Cruel Sanctuary

Chapter 18

!Trigger Warning! Read at your own risk, however this is a vital chapter. The storyline is easily picked up if you decide not to read, though <3 Luke Stader. 

That feeling when you know everyone's eyes are going to be on your every move? It's the worst. It's worse than when they are actually watching you! "Skylar, quit breathing like that!" Owen hisses at me as we pull onto the dreaded school car park. People's heads are already beginning to turn, "Have you ever wondered why some people don't like you?" I bark back at him out of nerves. He knows that, which is why he doesn't slap me right here and now. 

Instead, he guffaws at me, "Honey, everybody likes me." I scoff, "Not Noah, Emma nor me particularly at this moment in time." He sighs and cuts off the engine, "Look, I know you're nervous and you hate school but I'm not good with nerves, I'm sorry," He then turns to get out of the car before turning back, "By the way, you look hot," He winks and carries himself towards the popular people who are already whispering amongst their malicious selves. 

I step out the car and give myself a quick once over in the warped reflection of Owen's car. I am wearing a checked pencil skirt with a black belt and a black t-shirt tucked into it and my white air forces. My hair is down and bone straight and I have some natural makeup dotted over blemishes on my face. Swinging my backpack onto my back, I begin to stride to the tree under which I meet Emma every morning, living evidence of faking it until you make it. 

***

My first two classes went smoothly. Nobody confronted me, I got some looks and whispers but that is what comes with being engaged to Owen Anstey, I guess. Emma met me under the tree and said, her exact words, 'You look smoking, babe' which obviously creeped me out until she started laughing. Things always seem a lot brighter with Emma around; she is my best friend, after all. 

The worst part of this morning was English class. My teacher asked me a question that I wasn't prepared to answer and I just started stuttering; I looked like a right dip shit! I could hear people sniggering from the back but I just ignored them, although it was hard as my cheeks flamed and stomach churned under what felt like a boulder of pressure shoved onto my shoulders. I was shocked that Clara didn't laugh from beside me but she just stayed stone silent, not even moving a muscle! You can imagine how thankful I was to get out of that lesson, luckily Noah was with me. 

After Noah claims that it wasn't that bad, I scoff, "Oh, don't even lie to me, I sounded like a prat, didn't I?" I whine to Noah when we step out of the classroom and head to our social space. Before Noah can even reply, someone cuts in, "Don't worry, I won't. You spoke like an absolute idiot who had no idea what the hell they were talking about," I turn to face Owen who has a smug on his look. To think this fuckface would actually be nice to me in school! Of course he wouldn't but if he thinks I'm just going to forget it and go back to 'trying' to be 'friends' with him, he has more chance of making friends with Noah, let's say. 

Crossing my arms over my chest with a sudden burst of nourishing confidence, "Well, of course I had to talk like an idiot, how else would you understand what I was saying?" I put a hand to my mouth as soon as the words tumbled from my mouth. However, Noah seems to think it was hilarious as he chokes on his own laugh, "Don't hate me because I'm better than you, hate me because everyone else thinks so," Owen chirps with a smack-able face at the end, making girls swoon all around him. 

"You know, you really annoy me." 

"How so, sweet cheeks?" He slurs suggestively. Well, that ignoramus just strutted his perfect ass right into that one, "Well, you only really annoy me when you're breathing, so..." I ponder and he rolls his eyes, "You can keep rolling your eyes but it doesn't mean you're going to find a brain back there." I swear, why don't I know how to shut up?