Freya

9_A Friend & Enemy?

Let's just say history class has been nothing but uncomfortable. The stares had me squirming in my seat and I've zoned out more times than I can remember. Let's not even talk about my new name Freya, I'd barely respond to it and I know I have to be careful from now on. The girl Olivia has been sending cold glares my way and let's just say I'm going to steer clear of her.

Someone hands me a note while Mrs Stevens has her back turned. I place the note among the rest and yes it has been going on for the past twenty minutes and it's now getting irritating. They're all asking the same thing if I'm single, what my number is and what not. I gave up reading them after one asked if I'm free tonight, I'd rather not continue with what else was asked because even I was beyond embarrassed reading it.

Is this how all how high school boys are? Only interested in sleeping with the next new girl that pops up? Even if I'm to meet someone, I won't be able to pursue anything with them when at this point right now I'm living a lie. "Freya are you alright?" Mrs Stevens asks for the third time today." Just trying to get the hang of it" I reply. " If you have any questions or you don't understand you can always ask. I can even get my best student to help you" and I nod in reply. They have covered five chapters so far and that's a lot of content to catch up with.

"That would be extremely helpful Mrs Stevens" "Just stay behind once the lesson is over" and with that she resumes the lesson. In all honesty, I keep zoning out more times than I care to admit and sitting in a classroom, surrounded by people has me on edge.
Let me not even get started on the Olivia girl, who has done nothing but glare at me ever since I walked in. She's everything I don't need at this moment in my life.

Before I know it, history class is over and I stay behind like I was asked to. Everyone else clears out except for one girl. " Freya, since we've covered some topics without you, I'm assigning you a tutor, she's the best in my class so she'll be able to help you. Maeve has helped a few students so you don't have to worry, with her you'll be able to catch up" she says.

" It's Freya right? I'm Maeve Mendez" she extends her hand and I reach out mine, giving her a small smile. She's calm, there's a sense of comfort I can feel around her. Yet again, one can never be too sure, looks can be deceiving.

" Are you sure you're okay with tutoring me? It's a lot to catch up with" the last thing I want is for someone to feel like they have been forced to deal with me.
" Even more reason as to why you need my help besides, Mrs Stevens asked me a few days ago and I thought why not. And who knows, this could be the beginning of an awesome friendship." It
could or it could be lack of judgement on my part which would lead me to my grave.

"Alright girls, here is a pass for your next lesson, move along now" Mrs Stevens says. " It's good to have you Freya" she gives me a warm smile, her eyes so kind reminding me of my mother. " Thank you Mrs Stevens" I give her a smile of my own, despite the lump in my throat. This is not the time, I scold myself. It would be so easy to just go home, to just say let it all go to hell but I have to keep reminding myself
why I'm doing this.

Turns out that Maeve and I have all our lessons together and she sat through them all with me. Even during lunch, she sat with me and a part of me wanted to ask why she was doing it. Maeve is beautiful and smart, she's calm and kind and funny. She's the type of person to walk into a room and own it. She's pretty much an open book, the ideal high school sweetheart. Maybe she always hangs out with the new students on their first day, that's why she bothered with me.

The thought doesn't sit well with me, not at all. Maybe I don't want to be alone. I don't want to wake up every morning for who knows till when knowing that I'd be coming to this hell everyday with no one to turn to. Even if she's just pretending then that's okay. Even I can pretend that at least I'm a normal teenager capable of making friends.

"Look who we have here....the nerd." Someone says from behind me. " Is she deaf too?" a different voice asks. Olivia comes to stand in front of me, arms crossed. Looking at her, I feel a sense of insecurity wash over me. She's so put together, every piece of clothing covering her to perfection, her hair so straight not a strand out of place.

Her blue eyes are calculating, as if she's trying to figure me out. I don't like her, I don't like her at all. " Who are you? Where do you come from and what do you want? " she continues to fire questions at me and I just stand there, trying to understand what she's getting at. "Wh... I...I don't understand" and I feel like smacking myself, that's all I can come up with? Great.

"Wh... I... I.... this innocent facade you have on doesn't fool me. I know exactly the type of girl you are. Girls like you pretend to be miss-two-goody shoes just so that Maeve can befriend you before going after Kaleel. But girls like you forget that there are girls like me who would never let you win. So just drop it
and hightail yourself back to your little foreign country" and with that she walks away, leaving me in shock. And as much as I don't want to admit it, her words have affected me so much and all I want is to go home and cry.

I've become so weak that even words from another human being have managed to pierce a hole in my heart. To make me feel vulnerable and hurt. Is this how horrible people are, easily breaking down other people for some sort of satisfaction? I don't even know who this Kaleel person is. It has not even been one day in this place and I've come to hate it already. I don't want to come back here if it means I get to see people like Olivia everyday. Is it what Maeve thinks of me too? That I'm just a big fake trying to get to Kaleel? Is Kaleel her brother? Well that explains why she left me standing by the lockers for twenty minutes now.

I'm still waiting for Chema to call me since he's the one picking me up and taking me to the defense academy. Gracie called me a few times asking me if I'm okay and I couldn't tell her without breaking down in tears. I couldn't have that. I just want to go home to the three people that at least care about me, that's if godmother would be there. They'd tell me that everything will be okay and that it's all temporary and I can go back to my world.

Disheartened, I walk to the schoolgate.
"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" Maeve asks out of breath. Was she running to catch up with me?
"I kept calling you but it's like you're in your own bubble. What's wrong?" She looks genuinely concerned. I have so many questions and doubts. They've been replaying in my head like a broken record.

"Maeve.... who's Kaleel?....no...I'm not... it's.... Olivia...." this is going so wrong.
" Freya, calm down. I know.... someone overheard Olivia saying all those horrible things to you and trust me when I say it's not true. None of it is. I'm pretty sure you don't even know who Kaleel is. Olivia feels threatened by the fact that I chose to hang around with you and it's not just because I have to tutor you. I want us to be friends, good friends. Don't pay attention to her even I don't like her if you ask me, not even if she was once dating my cousin"

" So they aren't together anymore?" Why Freya? Out of everything to ask.
" With those two, one can never know. They have no relationship status whatsoever. Constantly on and off but she feels the need to put some claim on him. Don't worry about her, she won't bother you anymore" maybe, but who knows?

"Thank you...for clearing things up for me. I thought maybe you finally realised what a bore I am or you're just so good to the new students. You made today bearable for me. I'm really not good with change... everything is moving so fast and I just can't keep up you know" I say, the effects of today finally weighing down on me.

"You're not a bore Freya, I'm sure that you and I will have so much fun together. Change is hard for everyone really but once we accept it, it becomes so much easier. And I know that you will get through it" and  she pulls me into a hug.

"I didn't know that you could be so wise","What can I say? I try" and we burst into laughter as we exit the schoolgate. Chema is already waiting outside for me, I guess it's time to go.
"My ride is here" I tell Maeve. " So is mine and who is that fine piece over there?", "Maeve!"

"I'll see you tomorrow. He is kinda hot"and she runs off to her car. " Made a friend I see" Chema says while getting into the car. " Maybe" is all I can say.

It doesn't look like it's going to be so bad anymore. But something about Olivia has me worried too. She looks like the type of person capable of anything and everything and I can't help but feel a little scared.