Dark Beauty

chapter 13

I can’t believe Jake was absent. He hadn’t missed one day of school until now, and Avery already said she wouldn’t come this week because she was going to travel. Couldn’t she wait until school was over to travel? I would survive. It was just one day alone; it wouldn’t be a problem. This was a bad thing about having few friends.
I think I wasn’t the only one who noticed I would be alone today.
‘Hey, I noticed Jake didn’t come today.’ Rebecca said.
‘Neither did Avery.’ Lindsey said walking up to Rebecca.
‘So what?’ I said turning my back to them. Didn’t they have anything better to do?
‘It’s just that without them you’re all alone.’ Rebecca said.
‘I think I noticed that.’ I answered. 
‘That’s the price of being friends with Jake.’ Selena said. ‘I don’t even know why Avery would risk being seen with you guys.’ 
‘Why is Jake so important to you guys? Why hanging out with him bothers you so much?’ I asked. They were already getting on my nerves for a long time. Jake didn’t do anything to them and neither did I, but they insisted in treating us like this. 
‘I just think people like him should stay alone, so their weirdness doesn’t spread to other people.’ Rebecca said. ‘You know he may be schizophrenic? Once he started shouting and telling everyone to shut up, but the class was silent. He said they wouldn’t stop bothering him. I already thought he was strange, but after that day, I knew he was crazy.’  
Jake didn’t tell me that. Was that one of the reasons people didn’t like him? People could be so mean. I knew the truth, but what if he really had a mental illness? Some people just can’t accept what they don’t understand. 
‘Oh, grow up, you three.’ I said. ‘If things were like that, then you guys needed to be banned from society before you spread your stupidity.’ I angrily said. 
‘Be careful with what you say.’ Rebecca said with the wickedest smile I had ever seen. Then she left with Selena and Lindsey, bumping into me, of course.
I can’t understand these type of people; they love making people feel bad for no reason. Jake was an amazing guy. He was funny, kind, polite, determined and many other things. He was also very good-looking, well, at least I thought that.  
Be careful what you say. What did Rebecca mean by that? She was the one that started it. I just can’t understand those bitches.
As I walked into my English class I remembered that today it would be just me and Peter. In the last month, he was talking much more with us. He had even stayed at break with us, although he always had a gloom in his eyes. He still didn’t eat very much; Jessica was really worried. 
    I entered the classroom and there was Peter. He was looking at a report the teacher had given us last class to analyze, but it didn’t seem like he was reading.
‘Hi, Peter.’ I said as I sat down in the desk next to him.
‘Hi, Leila.’ Peter looked at me. ‘So where’s Jake?’ 
‘I don’t know. I think he’s not coming today.’ I said.
‘You better get all the notes, so he doesn’t get behind.’ Peter said. ‘You know; one day is like a whole notebook of notes.’ 
I laughed. It was good to see him making jokes. He was normally so serious.
‘Let’s just photo copy everything and then give it to him.’ I said. 
‘Fine with me.’ he shrugged.
That class passed by slowly without Jake making jokes about how the teacher shouted at the girls who were always doing their nails in class and at Heath who was always sleeping in first period.

I think today I would have lunch alone. Even though I’m getting along with Peter, I don’t think he would sit with me, he barely eats. I hope Rebecca wouldn’t come to annoy me. I liked eating in peace.
I remembered I had two classes with Lucas. In fact, the next one would be with Lucas. I don’t know if he’ll talk to me about yesterday or just ignore me. I see him talking sometimes with Rebecca, I hope she didn’t tell any lies about me to him. 
    When the bell rang I started to get nervous about it. Maybe it was just a ride and some coffee for him, but for me it meant a lot.

    When I got to class Lucas was already there. I sat next to him and he smiled at me.
‘Hey, Leila. How are you today?’ He said.
‘I’m fine.’ I said smiling too.
‘You look really nice today.’ He said.
I think I turned as red as an apple when he said that. I don’t know how I managed to get the words that were stuck in my throat out. 
‘Thank you.’ I said, still blushing.
 I was wearing a turquoise dress with some odd black shapes. I loved wearing dresses. I chose this one wishing for Lucas to notice me. I think it worked. 
‘You know, I really liked yesterday.’ He said. Should I smile or say something?
‘I really liked you giving me a ride and stopping for coffee.’ I said, smiling back at him.
‘I should give you rides more often then.’  Lucas said.
‘I should get lost more often then.’ I said, trying to flirt back. I think I did quite good job. 
‘You already have my number.’ He tapped my phone, which was on top of the desk, with his fingers.
‘And you also have mine.’ I smiled. 
Why was he being so nice to me? Boys like him never talks to girls like me. Not that I wasn’t pretty or anything like that, it was just that, I didn’t hang out with his type of crowd. 
As he turned back to talk to his friend, I kept staring at him. He was just so gorgeous. When class finished Lucas turned to me and smiled.
‘I hate chemistry, but now that you are my partner, I’m starting to like it.’ Then he got up to leave, but as he walked, he looked back at me and smiled. I couldn’t help smiling too.
If Avery were here she would say that Lucas liked me, but could it be? I mean, we were so different. I couldn’t imagine myself dating Lucas. Avery told me that Lucas used to date Rebecca before I started studying here, but then she broke up with him.  No one knows why, they just know that it was Rebecca who broke up with Lucas, not the other way around.  Avery also told me they were the most popular couple in school and that no one thought they would ever break up. 
Rebecca hated me. She took every chance she had to humiliate and make fun of me.  I don’t even know why that girl and her friends did that. They just had it out for me. So if Lucas dated someone like Rebecca, why would he like me? We were so different! 

I was sure I was going to sit alone at lunch, so it really surprised me when Lucas put his tray next to mine and sat down.
‘So, why are you sitting all alone today?’ He asked.
I nearly choked on my apple juice. What was he doing here? Why wasn’t he sitting with his friends?
‘Well, I normally sit with Jake and Avery, but they didn’t come today.’ I managed to say.
‘If you don’t mind, can I sit with you?’ he asked. No little jokes about me hanging out with Jake? That was rare around here.
‘Yeah, of course I don’t mind.’ I said.
I hope he didn’t notice how nervous I was. However, I quickly calmed myself. 
‘So, how do you like it here?’ Lucas asked.
‘I really like this school. I have good friends and I have good grades until now.’ I said. 
‘I hope I’m one of your good friends.’ Lucas said as he smiled with his shiny white perfect teeth.
I accidently let go a little giggle. Why couldn’t I act normal? 
We talked about random things as we ate, Lucas was fun to be around.
‘I wish I could stay more, but I need go.’ Lucas said after he finished eating.
‘I’m leaving soon too, just finishing up.’ I said.
‘You know; I was serious about giving you a ride again. Maybe next time we can go out for dinner.’ He said as he left.
I just stayed there paralyzed for some minutes. Was he really liking me? Or was this some kind of bet or something? I hope Rebecca wasn’t behind this. I wish Avery were here, she would know what to say.
I needed to be more optimistic. Just because he dated someone like Rebecca, didn’t mean he wouldn’t like someone like me. They had broken up after all.