packed, there is about 3 empty seats and one is on his right hand side right next to him. On his left there's a guy called Paul, he's a pretty nice fella, helps Cain when he needs it, but they don't really know each other. Someone taps him on the shoulder from behind.
Cain: Hey, Mikey! What do you want?
Mickey: Have ya heard mate? 
Cain: Should I have heard something?
Mickey: There is a new student in the school and it's a she. 
Cain: There are tonnes of girls in this school you horny bastard.
Mickey: Oh come on, don't tell me you're not interested. 
Cain: Listen here. I'm going to tell you something. Come closer. 
*Mickey leans closer*
*Cain licks his lips then clears his throat then softly says* 
Cain: I'm not interested.
Mickey: Aww maaan, you're such a buzzkill. If you can believe the rumors she'll have the same classes as us. 
Cain: I just said I don't ca- *sighs* Did you go full on private detective or what? 
Mickey: Hey, anything for the poontang.
Cain: Don't use that word, with your Scottish accent it makes me uncomfortable. Hell your existence makes me uncomfortable. 
Mickey: Oi fuck off! Look there she is.

A girl with flaming red hair sets foot in the class. She's quite cute, about 5'7, quite thin but not bony thin. Quite expensive bag and clothes, she has make up on, but it's not over done. 
Mickey: *whispers* Wow, those are C cups. Jackpot! 
Cain: For fuck's sake shut up! 
The alarm bell rings all the seats are filled, her eyes glide over the class, looking for a place to sit, she eyes up the empty seat next to Cain.
(Oh boy, just not this chair. Of course you have to choose this one, fucking figures. Well I better put my backpack down from the chair, I don't want to be an asshole.)
Mickey: She's gonna sit next to you. You are one lucky dog. You better hit that.
Cain: Shut it already you English twat.
Mickey: Hey! I'm not English, I'm Scottish! 
Cain: I'll keep calling you English if you keep annoying me. Eye for an eye.

As the girl sits down and has a long look at Cain, a substitute teacher enters the room and announces that Mr. Robertson the science teacher has fallen ill, so everyone can do what they want, just try to stay quiet. Cain tries acting like he didn't notice her looking at him. 
(Just don't introduce yourself. She's been looking at me for a solid minute now. Does she want me to introduce myself? But I don't want to. But I also don't want to be an ass.)
Bailey: Well it seems my first class is basically an hour long break. Oh where are my manners, my name is Bailey Houston.
Cain: Hey, my name is Cain Cooper.
Bailey: Kayn? Or Cain like from Cain and Able?
Cain: The religious option.
Bailey: That's so cool! *with a smirk* So have you? 
Cain: *confused* Have I what? 
Bailey: Killed your brother.
Cain: *rolls eyes and lets out a huge sigh* No. *puts on a forced smile*
Bailey: *starts laughing* Have you heard that one too many times?
Cain: Take a guess. 
Bailey: I'm sorry. I just had to.
Cain: (course you did) No need to apologise. At least you're self aware.
Bailey: *smiles* So where are you from?
Cain: I'm from a town called Surprise in Arizona. And you are?
Bailey: I am-
Cain: I'll take a guess. You're from California. 
Bailey: Wow, I'm impressed. *claps lightly* I'm from Los Angeles. How did you know?
Cain: You just have a sort of Cali girl vibe. 
Bailey: Do you mean I'm a slut? 
Cain: No, no, no, no, no that's not what I meant. (Nice one idiot.)
Bailey: I'm just messing with you. It reeks of me that I'm a Cali girl.
Cain: You are really cheeky. So why did you come here?
Bailey: Troubles with my last school. They found my weapon stash. I tried to shoot up the school.
Cain: *starts laughing* I hope that's not what you're planning to do here.
They start laughing together. Cain haven't had a good conversation since he lost his best friend. She didn't die, their relationship just started getting worse until they weren't even friends. He just blocks out almost anyone. He doesn't want to take chances by letting anyone close to him. He has a few mates, but he rarely speaks with them. Mickey is one of them.

10 minutes left of the class, they talked about random stories from their old schools.
Bailey: So that's how I got this scar right here.
Cain: Cool. 
Bailey: If you don't mind me asking, are you an introvert?
Cain: Umm... I don't think so. But I'm not an extrovert either. Just things happened, which...which uh...yeah.
Bailey: Unpleasant topic?
*Cain nods*
Bailey: Do you have many friends here?
Cain: I don't really have friends. I don't really do friends. (That sounds wrong.)
Bailey: Hm, then who was it you were talking to? 
Cain: This Scottish prick behind me, Mickey. He's a mate. But not a friend. There's a strict line between the two. I take it you wanted me to introduce you to my friends. You are unlucky on this one. Mickey will introduce himself trust me. He's one of a kind I tell you.
Mickey: Are you talking about me Cainy boy? 
Cain: See? *looks at Mickey* Hey shut your piehole before I get England to colonize you again.
Bailey: I take it being an asshole goes both ways between you.
Cain: Of course it does. 
Bailey: Okay, so you don't do friends. But maybe you could make an exception.
Cain: (She seems a decent person. Quite funny and for a Cali girl actually smart.) You know what? Sure. 
The bell rings and the teacher dismisses the students. 
Bailey: What is your room number? 
Cain: 230. Yours? 
Bailey: 231. 
Cain: That's a coincidence if I ever seen one. *smiles*
Bailey goes away laughing. Mickey slaps the back of Cain's head.
Mickey: Not interested eh? 
(Am I? I shouldn't have made her my friend. You idiot. You came here for a fresh start. You came here to figure out who you are. You came here not to get hurt again. Why are you like this? Why can't you just stick to something?) 
Substitute teacher: Hey, are you okay? 
Cain: Yes sir!
Substitute teacher: Then could you please move, so I can lock the door.
Cain: Yes, sorry sir!

About 6 hours later
The bell rings for the final time that day, Cain heads to back to his dorm. Bailey didn't sit next to him in the other classes because Mickey was sitting beside Cain. 
As he heads back he starts thinking
(Should I give trusting someone another chance? Is it worth it?)
He looks up and sees a car trying to park on the icy road. It was still snowing, so he couldn't see well. But he sees someone who he kind of recognizes, as he gets closer it gets clearer and clearer who that person is. As he realises, he stops dead in his tracks. It's her. She looks at Cain and they share eye contact. Cain's emotions fire up, he doesn't know what he should feel. Anger? Happiness? Sadness? Maybe all of them? Both of them stand there like two statues. Cain is the one to break the ice.
Cain: Ke- Kelly?