by Ellis Marie
For the next period, barely anyone talks to me. Even the sweet girl sitting beside me, who usually makes quiet and awkward chats, seems to be in a world of her own, but I’ve grown to try and enjoy my own thoughts and quiet moments. Although I’m friendly and have a good reputation, I’m not exactly a chatty person—no thanks to Matt and his ever-watching gaze. People never really got to know me past my appearance. Combine this with the fact that if a guy so much as said hello to me, they would get a warning. It’s no surprise people didn’t talk to me when I was alone. Matt, meanwhile, gets stopped and brought into chats for hours. People ask him about his next game or his weekend. I even heard a girl ask him about his shampoo once.
It seems like as long as I’m with him, I mattered, but as soon as I’m not, I don’t.
I had grown accustomed to males purposely looking away from me when I passed them or just talking to Matt. It was a weird feeling at first; I used to get upset about it and think everyone hated me, but then, that would just anger Matt. He would ask if I was upset that I wasn’t getting attention or if I just wanted males to want me and not respect him, so I left it alone and didn’t do anything about it.
And now, this is the norm. It stays like that the whole way to my next class too.
Well . . . until I see Kristie. She immediately grabs my arm in hers and starts talking to me about Tom and how he has just shouted at her in their drama class because she kept making fun of him.
Immediately, my mood is lifted. I don’t know what I would do without Kristie. Sometimes, I try to imagine what it would be like without her, to not be able to lean on her for support or have her there to brighten my days and make me feel like an actual person. I always end up in near tears whenever I think about it.
I’m so grateful for her, and I know she’s grateful for me too.
Kristie used to be insanely shy; she hardly ever spoke to anyone, and I was just lucky that I met her before Matt; otherwise who knows what would have happened to the two of us. She always says that me becoming popular helped her interact with people and get to know people, which I suppose, if only one good thing comes out of my relationship with Matt, I’m glad that’s what it is.
“So excited for English?” she asks after finishing her rant.
“We’ve got Mrs. Howard again this year. You know I love her,” I gush and Kristie claps in excitement.
“Thank god we didn’t get Mrs. Maxwell. She almost made me cry when she filled in,” she mumbles, and I laugh.
“Kristie . . . you did cry.”
“Shut up! I did not. My allergies were acting up,” she defends with a huff and I let it go. She has gotten enough teasing from Tom about it last year; she deserved a break.
We get to the hallway of our classroom, and I see two figures standing arguing with Mrs. Howard. Their raised voices echo throughout the hall. Kristie looks at me in confusion as we grow closer. A few metres away, one of the boys looks up with a mocking laugh and surveys the area around him as if looking for something . . . or someone. I recognise their voice immediately. In fact, for a moment, I wonder if it’s aimed at me; it usually is.
They turn their heads, and Matt’s eyes find me straight away. He immediately motions me over while continuing to argue with our teacher who looks completely fed up with him.
Oh great.
“I wonder what’s wrong with him now,” Kristie grumbles, making me shoot her a warning look. She pretends to zip her mouth closed.
I don’t need Matt to hear her say anything like that.
“Hi, babe. What’s wrong?” I ask lightly, placing my hand on his forearm in comfort while smiling at Mrs. Howard as I try to ease the situation. My eyes pass over Carter, but I still see him give me slimy smirk from behind my boyfriend’s head, which makes me shudder.
I’ll never get used him.
“Apparently, the boys and I are in another class; however, I’m trying to explain to Mrs. Howard here that our timetables say differently,” he states, eyes glaring at our poor teacher.
“And like I have said, Mr. Daley, in your hand, you are holding an old copy of your timetable. Since the arrival of our new students, things have changed.”
Mrs. Howard’s eyes are stern and pointed; their harsh, almost-grey-like colour matches her hair, which is tied up in a tight top bun. Although she looks mean, Mrs. Howard is by far my favourite teacher. Along with a pure love of books, she’s definitely one of the reasons why I enjoy the subject so much. She makes it so interesting. It annoys me that Matt is being so disrespectful to her when she’s just doing her job, but I stay quiet, not wanting his anger to switch to me.
“This is a joke,” Matt snarls, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go to the other class then. It’s not like we’re losing a good teacher. Last year was boring anyway.”
Carter laughs at his comment and turns while Matt begins to drag me behind him, but Mrs. Howard stops them with a cough.
“Actually, Mr Daley, I think you’ll find Miss Williams is in this class.” She glances to Kristie. “As is Miss Kennedy.”
Matt’s fingers tighten around my wrist as his head turns sharply, pulling me into him. “What?” he hisses, and I resist the urge to whimper at the pressure around my hand. “Why would she be in this class if they’ve changed?” His voice is low, and I feel my heartbeat increase as I recognise the tone; it’s one that I’ve heard often.
“Do you know anything about this?” he questions me, his icy blue eyes pinning me to the spot.
Oh god.
“The principal said he was trying to mix the classes,” I stammer out. “I didn’t know I wouldn’t be in this class with you.”
His grip doesn’t loosen, and he continues to stare at me as his eyes try to find out if I’m lying. I glance at Kristie and I’m sure my eyes are begging for help because, in a second, she’s stepped up beside me and put herself between my boyfriend and I.
“Would you let her go!” Kristie demands, ripping my wrist out of Matt’s grip and placing me on the other side of her. “Elle didn’t have anything to do with this. It’s random selection.”
She turns to our teacher. “Right, Mrs. Howard?”
My stomach sinks as Mrs. Howard shakes her head.
“I told you they’re like this specifically!” Matt growls while glaring at me, suspicion lacing his features.
“Yes, Mr. Daley. You’re correct.” The old woman smiles, gently pressing a hand to my back and guiding me into the classroom with Kristie closely behind. “The classes are not random.”
Matt and Carter give each other smug looks, their arms crossed over their bodies. Mrs. Howard motions for the two of them to move out of the doorway so she can shut it and they step back in surprise; however, Matt’s hand slams onto the wood, holding it open before it can be shut.
“So are you going to tell us why we’re not in this class then?”
Mrs. Howard rolls her eyes, a deep sigh coming from her cardigan-clad chest. “Of course, Mr Daley.” She clears her throat. “You’re not in this class because we divided them into ability, and yours is much lower than the standard in here. Have a good class.”
I watch in shock as Mrs. Howard shuts the door in Matt’s frozen face, his smug smirk wiped clean off it as she locks it with a click. Beside me, Kristie bursts out laughing with her body hunched over, but all I can do is stay where I am, my mind reeling with what just happened.
Matt was a lower level than me?
Mrs. Howard turns and faces me, her expression giving nothing away to what just happened, and she stands, clearly seeing that I want to ask her something.
“What is it, Miss Williams?”
“Are you sure I’m in the right class?” I ask hesitantly, not wanting the other students to hear. “I didn’t think I was particularly good at any subject, let alone this subject. Are you sure I shouldn’t be in the other one too?”
She raises her eyebrows in response to my question and she tuts while walking over to her desk, picking up a sheet of paper from it.
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br /> “Why on earth would you be in the other class when you finished top of the class last year?” She hands me the paper. I cautiously take it from her, eyeing her in suspicion while she just smiles softly at me as though she finds me amusing. I slowly look down at the names on the sheet and stop when I reach my own. I knew it was on the sheet, but I didn’t expect it to be where it was.
“I-I’m at the top?” I ask, confused. She nods, taking the sheet back from me and putting it back in her folder. “But how?”
She sighs and peers over her glasses, slamming the folder between her hands shut. “Well, Miss Williams, it’s your writing. You tell me how.”
She waits for my response. “That’s what I thought. Now, please go and take a seat. The class will begin shortly.”
As she turns back to the board and begins to write, I follow her instructions while making my way to a grinning Kristie.
“I can’t believe that just happened!” she squeals, the same smile still coating her lips from a few minutes before. “Like seriously, I didn’t think this day could get better but, oh my god, the look on Matt’s face! I love this teacher!”
I nod along, not really paying attention to her words; my mind is still wandering. How is my grade so high? Matt always told me that my work was bad and would constantly laugh at any ideas I had. He would tell me to be grateful for my looks because they were my best chance at anything. He was adamant that my grades at the end of last year were a fluke.
“Earth to Elle?” Kristie calls, her hand waving in my face and it snaps me out of my daze. “What’s wrong?” she asks worriedly. “Are you worried about Matt?”
Her hesitant words make my stomach drop as I realise that just because Mrs. Howard had shut him out, it doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t see him later. And it doesn’t mean he would be any less angry.
“A little,” I admit quietly. “I just don’t get how I’m in a higher class than him.”
Kristie lets out a groan and leans forward, grabbing my hand in her own as she forces me to look in her eyes. “Because you have talent,” she tells me, curving her lips into a smile. “And I don’t care what Matt says. I love your writing.” She tilts her head towards the front of the class. “And clearly, Mrs. Howard does too.”
Warmth spreads across my chest at her words, and I feel my eyes prick with tears at her kindness. She honestly is such a good friend.
“Thanks, Kristie.” I smile, and it makes hers grow even wider, stretching out across her face.
“What are best friends for? Plus, it means that English is just going to be even better this year! Look how good this class is!”
She motions around us, and for the first time, I take notice of the rest of the students sitting at their tables, all having their own conversation. There are a few I don’t recognise, and they keep to themselves as their group is all huddled together.
So there are kids from East Bay here. No wonder Matt is pissed. He would hate to know that people he describes as scum have more talent than him.
I look around for signs of any of Matt’s other friends or the witches, but they’re not here.
“If you’re looking for Tracey, I’d give up at that,” Kristie interrupts with a wink. “This is the smart class. There’s no way they’d be in here.” She pauses for a moment as she thinks. “Unless the class was about how to be a class A b*tch, then she’d be an honour student.”
Laughter bubbles out of my mouth at her comment, and she joins in, trying to muffle it with a cough as we spot Mrs. Howard looking at us.
“Ladies,” she chastises, and we quickly shut up. “Thank you. Now, don’t get used to these seats. I will be rearranging you all in a moment once I have done the register.”
There are groans all around, but the glare of our teacher quietens everyone pretty quickly. She begins the register without missing a beat. Kristie slides me a note, wiggling her eyebrows. I open it under the table, keeping one eye on our teacher.
I hope I sit next to a hottie xo
I roll my eyes at my best friend and try not to laugh at her expression as I start to write a reply to her; she is unbelievable sometimes. Before I can write my response, there’s a knock at the door and Mrs. Howard’s voice is cut off. As soon as she starts to walk to the door, the whole class begins talking again, and I spin around to Kristie giggling.
“You’re unreal.” I laugh, throwing the crushed ball of paper at her. She catches it swiftly, tucking it into her bag. “Keep it in your pants.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “Just because I’m open about my ogling of the male species while you lie about yours,” she teases, her mouth open to continue teasing no doubt, but her attention is caught by something behind me.
“Kristie, what’s—”
My words are cut off as I see what she sees, and my heart begins to race. I watch as Mrs. Howard comes into the room with two boys behind her.
“You two are late; however, I will make an exception because of the timetable dilemma and the fact that it is your first day,” she scolds, completely unaware of the now silent classroom.
“Again, we’re sorry. We didn’t realise we had been moved classes.”
I just want to listen to him talk all day.
“That’s quite alright, Mr. Night. Now, if you and Mr. Edwards could please take a seat, I will continue with the register.” Mrs. Howard motions for the two boys to take a seat. I can feel the blood pounding in my ears as their bodies turn to face my direction.
I quickly look down, hoping that not only do I have enough self-control to not look up, but also that the person doesn’t see me. I hear their footsteps walk towards me and a pair of combat boots come into my line of vision, just a few feet away from my own heeled toes. Their scuffed leather contrasting with the pristinely clean linoleum floor. I expect them to keep walking . . . but they stop.
“Hello, Elle.”
It feels like the world stills as I slowly lift my head, my breath catching in my throat as I look into those golden eyes. It takes everything I have in me to not melt into a puddle at his feet.
“Hi, Trent,” I manage to squeak out, to my surprise. I thought I lost all vocal functions in all honesty.
Neither of us say anything, and I can feel the eyes of everyone watching us. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my exterior so I, at least, look like I’m not crumbling under his stare. I feel like he’s peering into my mind, breaking down the walls that I’m trying to build to stop him from seeing the parts that I needed to keep hidden.
Just when I think I can’t take it anymore and I’m about to break, the person he’s with nudges his back and the two of them walk past me.
I feel like I can breathe again.
I stare at my desk as the voice of Mrs. Howard taking the register fades into the background.
Trent is in my class.
The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind that it is a possibility that we would be in the same classroom all year. How on earth am I meant to focus when he’s sitting only a few metres away from me?
No, I can do this. I have to be able to do it. I can’t let him get in my head.
“Elle,” Kristie murmurs beside me, her finger prodding my side. I turn and look at her and she motions in the direction of our teacher. I look up and realise that everyone is watching me, including Mrs. Howard who is still holding the registration board in her hands, waiting expectantly.
“Annabelle Williams?” she calls flatly, and I realise I haven’t been listening.
“Here!” I call quickly, and she continues with the names while I shoot her an apologetic smile.
Kristie gives me a questioning look.
“What the f*ck,” she mouths as her eyes glance behind me. I don’t know how to respond to her. I give her a shrug and she turns away, giving up for now, but I know she’ll ask me about it later. I try to focus on Mrs. Howard as she tells us about the year’s plan for the subject. She reads out the slides on the board as she clicks through them.
As
I sit and pay attention, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a shiver runs down my spine, shaking me to my toes.
What was that?
I try to ignore it, only peering out the corner of my eye at Kristie to see if she feels anything, but she’s sitting totally fine, drawing some weird cartoon on her notepad.
Shrugging the feeling off, I try to focus again while listening as Mrs. Howard talks about different books we would be studying in the syllabus, but the feeling doesn’t go away. I’m no longer even hearing what she’s saying at the front of the room as the ringing in my ears overpowers her voice.
I make sure that she is focused on the board before I turn my head slightly and look over my shoulder, trying to find out what is making me on edge.
I still when my eyes meet his. He’s already staring at me, and when he sees me looking, his mouth twitches into a playful smile. I unconsciously twirl a strand of hair around my finger, and I feel my cheeks heat up with a blush as he watches my movements.
Why is Trent staring at me?
I can’t help but smile back at his pleased face. This seems to only make his grin bigger, as if he’s happy that he can make me blush from across a room.
“Now,” Mrs. Howard calls. I quickly turn back to the front, not wanting to get caught not paying attention.
Yeah, that is definitely why, and not at all because drool might have started to escape my mouth otherwise.
“I will call out your seats, and I expect you all to move quietly and without fuss.” She shoots a glare at Kristie before continuing. “I agree with the principal that we should be mixing the schools, and so, I’ve decided to not only make the layout boy-girl, but to also try and pair you up as East Bay students and Northern Valley students.”
I look at Kristie, and I can already see her mind racing with the information as a dangerous smirk crosses her lips while she eyes the boys on the other side of the room. My heart starts to pound.
“In the far back corner, I will have Miss Williams and Mr. Night, please.”
