That's Just the Beginning

Chapter 2

I traveled through the hallway, my neck still felt sore and hurt due to my unexpected night’s sleep on the couch. The crowds of people made no intention of moving as I quickly slipped through them, reaching my locker. I heard a loud, familiar voice travel through the hallway; Jessie’s voice.

“Can you move?! You saw her yesterday! There is no need to stand there making out in the middle of the hallway! Are you kidding me?!” She complained. I heard a few grunts as a locker slammed, or someone slammed into the locker. Either or, it was Jessie’s doing. She was always the violent type. When she reached her locker, the one beside mine, she sighed- shaking her head disapprovingly.

"Unbelievable, isn’t it?” She asked, sighing as she inserted her code, twisting the combination lock. I nodded, waiting beside her so we can make our way to lunch together. She quickly placed her books into her messy locker before she slammed it shut, causing me to jump slightly before she grinned and we made our way towards lunch.

“What’s that?” She asked, pointing to the project due today- the one I had to have Jack sign. I’m glad I remembered it. I waved it around.

“This is the project I did over the weekend for me and Jack.” I said, simply. I shrugged carelessly as we quickly made our way into the lunch room. I pulled my money out of my pocket before handing it over to Jessie.

“He didn’t do anything?” She asked, frowning slightly. I nodded, shrugging. She took my money with a confused look on her face.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s finished. Now can you buy me a taco? I need to get Jack to put his name on this so he receives credit.” I said, pointing my thumb to the crowded table behind me. Jessie’s eyes gazed at the full table, popular people laughing and talking excitedly. I craved acceptance as my gaze fell onto the table. I masked that feeling with one of pure void.

“Are you sure you want to go over there?” Jessie asked, giving me a wary look as she looked from me towards the table and then back again. She repeated this action a few times before I spoke.

“I’m just going to be there and back. I’ll be back at the table in a second! No need to worry about looking like a loner.” I joked, smiling slightly as Jessie’s grave look caught me off guard. Instead of allowing her to waste any more time, I cut her off by quickly speaking.

“Hurry up before all the tacos are taken!” I said, pushing her towards the lunch line as she forgot about my predicament. I speed walked over to Jack’s table, finding myself surrounded by jocks, cheerleaders, and other popular kids who were only popular for, well, their looks- I guess. A few of them continued talking as if they were in their own world and my presence meant nothing to them. Some of them glared at me, making me feel like an unwanted outsider. And a few of them looked at me like I was a new kid, they seemed curious. One girl even bared a smile at me. I shot her a smile back, not too big to seem creepy, but I didn’t ignore it either.

Jack was one of the people in his own world as he gesticulated crazily as he continued his conversation with a group of guys, all of them fitting under the label ‘bad boy.’ They wore dark colored jeans, dull t-shirts, and slightly worn sneakers. Their hair seemed messy, like they woke up and didn’t bother to brush it- if boys even did that. Do boys brush their har?

A few of them seemed to be listening to Jack while one of them stood out, a smirk was plastered on his face and he screamed ‘trouble.’ He didn’t look like he was in a g**g, but he looked like he was an ‘I’m failing and on the verge of repeating junior year’ trouble kind of guy. He obviously isn't a good influence, that much I can tell. His blue-green eyes were mysterious and laced with amusement as I stood there, waiting for Jack to come to a complete stop or to acknowledge me- whichever came first.

I stood awkwardly when I finally came to the decision to interrupt Jack’s continuing conversation. Before I could do that, I heard a smooth, low voice speak first. It caught me off guard at the sound of it. I wasn’t expecting someone to exchange words with me other than Jack. In fact, I wasn't even expecting Jack to speak to me.

“Why are you here?” He questioned me. Who ‘he’ was, I’m not sure. The words didn’t come out sourly; I didn’t trace an attitude behind them- just genuine curiosity. I was surprised as I looked at each of the guy’s faces, to at least try and figure out whose voice it was… unless someone else was speaking to me, a god from up above, maybe.

The boys weren’t looking at me; they were looking at the boy who was staring at me. His head was tilted sideways, his brown hair pushed upwards, creating a somewhat hill at the top of his head but it suited him well, might I add. His bluish green eyes were fixated on me, examining me as he waited for me to answer his question. I stuttered slightly before I replied.

“I-I, um, I’m here for Jack. I need him to s-sign this.” I replied, jutting the 6 page stack of papers in Jack’s direction, my pen sitting on the neat pile.

Jack finally acknowledged me, throwing me a smile as he took my black pen and scribbled his name beside mine in his sloppy penmanship. I watched as he wrote but was aware of the odd yet intimidating boy’s gaze still on me. Jack handed the paper back to me as I took it gratefully, turning away and walking back towards my table where Jessie stood worriedly.

I arrived at the table and Jessie smiled in relief that I wasn’t harmed. She handed me my taco and I felt my appetite slowly fade away as I pushed mine towards her and she smiled gratefully, taking a bite. Her gaze passed by my face and fixed itself over my shoulder. Her once playful and happy expression turned nervous and confused.

“Why is he staring at you?” She asked me, eyes still on the stranger. I gave a questioning grunt as I turned and looked behind me, twisting in my chair and catching his intense gaze. Unlike a normal person would, he continued staring at me- refusing to turn away. I turned back to face my best friend before shrugging slightly.

“I’m not quite sure. I don’t even know who that is.” I bit my lip as I rolled my water bottle between my two hands.

“That’s Adrian Easton, How don't you know who he is?” Jessie said, blinking at me. I found this conversation a bit too cliche so I decided to just shrug it off, allowing her to change the subject to whatever came to her mind- as long as it wasn't Adrian Easton. I turned back around, catching his gaze once more before quickly averting it. I’m not quite sure who he is but I am sure of one thing; I’m staying away from him.