Clipped

{Chapter Two}

strolled down to my next class, pulling my oversized hoodie closer around me in preparation. As if my jacket could shield me from the next onslaught of teasing.

"Well, if it isn't Skylar, you're looking as gay as ever."

I sighed in exasperation, Truman, the wrestling superstar of the school, loomed over me, standing between me, and my next class. it seemed that today was playing out to be just another depressing day of meaningless insults. I rolled my eyes and tried to walk past him.

Truman stomped closer to me, and got in my face. He shoved me back against a nearby locker hard enough to almost nock me over,

"Are you getting cocky with me, fagot? Do you think you're funny? You better run off to class before I-

"Before you what?" The words that I had only imagined myself challenging were finally said aloud, but not by me. Standing behind me was a beautiful girl. But not just any beautiful girl, Felicity herself.

"I could say the same thing to you, Truman." She continued to challenge, "As I understand it, you can't exactly afford for you to be late for another class."

Truman huffed, "Next time, Freak." He body checked past me, forcing me to pivot to keep my balance. I stared at Truman, wishing the holes I was burning in his back were real. I especially hated being called freak, probably because it was true, and they don't know the half of it.

A hand touched my shoulder. I instinctively flinched. "Whoa! It's okay, it's just me." Felicity paused and I stared blankly at her. She had just defended me, and now she was actually talking to me, like, of her own free will? Her eyebrows knitted, "Hey, I know you. Your in my next hour, right?"

I continued to stare blankly at her pretty face, until my lagging brain realized that she was still taking to me. "Y-yeah! Forensics."

She started to walk off and I thought I had done something to offend her. Then she turned back to me and smiled. "Aren't you coming? We'll be late." She waved at me to join her. Something about the way she said "we" made my heart jump, "Right" and I quickly made up the difference.

I sat down in my usual spot in the back of the room. I was grateful for my own little island. I rarely ever had to talk to anyone, and could actually focus on the lesson. Or when I'm just not feeling it, I can take a quick nap. Today was one of those days. I rested my head on my desk, assuming the position for shut-down mode, when I heard a chair scrape the floor. I looked up, and was surprised to see Felicity standing next to me, her hand on the chair next to my own.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked. I shook my head, too dumbfounded for words. Felicity sat down and began rummaging through her binder. I couldn't believe my eyes. Felicity, a beautiful and popular girl, was voluntarily sitting next to me, an introvert, when there were plenty of seats still available.

I must of been staring because she added, "Hope you don't mind."

"Oh, yeah, no, not at all" I stammered, then shyly looked away, I wasn't used to people wanting to sit by me.

"It's just, my friends and I got in a little fight." She said shyly as she dug through her purse. "About what?" I asked, and then immediately wanted to slap myself. It wasn't any of my business, but I was desperate for conversation. Felicity just looked at me. She didn't seem phased, "They're CONVINCED that I should date some jock because we would look perfect together." she pantomimed air quotes on the word "perfect" and rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Well then why don't you?" I'm not sure why I asked it, it's not like I cared who she hooked up with.

"He's a total jerk, that's why. Besides, I'm not gonna date someone that I don't like. My friends say I'm picky, but I like to think I'm just being realistic."