uncool, stanley barber

2

2 - barber's good at biology

at school, we had gym. me and dina are wearing our matching grey jumpers and black shorts. although, i don't like how they always ride up and catch the unwanted attention of most boys.

"looking good, dawson" ricky winks at me. i sigh before pulling them down again.

stupid gym clothes. so old fashioned.

we're playing basketball, the boys and side-liners watching us score. i enjoy sports, as long as i'm on a good team with nice people. not on 'roids.

dina scores again as we celebrate with a high five. i get back into position and wave at sydney on the sidelines.

she's my mutual friend from dina as they're pretty close from arriving in pennsylvania at near enough the same time.

she's nice to me and quite funny. although one time, i watched her cut her hair in class out of rage, probably, and i asked if she was alright. then, she stormed out of the room and kicked over a bin.

it's unfortunate her dad passed, i know the feeling with my mum. it's just different for every kid.

syd waves back before i stand in position and see stanley. he's cheering us on and getting some weird looks from people, but he doesn't care. he's the master of zero fucks.

"ella, wanna skip fifth and go shopping?" the most popular girl in school, amanda asks me when we're seated in the cafeteria.

i place my carton of orange juice back on the table and look at dina for advice, but she's too infatuated with bradley lewis' eyes to even notice me.

"no thanks, i have biology" i reply, awkwardly scratching my neck.

"oh come on, don't be a priss" ricky nudges me. i remember when dina said me and ricky would make a great couple so we could double date with her and bradley. somehow, i don't like that idea.

"ella, it'll be fun" earth to dina, she finally speaks up. suddenly, she remembers what i'm like, what my dad's like. "actually, if she wants to sit this one out, that's her call."

i smile at amanda as she rolls her eyes. "okay, two shoes" she says before passing behind me and leaving the cafeteria. she's followed by ricky, bradley and dina, who looks at me apologetically.

as much as i love dina, i'll never like the people she forced us to hang out with.

in biology, we're writing down equations. i'm next to syd and sneakily copying her work.

i hate biology, i'm not good at anything remotely close to anything science-y. my brain's reserved for other purposes. purposes, i just need to find out what.

"pst, ella" i hear behind me, making me jump thinking i was caught. it's stanley, looking at me with a goofy smile. "you wanna come sit?" he gestures next to him.

i look at sydney, who's already completed the written work so she's starting the practical assignment. i puff out air into my cheeks before gathering my stuff and dumping it beside him.

"here, you can copy my work-"

"i wasn't copying" i blurt. he eyes me, a little bit startled by my sudden burst of defensiveness.

stanley chuckles, "okay, els. you're a horrible liar" he declares. i look at him dumbfounded like he knows my entire life story. he can read me like a book.

i sigh and bring his work closer to me so i can copy his notes. he just rests his head on his chin and watches sydney do the practical assignment by herself.

they're neighbours, live on the same street or something. they hang out at school, i guess they're pretty close.

my curiosity gets the better of me. "you got a thing for her?"

he calmly replies. "nah. i did, but that ship has sailed" he motions his hand flowing away. "she's my friend. she makes that clear."

i nod in understanding before finishing up the notes. "do you struggle with biology?" he asks.

without looking up at him, he knew my answer. "i'm not good with numbers or remembering processes for each equation or the practical requirements."

he looks down at me, a sympathetic expression plastered to his face. "i can help you, if you want?" he asks.

i finish my notes and hand him his book back. "yeah, maybe" i half smile at him. he's satisfied with my answer and asks to work with me in the practical.

we goof around and almost blow up the school. surprisingly, we've got similar tastes and ideas and thoughts. he's easy to get along with and laughs at my jokes as i laugh at his.

turns out, there's more to stanley barber than i thought.

just to let you know, i'll include the story line of ianowt, this is pretty much a preview of ella and stanley's life prior to syd's powers.
also, i'm british.
that's why i'm not writing "mom"
sorry :)