Where the Stars Align

Chapter 4

The next few periods were somewhat uneventful; only one other teacher was bothered enough to make her introduce myself. Soon enough it was time for lunch, from what her schedule had said anyway, and she already feel the spidery webs of dread creeping on her thinking about it. She didn't know if the school allowed people to eat in the library or if there were even other places she could retreat to, but she certainly hoped so.

The cafeteria, to her, wasn't as insufferable as it could have been. It was bright and airy so she didn't need to shove her way through any cluster of students, but it wasn't so voluminous that everyone was in plain sight.

She had gone over to the fruit cart at the far left end of the room, which was thankfully completely distant from what she guessed was the popular clique's spot, taking in the sight Knock- off Barbie... Rielle, along with her groupies lounged there and laughing, with her perched on the table like it was her own honorary pedestal.

She had leaned forward, with her chest sticking unnaturally out towards a blond head which Val automatically assumed was Dylan's. She heard another nauseating laugh from the circle, and could. have sworn she felt vomit rushing to her mouth.

Grabbing an apple, she made a beeline for he exit. Glad to be anywhere but there, with all those people.

"Why in such a hurry, new girl?"

She internally groaned as the familiar face had popped up in front of her. A smirking Dylan stared down at her and she hastily looked back to where she thought he just was. Sure enough, the blond head was still there, soaking up the show Rielle put on display.

His eyes followed her and he had chuckled. A deep, throaty sound.

"That, new girl," he said, even though she was so sure he knew her name by then, " is my idiotic brother, Tristan"

"Twins?" she asked; her curiosity getting the best of her.

A look akin to horror had flickered over his face and he held his hand to his chest, feigning hurt.

"You think they could make two of this?" he exclaimed, gesturing at his face.

She had rolled her eyes, almost wanting to laugh, though.

" Psshhh... naawww," he continued, laughing quietly. Its was nice sound, she had thought. " He's a year younger than me."she glanced once again at the plastic doll whom Dylan's brother was ogling.

"But that doesn't stop her, does it?"

" Hey, if you can't have the real thing..." he trailed off

This time they both laughed. Loudly.

He was in the middle of a guffaw when he noticed she stopped, aware of the newly acquired eyes on them.

" Hey, you want me to walk you-"

" No thanks, that's okay," she had cut in. Already feeling the beady eyed glare of the she-devil that was Rielle on her back, and it was a feeling she couldn't get rid of quickly enough

She barged past him and straight out the door, relief hitting her so hard, her shoulders had nearly slumped to the ground. She kept walking, passing all the doors to the classes she'd had earlier that day, until she reached a room she was so sure was the Library. There were a couple of seats deeper inside, almost hidden by the large oak shelves and she went straight for them. Starting to sit down, with a random book she had seen on the nearest shelf, hoping it would be interesting, when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her. She almost didn't turn around, really really not wanting to, till before she could even decide, it sounded again.

A tiny blonde girl carrying pile of books that Val would have honestly bet weighed about double the girl herself, was staring- rather irritatedly, at her. Val had raised her eyebrow in question, wondering what the girl could possibly want with her. She could tell she was fighting something. The girl looking just about ready to pull her hair out, like something was bothering her to the brink of insanity. Val expected her to, actually. To let it out one way or the other, but instead she had let out deep breaths saying, "Food isn't allowed in here." After that, her reddened face had dialed down a few tones and Val was so grateful it hadn't escalated into anything more- whatever it was.She had looked down at the apple lodged in her hand, long forgotten.

" Oh, erm... I'm sorry," and she had thrown it into the swing-lid trash can and before the girl made another distressed sound.

" Food isn't meant to be putt in that bin either... ", and Val bent to pick it up, getting peeved with the rules.

"No!" she interjected. " No, don't worry.... I'm Marissa," she dropped the books on the table, holding a hand towards her. Val had reluctantly taken it and returned her smile with the closest thing to it she could summon, sure she looked as though she was in pain.

" You're new. Valerie right?" Marissa said, and she almost didn't want to correct her.

" Valeria... but yeah, that's me."

" Oh. I'm sorry, I must have heard wrong."

" It's okay..." she replied, trying to keep the exchange somewhat... pleasant.

" I heard about what happened in Mrs Richards' class, by the way. I know it's not really my business, but I'd watch my back if I were you. Rielle is.... well she isn't used to being stood up do. Okay? Just be careful." With that, she picks her books back up and walks away.

Weird, Val had thought.

But she had no idea how much so.

****************************************************

The bell sounded, marking the end of the day and Val almost ran to her locker, not needing to retrace her steps every few minutes anymore.

Upon reaching her locker, the distinct smell of trash fazed her- like rotten fruit and what she didn't know was last week's meatloaf. She already felt the anger bubbling inside her before she opened the locker door to take in the site of what looked like yesterday's leftovers. Once she did, laughter rippled around her like the waves after a stone was dropped in a pond. But she would take that, over and over and over again, to the vile, sickeningly sweet voice that dripped behind her ears.

" Awwww..." it said, " It looks like the trash has been re-united with her kind."
And more laughter had sprung from this. Rielle's own hellish laugh had sounded and ignited the anger that was slowly building in her. She didn't know how, or when, but she found herself grabbing a putrid piece of trash, a rancid banana to be precise, and smashing it onto the empty, extension-endowed head. The spot of the ultimate highlight of her day being quickly taken by the look on the girl's face, when she had felt- or maybe smelt, the food sliding down her face. Then there was an abrupt, deafening silence as the shock had kicked in on everyone.

Followed by her enraged screech and the laughter had begun again, but not for everybody. The less gutsy ones had looked scared, no terrified of the scene unfolding before them.

Rielle's breathing had gone near rabid at this point and she moved her hand towards Val. Of course with the aid of adrenaline, she had caught her hand before it landed on her face and twisted it behind her back, moving her mouth to her ear before she heard a collective gasp from the students. Val had looked up and turning her head to see what they're all looking at and internally cursed, marking the end of her short lived victory, as the harsh, grey eyes of the man she had immediately guessed was the Principal stared down at her, twitching in disdain.