Story of a Girl

Chapter 5

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Introvert (Top definition)

An introvert prefers to spend time alone in order to recharge their inner being. An introvert may appear to be shy to others, but that is not necessarily an accurate label. Being among groups of friends, family and even strangers can be wonderfully stimulating and joyous occasions. Interacting with people and attention to multiple sources of stimuli tends to draw down an introvert's energy causing them to eventually withdraw to spend time alone to re-energize. Small talk and pointless conversations tend to draw down an introvert's energy rapidly.

An introvert enjoys time alone without unwanted distractions and stimulation in order to recharge their inner strength.

~urbandictionary

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When the bell rings signaling recess, I grab my books to head to sit under the shade of one the trees rather than heading to the cafeteria.

I know I met Aria earlier and she was nice but, I don't want to subject myself to public embarrassment yet.

But as soon I head out the class, I hit a wall.

Ow! My head!

I rub my forehead and look up to see that the wall has blonde hair.

And beautiful green eyes.

It's the neighbor boy!

But when he opens his opens his mouth, all the illusion disappears.

"Watch where your going bitch!
Maybe you should go get your eyes checked out."

What in the world?!

How can someone be so rude?

He doesn't even know me.

The bold girl in me, who's somewhere in there, wants to throw something right back at him.

But the introvert me wins and I mumble a barely there sorry, rush around and leave.

The dude just walks on like nothing even happened and sits at a table with some people who I assume are his friends.

And he joins in with them and starts laughing.

I hope he never knows I'm his neighbor and rots in hell!!

But then alas, Aria spots me trying to escape into the parking lot.

She's not alone too.

There's a guy and a girl with her.

I try my luck to escape but then she starts waving and screaming my name from her table across the cafeteria.

I swear that even neighbor boy and his friends turned around to look at her screaming her lungs out.

In order to avoid further public embarrassment, I turn and head over to them.

The girl and the boy sitting next to her seems to be really happy to see me.

"So, this is the girl you've been talking about all day.", the guy asks aria and skeptically gives me a once over.

He then turns to the girl who's grinning her ear off.

"Hello! I'm Alexis Roberts. But you can call me Alex. And this is my boyfriend Zayn Santiago. He's mine so don't even go there!"

At this Zayn starts to smile and ruffles Alex's hair at which she growls not my hair and elbows his ribs lightly.

They seem to be in it for the long run.

"I'm Summer. You can call me Mera...if you want to. I moved here from...."

"New York! We know. Word spreads fast around here." Zayn says.

Shoot!

So now everyone here knows me?

Seeing my facial expression, Zayn cracks up and says, "Loosen up Summer! Aria told us. But word does travel fast around here, not that I'd open my mouth."

"you're not helping me..." I scowl.

But right now, sitting here and just talking to them, I think I could fit right in.

Right then another boy walks up to our table and sits next to Zayn.

Zayn turns and does that one-sided hug thing that guys do. "Wassup Kai?"

"Just livin'!"

He looks around the table and at me with a confused look on his face.

"Where's Imani? And who's she?"

At this Aria pipes up, "Imani's at her dad's today. She'll be back tomorrow."

His face falls when he hears that.

"And as for her", Alex points at me, "this is Summer Reed. She's new here and is from......", she makes a drumbeat with her fingers.

"New York!", both Aria and Alex shout.

I think the whole cafeteria heard that.

Kai chuckles at this and offers his hand, "Kai Reynolds. Nice to meet you."

"A pleasure" I return.

As the bell rings signaling the end of recess, we say our see you laters and head to our classes.

Thankfully Alex is with me in Biology.

"I guess you'll see Imani tomorrow", she says before going into greeting the teacher with a merry smile, "Afternoon Mrs. Pearson!"

I give Mrs. Pearson my slip, which she signs and thankfully doesn't ask me to introduce myself.

I like her already!

About halfway through the class, a very disheveled neighbor-boy stands at the door and calls out, "Mrs. Pearson? May I enter these sacred walls?"

My face goes red! How could he?

I feel embarrassed for him.

But Mrs. Pearson keeps her stand, "No, you may not Mr. Vaughn. Meet in the principal's office after class, then we'll see if you can enter these sacred walls."

I almost laugh out at that.

Mrs. Pearson is the best teacher I've ever seen!

But that doesn't deter Vaughn.

He just says, "Your wish is my command", and heads out—to where I think is the principal's office.

Mrs. Pearson just shakes her head and continues on about meiosis and mitosis.

And I think about what made this boy the way he is now.

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