He Was Different.

Chapter 1

It was my Junior year of high school when I truly noticed him. I had just arrived at my third class of the day, Calculus. Surprisingly it's my favorite subject. There was a seating chart on the wall to the right of the door. They were displayed in pairs of two and that's where I read "Table 6: Elodie Cooper & Carter Nash"

I looked up and there he was. The way he casually took his place without any feeling of self consciousness. A boy who seemed to already know who he was, which is rare for 17. He didn't care to socialize on that first day of class like most high school kids feel the need to, even me. He knew who his friends were and didn't have to prove it to anyone. He just took his seat.

This wasn't the first time I had seen him before. He was actually in my biology class my freshman year, but this year seemed different.

Once I sat down he never even looked up. He didn't need to be noticed. He actually never really cared to be. Carter was listening to music with his wired black Sony headphones that people never use anymore. I could hear the soft humming of Bob Dylan and I couldn't help but smile.

He was on the football team, a captain no less but he didn't show it. Not in the way they usually do at least. I remember hearing jokes about his hair when I was a freshman. Carter had this unruly dark curly hair. So tempting to just run your hand through. That's truly all I remembered. His skin was a soft tan color. Mostly from a summer out in the sun. How did I not notice him before? How was I so blind?

I decided to throw my headphones on as well with my newest playlist. I would love to take out my book right now but I know I can't. People will never grasp that I enjoy reading. It became a new development once I started high school and I know it isn't going anywhere, yet no one knows. I'm the carefree "spoiled" princess here at McCarthy High, how could I be anything more? Anyways, it's all an illusion.

The soft notes of "Almost is Never Enough" by Ariana Grande fill my senses. I close my eyes slightly, holding back a tear given that the playlist this is from is "Ugly Love," the book I finished last night. I'm still quite heartbroken about it despite the happy ending.

I run a hand through my long dark brown hair but when it's in the sun, it shines with specks of red and caramel. Trying to control my senses and place that smile on once more.

The last bell rang and Mrs. Walsh settled down the class. I take my AirPods out just as Carter was sticking his headphones into his backpack. It was then that he finally noticed me. He looked surprised, almost like I had appeared out of thin air.

Our eyes met for a split second. He had these astonishing eyes. So blue they almost didn't seem natural. They were dark with an icy rim around the pupil. I had never seen anything like them.

I have eyes that are these green and blue shades that truly love to switch off depending on my mood. My mother and father only have brown eyes but they are something I got from my grandfather.

I honestly struggled to speak, which I promise you does not happen to me.

Mrs. Walsh interrupted our stare by talking about what she had planned for this year. "I want to utilize the pairs this year. Make everything a little more 'casual.' Consider them your study buddy."

Study buddy? Was she for real?
"It's going to be fun! Today we are actually going to spend the first class getting to know our new partners. This will be the only time I'll allow you to do this so make it count."

"Is she serious?" Carter said while giving Mrs. Walsh an incredulous look. Mrs. Walsh is strict as can be. This is all coming out of left field for her. A stark contrast from pre-calculus last year.

"Honestly, I can't tell. I'm waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come out and tell me I've been PUNKED. Then her handing out a pop quiz."

He gave me an amused smile. Wow. Is he truly this charming without doing anything?