Chapter 2: Nice to Meet You
938 Words
The man that looks down at me is so handsome, I almost forget I'm upset. His dark hair is stylishly cut so the front falls over his face. His eyes are a sharp, cold and almost scary green and his olive skin is gleaming.
"What the heck?!" I scream. "How dare you?"
"What?," he says. His voice is laced with a French accent.
"Why would you touch my hair? What gives you the right?"
He leans towards me. Paula and JJ quickly step in front of me.
"Dude, leave her alone," JJ says, he crosses his arm over his chest and assumes an alpha male stance.
"But I...." the French boy starts to say.
"Save it. Just leave us alone," Paula says, holding my shoulder and leading me away. JJ grabs my things and follows us, rubbing circles into my lower back.
I turn around briefly and catch a glimpse of the French dude rubbing his head confusedly.
My friends lead me to an empty classroom.
"Oh my God Ava are you okay?", Paula says, squatting in front of me.
"I'm fine guys. Really," I say reassuringly. This is not my first time in this situation. It's almost alarmingly normal to me. I just wasn't expecting it to happen in school.
"Paula she's fine. Are you okay?," JJ clutches Paula's shoulder and looks into her eyes, searching for signs of distress.
"What do you mean am I okay?", she says, sounding increasingly upset. "I wasn't the one basically f*****g assaulted!!"
JJ rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Guys guys. Chill. I'm fine. It's all good", I say, trying to cut through the tension. "I have volunteer program in a few so I have to leave now"
I grab my things from the table and give each of them a quick hug before heading out.
I walk the short distance to the nurse's office where I volunteer a few days.
"Hey Mrs G." I greet the slender woman. She's hunched over the cabinet, organising some things.
"Hey Ava. Forgot you were coming in today"
"Let me do that". I take over from her.
"Thanks," she says, going into the back room.
I organise quickly and just as I finish, someone walks in.
"O hi Ruby," I say. She's holding her wrist gently. I see the redness around it and gulp.
"Mrs G, you need to come see this," I shout. I lead Ruby to the bed and take her bag from her.
Mrs G rushes out and lifts Ruby's wrist. She winces.
"Ok. Thank God it's not broken. Just sprained," Mrs G says. She instructs me to bring some items and rubs a gel on Ruby's wrist.
"What happened here Ruby?", she asks.
"I...I...I was...I didn't...", she stutters in response.
She clears her throat. "I hit my wrist on the door."
"Ok dear. Be careful next time," Mrs G says as she finishes up."All done. You can stay here and rest while I call your parents"
Ruby nods and lays down. I sit beside her.
"Was that really what happened Ruby? Did you hit your hand or was it something else?," I ask.
"What?...Why would you think...?"
"Ruby...," I start, but she turns away and faces the wall. I know then not to pressure her. I monitor her breathing until I know she's asleep. I look at her face and see silent tears streaming. She's crying in her sleep.
I go back to the front desk and scroll through my phone. I get a text from my mom reminding me about dinner and I roll my eyes.
I look up when the door opens again.
"Hi," the French boy says. "Nurse office?"
I keep my composure and stifle the voice telling me to yell at him.
"Yes. Come on in"
"Thought you were a student", he says, shutting the door.
"I volunteer here sometimes." I say this quickly, trying to avoid small talk.
"Okay. How many days?"
"What?"
"How many days you volunteer?"
"Look, are you here for something?," I ask, already impatient.
He looks hurt but I don't feel bad.
"Yes, I have a migraine"
"Mrs G," I shout. "Someone's here with a migraine"
"I'm sorry I touch your hair," he says. I feel my eyebrows scrunch in amazement.
"What?", I say instinctively, even though I understand what he meant.
"I didn't know it was a bad thing. Just wanted to feel the texture."
I look at him closely, trying to decide if he's kidding.
"Really. I didn't know," he says in a convincing tone.
"Well ok. I'm not a pet or a zoo animal so you can't touch me without my permission. I have a right to personal space"
"I'm sorry. Your hair is so fluffy and I've never seen any like it"
I laugh. "You don't have black people in France"
His face turns a bit red. "We do. But I didn't really know them"
"And you don't know me either so you shouldn't have touched me"
"I apologise again". He pauses. "I want to know you"
"What?"
"I want to know you. I'm Lucas," he says, stretching his hand towards me.
I stare at it for a moment. "I'm Ava", I say and take his hand.
He smiles at me.
Mrs G bursts out in a flurry and adjusts her dress.
"Sorry for the delay. Migraine you say?"
.......
NINE PEOPLE VIEWED MY BOOK!!! I know I know. It shouldn't be this big of a deal but I'm excited. Welcome to the fam!!!
My Netflix recommendation is Atypical. It's an all round show really and you won't regret watching it
- Writer
