by C. A. Rene
I have tried numerous times to broach the subject of my father but my aunt is adamant she doesn’t know who he can be. Usually this topic has her clamming up and I feel her withdraw from me.
I am laying in bed and its well past midnight; I am so wired there’s no way I can calm down. Tomorrow is my first day at Precious Blood Academy. Catholic school is going to be an adjustment, I know I’ve been baptized but my mother and I never went to church.
Earlier I laid out my uniform and was shocked at how nice it was, if not a little stuffy. A kilt with dark navy blues and black, a white blouse with a crest embroidered and my aunt said I needed to add flare with four-inch Louboutin’s she bought me.
I close my eyes and steadily count until I finally pass out.
Chapter Three
The bell jingles over my head as I enter the little restaurant. According to Aunt Deb this restaurant has the best coffee in town. It’s cozy with couches, tables and shelves in one section and dining tables and chairs in another. Pictures of the town are all over the walls and even some little league photos. Adorable… enter eye roll here. Don’t judge my attitude, I’m totally nervous. In the Bronx I attended school with the same people from middle school onwards. I’m not used to meeting new people.
Aunt Deb offered to come with me today but there’s no way in hell I can show up with her like I’m some twelve-year-old. I have to do it by myself, as nervous as I am. I also barely slept so I need some coffee to help me pull through this day. What the hell am I saying? Coffee is my life and I need it to function.
I approach the line and wait my turn to order this so-called amazing coffee. The line moves surprisingly fast and before I know it, I’m at the front. The woman behind the counter is breathtakingly gorgeous with dark golden-brown skin and hazel eyes. Her curly hair is cropped close to her head and dyed a bright red.
“Hiya new girl.” She says in a breathy voice.
“How’d you…” I begin
“You have on the school uniform, and I know all the kids. My son goes there, also I must admit I have insider information.” I give her a puzzled look. “Your aunt Debra is my best friend.”
“Ooh… I see.”
“What can I get you? On the house of course.” She says with a warm smile.
“Large coffee, 3 milk no sugar please.”
“Coming up!”
She hands me a cup of coffee to go and I hesitate. I really should give her the money I don't want to owe anyone anything, even if it is only a cup of coffee.
“Take it, trust me. Your aunt Deb will owe me in town gossip later.” She says with a wink.
“Okay, thank you… sorry I didn’t catch your name?”
“Sharla. Gosh you look so much like your mother.” She whispers the last part. “Uncanny.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that a lot. You knew my mother?” I ask curiously.
“Yes, we grew up near each other and went to school together. Well, I better get back to work here.” She says while wiping down the counter. I get the feeling I’m being dismissed.
“Right, sorry. Thank you again.” I say.
“No problem, Emberlise. Have a great first day, if you have any trouble find Vincent, he’s my son. He’s in the eleventh grade too.”
I smile and nod. Maybe this little backward town isn’t so bad.
This little motherfucking backward town is the worst! Getting to the school is a pain in the ass. It’s all rough gravel roads and the potholes! I hit one pothole and I’m sure my uncle Scott is going to be pissed because I think I hit Shelby’s fender thingy. Coffee flew all over my kilt and now I smell like a bag of Arabica dark roast.
I pull into the school parking lot and rest my head against the steering wheel. Well, more like smack against the steering wheel, if the blare of the horn wasn’t enough, I think I just made a girl shit herself. I put my hand up and mouth an apology, only to get the finger and a big fuck you.
Great.
She is tall with a very, very short kilt, which must be against school code. Her long pink hair hangs to her waist in loose curls. Her skin is the colour of porcelain, she must be a model.
I exit the car and grab my backpack from the backseat. At least the coffee stayed to my kilt-thank God for the dark colours-and not on my white dress shirt because that would be annoying. As I navigate through the parking lot, I feel a lot of eyes on me. I’ve never been the new kid before, Tommy and I went to every school together. Straight from elementary all the way to high school. So, this is a new experience and one I don’t care too much for.
The front of the school looms in front of me. It’s an older brick structure with a faded sign on the front that says Precious Blood Academy. It all looks very pretentious. A set of dark stained wooden doors are in front with a sign that reads ‘Any visitors please report to the office’. I’m a visitor, my heart starts pounding and I begin my regime of counting to calm down.
“The doors aren’t automatic, new chick. You have to manually pull on it.” A deep raspy voice sneers from behind me.
I turn around and see a group standing off to the side. I notice the girl I scared earlier standing among them. The scowl on her face as she looks at me causes my anger to spark. What the fuck is her problem? I narrow my eyes and look her up and down, I’ll be damned if I let her get to me. I skim over the six of them and then my eyes land on him. His skin is the colour of caramel, golden and rich. His eyes are the lightest moss green and his full lips turn up in a cruel looking grin, his dimple winks at me through his scruffy cheek. Yeah, I am staring but come on could you blame me? His light brown hair hangs in dreads down his back and glistens in the sun. I mean when you stand at well over six feet the sun has no other choice but to glisten on you, right? I just got poetic, I know. Could this be dread guy from the gym? The stature is the same as well as the skin tone. And really, how popular are dreads?
“Do you speak? Or are you just going to stare at us?” Pink hair snarls at me.
I shrug my shoulders and smirk at them. I don’t have the energy to bicker right now and Pink Bitch does not want to get on my last nerve. I may be new, and I may be quiet, but I will slap a girl quick.
I turn around and open the wooden door, and just because I am a bitch like that, I look back at them with a mock surprised face and point at the door. Then I roll my eyes and head inside. As the door shuts, I hear him and his cruel raspy laugh, “Marlana, I think you found your match in bitch”.
I follow all the signs that point towards the office and again the whole way I feel like a specimen at the zoo. People stare hard around here, like shit, you haven’t seen a new student before? Fucking simpletons. I find the office, thank God, and step inside. There is a large desk and an equally large woman sitting behind it. Not that there is anything wrong with that, just an observation. She’s late forties at best maybe older and her hair is streaked with grey and pulled back into an unforgiving bun. She has her head down in a book and has yet to even acknowledge me.
“Hello?” I say tentatively.
“Oh! Geeze! You startled me, I’m sorry. You’re new correct? Well obviously, this being April and all. Sorry, let’s see. Emberlise Craven?” She rushes along.
“Yes, that’s me.” I say quietly.
“Alright dear, here is your class schedule and locker info. You have a lock for that on you correct?”
“Yes, I brought a lock.”
“Great!” The door opens behind me, I don’t bother to look and see who it is since I will probably be stared at. “I will call down Travis to show you around, as I can see you both have homeroom together and he is just a doll.”
“No need Anna, I’m right here.” A deep voice answers behind me.
“Oh, Travis! Great! I’m glad you came by. Thank you for that!” Anna the secretary enthuses. A little too enthused.
“It’s all good, I don’t mind helping out.” He says.
I finally turn around look into a set of jade coloured eyes. His Sandy blond hair is cropped close
on the sides and a hot fade leading up to hair you could grip nicely while between your legs.
What is wrong with me? Hormones, people.
“We really appreciate it. Travis here is a baseball prospect, we are so proud of him.” She continues to gush. By the way she’s squirming I’m sure her panties are also gushing. Gross, Ember.
“Alright, if we stand here all day, Anna will put a permanent blush on my face.” He says with a grin.
“I bet.” I snort.
“Oh, shoot! You better get along if you want to show her the locker and get to homeroom on time.”
“You have everything you need, Emberlise?” He asks me sweetly.
“Ember. Just call me Ember.” I tell him.
“Gotcha, Ember. Nice name by the way.” He says tugging my bag off my shoulder. “I can take this for you. Chivalry is still a thing.”
Anna chuckles at his statement and goes back to her book.
Travis opens the door for me, and we exit into the busy hallway full of students. As I walk down the hall with him, everyone is staring again and its so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“We don’t get many new people here, so you’re a bit of a spectacle.” Travis says to me quietly.
“I kind of figured that out earlier.”
“Probably not the best feeling being ogled on your first day.” He says with a smirk.
“It was different…” I roll my eyes.
“Here’s your locker. And it looks like you’re right beside Marlana.” He rolls his eyes at me. I turn to see the pink headed girl from earlier.
“Sure.” I reply with a shrug. Can’t nobody hold me down, right Puffy? Diddy? Whatever.
“You designated babysitter Travis?” Marlana asks with a sneer towards me. Her pink hair isn’t looking as cute paired with that face. She would do well not to test me.
“Nope, I’m just a really nice person who wanted to make sure Ember here met decent people first, since first impressions are everything.” He replies with a shrug. Diplomatic.
“Aren’t you just a Saint?” She sneers.
“Oh Jesus, relax.” I say exasperated.
“Yooo… this is a Catholic school, and that’s blasphemy.” Travis says with a look of disgust on his face.
I can feel my face heat up and I probably look like a riped tomato. I quickly look around to see if anyone else heard me, people are staring but it’s no different than earlier. Travis and Pink head start laughing, and he leans against the locker beside mine.
“I’m playing relax, Ember.” He says to me playfully. Those jade eyes looking at me like a sparkling emerald in the sun.
Oh hell, I should release my poetry works.
“You should come by more parties, Travis. We could really get to know each other better.” Marlana purrs.
I pick this exact moment to open my new locker door, blocking her face from view and mock puke inside. Travis starts laughing louder at my actions.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?! You Bitch!” Pink head screeches from the other side.
I close the door slightly until she is back in view.
“This is a Catholic school Bubble gum head, how blasphemous.” I say a little loud. A few students look over at us curiously.
This only causes Travis to laugh louder bent over at the waist and Bubble gum’s face is the colour of a red jolly rancher. I must be low on blood sugar if candy is all I’m thinking about.
“You better watch your ass.” She says getting in my face. I made it fifteen minutes without a fight so in my books that’s pretty good considering this ho’s attitude.
“I would take a few steps back Pepto, I haven’t had a good fight since I got here, and I really need a good fight right now.” I say menacingly low.
She visibly swallows but stands her ground. Nice, the bitch has some backbone.
“What’s this shit?” I hear a rasp behind me. I turn and lock eyes with the guy from this morning. His light eyes hardened and almost cruel looking.
“Just dealing with trash. Anyways, are you coming over tonight, Vin?” Marlana asks with a whine. “You ditched out on me yesterday.”
“Yesterday I had rehearsal with the guys. You know how it is Mar, bros over hos.” He answers with a smirk, his dimple prominent on his cheek. Did I mention how much I love a good set of dimples?
To my surprise Pink hair starts laughing. Is she insane? He just called her ass a ho, and yeah maybe she is, I don’t know her, but I’m pretty sure that was a straight up insult.
“Yeah, I know, I was just disappointed we didn’t get to do that thing we tried last weekend again, you know, the thing you really liked?” She says with a seductive tone. Yep, total ho.
“Alright then, I need to get you to homeroom Ember, or you’re going to be late on the first day.” Travis says with humour in his voice.
“Whatever, run along new meat.” Pepto says with menace in her voice.
“See you around skank.” I retort as I am closing my locker and grabbing my bag.
“Watch it bitch.” She grits out between her teeth.
I turn suddenly and stare her down. I don’t care where I am and who is watching, this bitch is about to bleed. The thought of blood makes my heart rate increase and I feel that familiar pull deep in my gut. She hurriedly grabs her bag and turns in the opposite direction. Fuck, I need to calm down.
The warning bell rings letting us know we have six minutes to get to class. I breathe as I walk silently beside Travis. He thankfully hasn’t asked any questions.
“Here we are room 12 in the H hall. We have Mrs. G she’s all spiritual and shit, so watch your language and praise the lord.” Travis says with a smirk.
An exaggerated snort sounds from behind me. I turn around and stare into the same set of moss green eyes. Looks like Vin followed us here. With him this close I can get a better look at his features. His lips are deliciously full and plump. His nose prominent but perfect for his face and his square jaw cut dramatically. Holy smokes, are all the guys in this school so pretty? He’s just a smidge taller than Travis but the same body build. Athletic without too much bulk. Just the right amount of lean.
“The golden boy Travis, watch out for this one, new girl, he feels his privilege puts him well above the rest of us.” Vin sneers towards Travis.
"This is Vincent." Travis introduces with an eye roll.
“Trust me, I don’t mind a bit of privilege above me if it looks like that.” I thumb towards Travis. “Are you following us Vincent?”
“It’s Vin, I don’t think we were properly introduced.”
“I’m Ember.” I say, “golden boy and I are gonna be late if you keep us out here any longer.”
“Nice meeting you, Em.” He grin is cruel.
“It’s Ember.” I retort.
Vin shakes his head with a grin and starts off down the hall. That is one nice ass.
Travis starts to chuckle. “Let’s go, Ember. You can sit by me.”
“Thank you, Travis.”
We enter the classroom and he heads toward the back, which is fine if that’s his thing. I prefer the front of the class. I may scrap a lot but I’m smart and I know it, and it’s a hell of a lot easier to see and hear everything from the front.
“Hey Travis? I’m used to sitting at the front. Is it okay if we part ways here?” I ask with my hand on his arm. His very firm muscular arm. I think I lost my train of thought and I know I must look like a fool.
“No Problem Ember, there are a few open seats up there. I’ll come sit with you.” He replies with a smile and placing his hand over mine.
This would be the moment when I know if I like a guy or not. Like, really like him. I would feel that telltale shiver of attraction at his touch. With Travis it just isn’t there, which is so fucking annoying because he is just so goddamn pretty. I’m not interested in a relationship right now; life is just too fucked up. I would’ve enjoyed a few rounds in the bedroom, though. Too bad it won’t be with Travis.
�
��Thanks.” I smile back at him.
We head to the front row and I see a girl with maroon dyed hair pulled back into two Dutch braids down the sides. She has on thick black framed reading glasses and I believe I see the top of a tattoo peaking out of her uniform shirt on the back of her neck. I like her already. I decide to take the desk directly beside her.
“Hi, is this desk taken?” I ask her with a smile.
“Nope. You can have it. You’re the new girl?” She asks with a hint of a grin. Her face is stunning and her olive skin tone pairs well with her maroon hair. Her chocolate brown eyes twinkle with humour.
“Yep, that’s me. I’m Ember.” I hold out my hand to her.
“Hi Ember, I’m Adrianna.” She grips my hand and I notice a little tattoo on her hand in the shape of a spade. So cool.
Her eyes widen a bit as she takes in Travis standing behind me.
“Hey Adri.” He says quietly.
“Hey.” She replies quickly, turning her face and looking straight ahead. Huh, interesting.
The teacher arrives at that moment. She’s in her fifties at least but she is still a good-looking woman. She’s dressed well in a pencil skirt and jacket with her gray hair up in a bun. She has a pleasant face and a sweet smile.
“Hello children of God. How was your weekend?” She asks, her voice like soothing honey.
Everyone answers in a chorus of ‘fine’ and ‘good’. She clasps her hand in front of her chest and says, “Praise be to God.”
I feel like I am in a classroom of hippies and I am about to be served special Kool-Aid. No joke. I look around a little nervous to see if everyone else is thinking the same thing.
“Let’s say our morning prayer. Travis it’s nice to see your face up here at the front today. You can start us in prayer.” The teacher grins at him.
“Okay, Mrs. G.” Travis stands and bows his head; I look around and everyone bows their heads as well. I swear I am not drinking any Kool-Aid when it comes around. I’ll claim an allergy. “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
