Stay with me || Jai Brooks

Chapter 6

Emily's POV

I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock and open my eyes slowly. Feeling a bit dizzy, I prop myself up on my elbows and face the alarm clock.

7:00am.

Waking up at 7 o'clock for school is the last thing I wanted to do, especially when it's a new school. My heart pounds with excitement but also with fear and anxiousness.

The door flings open revealing mom dressed in her night gown with her hair all over her face.

"Emily." She shrieks. "What the hell are you doing? It's your first day at Penola and if you don't get ready now, you're going to be late."

And with that, mom slams the bedroom door shut, causing my coat hung up on the door to fall on the ground.

First day at Penola... The sentence echoes through my head making me shiver. I instantly remember Jai Brooks and my heart pounds even more.

***

I clutch my books tightly as I walk through the school halls. People are everywhere and it's jam packed. After half an hour of searching for my locker, I finally find it. I rush towards it, tripping over a backpack lying on the ground. My books fly is all directions and I land on my arm. Pain shoots up from my hand to my shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

I look up to find Jai, hovering over me. I feel my cheeks flush, obviously I'm turning bright red because of the embarrassment. I nod as I get up onto my knees and start to pick up my books.

"Here, let me help you," Jai says. He bends down and gather most of my books in his hands.

"Thanks," I say.

I was about to get up when two boys come charging towards us, a wicked smirk plastered on their faces. They greeted Jai with a playful punch on the arm and Jai laughed.

"Hey Skip," Jai inclined his head. "James."

Skip faced me, with James beside him. The smirk leaves their faces and a scowl replaces them.

"Why are you helping this geek pick up her books that she dropped?" Skip asks, stepping forward. I feel more intimidated as I am still on the ground. I look up at Jai as if asking for help.

But Jai just looks down at me. His caring expression changes to a hard, stern look.

"Psh," he says casually as if he is trying to act cool. He drops my books and they fall back on the ground. Some of the books fall on my head and I cry out in pain. "Who says I'm helping her because I'm not."

I feel tears, and they sting my eyes. I blink every second to stop the tears from rolling out. I look up at Jai again and give him the dirtiest look before I stand up and pick up my own books.

This time, it is my turn to take a step forward towards them.

"I don't need Jai's help with anything." I say. I turn around and walk away.