Iris

Chapter two

The possibility of John knowing who I am was slim to none, hence I did what I do best, I lied then I bolted at a speed that could rival Usain Bolt.

But I felt really guilty,I missed Em and I practically said that I hated her boyfriend. So I sent her one of my infamous apology texts.

Me:I'm sorry I just left
Me:I had some stuff come up at home
Me:Forgive me?
Her reply was immediate, which was surprising because I thought she would still be with the guys.
Em:I'm so sick of you
Em:Why would you embarrass me like that?I get you're jealous and everything but that was so uncalled for. I haven't been that humiliated in like so long.
Me:I'm sorry that I just left but you know I wouldn't have left unless I absolutely needed to and I'm not jealous of you, if you're happy I'm happy.
Em:Like I'd buy that. You've been jealous of me since day one, but this is the last straw.
Me:What are you talking about? I am not jealous. Where is this coming from?
Em:I'm sick of you taking things from me. I'm done with you and your act.

Needless to say I was surprised and I wasn't willing to lose my friend through text so I called her,dreading the conversation we were about to have. That's if she is willing to have it. After the seventh time I gave up and let sleep take me. I dreamt of a world where everything was better, a world where my mother and I were happy, but at last I had to wake up.

The first day after Christmas break was a nightmare to say the least. I just had a huge fight with my bestfriend and my shoe had a stupid hole which I tried to cover with the strategic use of a pen and glue, keyword being tried. The bus I take was late meaning I was late to school, shoot me please.

When I finally arrived to first period Mr. Smith was already scribbling something down on the board. I gave him my best apologetic smile hoping it will make the impending anger less mortifying but much to my dismay he replied with a grin that made my intestines wanna dig a ditch, get in the ditch and never come out. Weird thought but okay.

I found my seat which not-so-concidentally was next to Hunter. "What was that about?" He asked referring to Mr. Smith's unusual behaviour this morning. "Beats me." The class was as boring as ever,but I could feel Hunter staring at me, remind me why I take American literature again?

When the bell rang I could almost smell freedom, until creepy Smith asked me to stay behind. "I have a favour to ask you, do you mind rearranging the books in my office after lunch, I would do it myself but I have a meeting this afternoon. I'm willing to give you extra credit. What do you say, Iris?" I hated the way he said my name. It just felt so weird, but who am I to say  no to extra credit? "Sure Mr. Smith, I'll help you." Why do I feel like I'm going to regret my decision? "Thanks, you're a doll." Do teachers refer to their students as 'dolls'? Yep, I'm definitely gonna regret my decision.

The next two periods flew by and I had one thing or one person on my mind, Emily. When I entered the cafeteria, I saw Em and the guys sitting at our usual table and I approached them. "Iris, hey girl. Come. Sit." Wyatt...have I mentioned how much I love him. Not in a boy girl way, that would be gross. I'm not saying he's gross, I'm just saying... you know what I mean.

I was going to my usual seat next to Em when she put her bag there. "Sorry, I don't sit next to trash." I would be lying if I said that comment didn't hurt, cause it did. "What's your problem, Emily?" I haven't seen Hunter look that pissed since Eliot Jenkings keyed his car for some reason I still don't know. "Yeah, what's your deal? You don't talk to your friends like that." Wyatt said looking almost as pissed as Hunter. "Good thing we're not friends anymore." That one hurt. It hurt like hell.

"What do you mean 'you're not friends anymore'?" Confusion was evident on Wyatt's face and I'm pretty sure I looked just as dumbfounded. I was surprised that Hunter's eyes held a different emotion, realization. " It's clear boys. You have to make a choice, me or her?" None of us said anything, we were too shocked by what Emily just said. They had to choose between Emily, their best friend since kindergarten and me, a poor kid from the wrong side of town. The choice was pretty clear and if they weren't willing to make it, I would choose for them. "Emily, what the hell are you saying?" "She's your bestfriend, our bestfriend. Even if you had a stupid fight it's no reason to act so rude." The voices of Hunter and Wyatt was drowned out as I kept staring into the eyes of my former bestfriend.

She held no love or respect for me or our friendship. Her eyes held resentment for something I had no clue about. That is when I realized that my friendship was gone and I would eventually lose everyone of them, because even if Emily had some reason to betray me, I would lose the rest when they find out about me. When they find out I've been lying to them for years.

"It's okay. Mr. Smith asked me to help him out with some books anyway. I will see you guys around." "I hope not." Emily scoffed. Ouch, just ouch. "What the fuck is wrong with you Emily, come on Iris, don't listen to her. Sit next to me. Hunter can you please tell Emily to stop acting like a bitch?" But Hunter didn't say anything and Emily didn't even bother to reply to Wyatt. She knew I'd just leave.

As I was leaving, I ran into someone and all their food was on my shirt. Fuck my life. And guess who I just collided with... John. "I'm sorry, Iris." I looked at him, I mean I really looked at him and I realized he was really handsome. He had a defined shoulder and a sharp jaw. His nose looked like it was broken a couple of times but it was still beautiful. Oh God I was checking out my ex-bestfriend's boyfriend, I really am a terrible friend. " Would you stop eye-rapping my boyfriend, you perv?" Ofcourse, Emily would shout at the top of her lungs so that the whole cafeteria would witness my embarrassment. Run, Iris. Run like the crazy girlfriend of the guy you were checking out was on your ass. I did listen to the crazy voice and I literally ran out of there.

I never thought that there would be a day that I would be glad to be in Mr. Smith's office. Granted it smelled like olive oil and ginger. Not necessarily a bad combo, but it does require some getting used to. There was also a creppy portrait of Mr. Smith riding a horse, but I had privacy and peace and... "Ahhh..." Standing right in front of me (and invading my personal bubble, might I add) was Mr. Smith himself. "Why are you screaming Iris?" Did I mention how much I hated the way he said my name. " I'm sorry. You just scared me, I didn't hear you come in." "Oh, Iris. You don't ever need to apologise to me and call me Luke when it's just us talking." Ok, is it just me or is it weird that he's named after a character from The adventures of Sarah Jane Smith? And yes, I find everything he just said incredibly inappropriate but I'm choosing to ignore it and subtly get the fuck out of there.

"I'm sorry Mr. Smith but..." " Luke, call me Luke." "Ok, I'm not feeling well and I don't think I can help you out today..." I was cut off by him leaning towards me and me being in a confined space with a creepy old man was painfully brought to my attention. "What are you doing Mr. Smith?" I tried to sound confident and in  control but we both knew I was anything but. "Don't call me that. I'm 35 and you make me feel like my father when you say that." He started to lean closer to me, " Who's your daddy?" He whispered. I did what any girl in my position would do, I hit him where the sun doesn't shine and I ran out of there. Before I knew it I brust into tears, why am I crying? He should be crying. I will make pay. That's a promise, he messed with the wrong girl.

Me being me, I once again collided with someone. The same someone. "Iris, I'm starting to think you like running into me." His lame attempt to make a joke failed to amuse me. "Are you crying? What happened Iris? Is it be because of Emily? I know what she did wasn't okay but I'm sure she'll come around..." I didn't hear the rest of what he said cause I ran, again. Does anyone notice I've been doing that a lot lately? As I was leaving the school premises I spotted Hunter talking to Elliot, which was really weird but at that moment I didn't care.

"Hunter, wanna get out of here?"