Phoenix

Chapter 2

I pulled my BMW into the parking lot of Apadia High School.  It was a huge red brick building. Modern with a full wall of windows in the front of the building. The area around the school was buzzing with activity.  Teens crammed into cars were clambering out.  Some were shouting happily back and forth at each other.  There were groups talking to each other.  Some hugs were being exchanged as kids reunited happily after the long summer break. I was instantly extremely grateful that Tim had given me such a nice car.  This was obviously a school for the wealthy kids of Phoenix. I was not this kind of person. Material things had never been a huge desire for me.  But fitting in here was going to be tough.  The BMW however, was a start.  No one here drove an old junker.  All the cars were new and shiny like mine.  All but one.  That one car had a tall lanky boy climbing out of it.  He had short black hair and dark skin.  Obviously native ancestry. I found myself for the second time in two days staring at a male. huge hands and long feet made him look clumsy and awkward. I couldn't help but wonder if boys grow into their feet like puppies. As I looked away I was thankful that this time the object of my fascination did not notice the fact that I was ogling him.

Entering through the front doors I spotted the office about halfway down the hall and walked towards it. The people in this school looked wealthy just like the cars in the lot.  The girls had long cared for hair, polished nails, expensive clothes and high heels.  The boys were just as finely dressed and well cared for.  I felt instantly out of place and I could feel the eyes staring at me.  Obviously judging my worn blue jeans and hoodie and my old sneakers.  I needed a job.  Badly. I needed to update my look.  Clothes, hair, nails.  I seemed so dull in comparison to the other girls.  

  The woman behind the desk in the office was short and stout. Grey curls formed a halo around her face.  Her smile was kind and bright. 

"Good morning dear. Can I help you?" Her voice matched her kind face perfectly.

I smiled back at her,

"Hi my name is Olivia Dawson, it's my first day here."

"Good morning Olivia, just one second dear let me pull up your classes for you and get you a map."

Ten minutes later she had me set my locker found and on my way to twelfth grade English.  Room 2234 in the second building.  I hoped I could make some friends quickly.  I had never been very social.  I often joked about myself as socially awkward.  Making friends had never come easy to me.  I poked my nose into the door the class was slowly gathering into the room.  The teacher Mrs. Patel was silently sitting at her desk skimming through text messages.  She looked up when I walked in. 

"Ah you must be Olivia Dawson"

She said, smiling kindly at me.

"Ummm yes please call me Liv"

"Sure Liv why don't you take a seat over there by Connor"

I looked to where she was pointing.  The dark native boy was sitting at a desk with an empty one right beside him.  In fact there were empty desks all around him.  I walked over to the desk closest to him and plopped my bag underneath it.  Then I swallowed quickly working up my courage and I turned to smile at him.

"Hi I'm Liv and you must be Connor?" I said shyly.  The heat began to spread along my cheeks and I hoped that it wasn’t visible.  He stared at me as though I was an alien for a minute and then he proceeded to whisper.

"Hi Olivia yes I am Connor but if you don't want to commit social suicide you probably shouldn't talk to me."  He said,  I was tacked aback.  What? I thought to myself.  Unsure of exactly what he meant by it. 

I furrowed my brow in confusion, still staring at him while he directed his gaze up to the front of the class. At that moment I decided that this boy needed a friend and I would be that friend no matter the social consequences.  Because I was that girl,  the girl no one wanted to be friends with at home. Looking at him now, I felt compelled to be his friend. I had been the social suicide. I would have killed to have even one friend and so I decided to ask him a question.

"Have you lived here long Connor?"

He turned to face me his dark brown eyes full of wonder. 

"Yes I have Olivia."

I swallowed hard.  Being outgoing was very difficult for me to do. This was part of the reason that I was the social suicide in Vancouver.  I never knew exactly what to say to people and it made me come across as socially awkward.  

“What is there to do for fun around here?” I asked him kindly.  

He turned to face me again, his eyes full of wonder.  I wondered if he was even going to answer me.  The silence dragged on for what seemed to be eons before he replied.  

“Well Olivia, most teens around here drive up to the point and have sex.” The corner of his mouth curved up as he accentuated the word.  I could feel the red heat flush from my temples right to the tip of my nose.  Then he leaned across the aisle towards me, his face extremely close to mine.  I could smell his dark musky scent and hear his deep breathing. The air around me suddenly charged with tension.  He was doing this to make me squirm.  And to his great pleasure it was working.   My stomach twisted and fluttered and then he looked right into my eyes and whispered.

“But I usually just go hiking.” Then he leaned back cracking a full blown smile.  I couldn't look at him any longer. I turned my face to the front of the room.  My blush still burning in my cheeks.  I was so unbelievably embarrassed.  Just start the damn class already.  About two minutes later Mrs. Patel stood up to discuss our first assignment in English.   Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer's.  Luckily for me I had read it a few times. The first part was going to be simple for me.  Which was good, I would need to focus my attention on mathematics and sciences.  If I wanted to be a veterinarian I was going to need math and science to be a really high GPA.   Maybe social suicide was a good plan.  Far less embarrassing when no one paid any attention to you.  

Just before the bell rang I dug my class list and map out.  The next class I was in was P.E. In building 3 I needed to run back to my locker in building one and grab gym strip.  So as soon as the bell rang I headed back out grabbed my stuff and booked it for P.E. I was out of breath by the time I reached the gym and the bell rang just as I ran into the locker room.  I changed in the only changing room.  Throwing my sweats and my inside sneakers on with a cotton t shirt.  As I came out of the changing room I was graced with the site of a woman, well she was a teenager like myself, however she did not look like a teenager.  She had long tanned legs  that seemed to go on and on forever.  Her bottom was decorated with a beautiful pair of lace underwear.  Her hips were flat between them.  No unsightly stomach bulge like myself.  Her stomach was as tanned as her legs and perfectly flat with the slight contour of muscling shadowing her abs.  As my eyes moved upwards of their own accord I noticed that her breasts which were hidden behind a matching bra were huge.  Perky and perfect.  I finally looked at her face.  She was super model beautiful her nose was little and cute and perfect.  Her eyes a gorgeous turquoise blue and her hair long and golden with curls cascading down over her perfect chest.  I instantly felt jealous.  Not fair.  This creature looked like an alien next to me.  Or perhaps I looked like an Alien next to her?  I was instantly thankful that I hadn’t changed in the open.  

As I turned to put my clothes into my locker she noticed me, 

“Hi, I am Anna! You must be new here I have never seen you before”

She stood in all her model grace.  Beautiful and intimidating.  But she had introduced herself so I turned and smiled back at her.

“Hi yea I am Liv, I just moved here yesterday from Canada.”

Instantly all heads turned towards me, she continued to smile but It looked fake now.  

“What?”

“I used to live in Vancouver Brisith Columbia.”

“What?” I found myself ultimately confused.  Was she beautiful but dense? I stared at her not sure if she was joking or if she was really unintelligent. Finally I spoke.  

“I’m sorry but you have confused me.  I don’t know what you are asking me.” 

She smiled. 

“Well I am rather confused about why you are here. How can a Canadian just move to Phoenix and go to school isn’t there some kind of laws about that?” so she was asking me a question without actually asking me and expecting me to read her mind? Whatever, she was being nice so I answered.

“I am a dual citizen.  My mom and dad are divorced, my mother is Canadian and my father is an American.  So I chose to move down here for my last year of high school.” She smiled and then said, 

“I see, that is why you are so pale! Don’t worry hun you will darken up quickly.” Then she reached into her locker pulled out a card and handed it to me. 

“Please go and see my girls they can fix your nails and your hair too!” Smiling she turned to get dressed just as the final bell for class rang.  Ouch, she totally just insulted me.  But I knew she was right.  Everyone turned to quickly lock up and we rushed out into the gym together.  I really hate P.E. I am so out of shape.  The laps made my lungs burn and my head pound.  Push ups made my muscles scream out in protest.  Crunches? Why freaking crunches! Can’t this stupid teacher not see that I don’t have stomach muscles.  By the time we headed back to the locker room I was afraid I was going to die.  But unfortunately for me, I did not have much time to waste.  I changed quickly and dug my map back out.  Nex class Biology room 1445 in the first building.  Thank god the next class was right near my locker this would give me a chance to put away my gym strip.  I opened the door and began piling the god awful sweaty clothes into the bottom.  I heard a locker door open beside me but continued what I was doing.  Then I recognized the big feet poking out from under the locker door that had opened to my left.  I instantly felt the blush meet my cheeks again. He closed his door looked down at me.  Now that I was standing next to him I decided that he was about 6 foot 2 or maybe 6 foot 3.  Towering over my 5 foot frame.  I refused to look at him then he chuckled and turned and walked away.  I watched him retreat as he headed down the hall to the left.  Pulling my map out I started following it to the next room.  I turned to the left and headed down the hallway until I found the room.  The room did not have any desks.  Rather large built in counters where two chairs were located at each.  The teacher’s desk was at the far end of the room in front of an electronic blackboard.  I walked up to the front.  The teacher Miss young smiled up at me as I approached.  

“Hello, you must be Olivia!”

I smiled back, even though I was frustrated at the fact that everyone kept calling me Olivia I kindly corrected her. 

“Hi, yes I am.  But everyone just calls me Liv” I said it so quietly. She smiled knowingly up at me, her dark brown hair was a beautiful chocolate and her eyes matched perfectly.  Thin and tanned like everyone else at this school I found myself instantly liking this woman.  

“Hi Liv, just a minute let me get your supplies.”  She turned to a cupboard and began digging out books and other supplies and putting them into a box. I could hear the chatter as the room began to fill up.  I turned to look behind me, most of the tables were full there were a few stragglers at the back of the room just coming in and seated in the far right corner.  Connor.  I knew deep down inside that I was about to be paired with him.  

“Ok Liv, why don’t you go put these things over there at the back by the tall dark haired boy and then come back up here for a second.” I hated being the new girl, I could see the eyes on me as I walked past and literally hear the heads turn as I walked by.  Connor was looking at me from under his dark thick lashes.  I couldn’t put a finger on it but his gaze made me nervous for some reason.  I set the box on the table beside him refusing to blush and then I turned and headed back to the front of the room.  Halfway along the bell rang.  Miss young stood up next to her desk and beckoned me forward.  When I got beside her she placed her hands on my shoulders and turned me to face the class. 

“Class I would like you to welcome to our school Liv,  Liv why don’t you please tell us a little bit about yourself.”

My mouth instantly dried and my palms went clammy.  She gently rubbed my shoulder in encouragement.  What am I supposed to tell these complete and total strangers.  I didn’t know what to say.  I looked at the faces looking expectantly my way.  The silence was almost deafening so I closed my eyes quickly took a breath.  Looked directly at Connor and then spoke to him. 

“Hi, ummm…. Im Liv.  I just moved here to Phoenix from Vancouver Canada.”

I decided that was enough, so I let myself stop and then looked at Miss young.  Someone a male in the crowd popped up. 

“Hi Liv, I’m Brad, you are fine.  Can I take you out?” 

The red flushed across my face again.  What? Why would he say that? I am so plain compared to the rest of these people.  I wanted to run from the room but instead I just chuckled and made a beeline for my seat beside Connor.  Who had a rolling belly laugh shaking his entire body.  My face went even more red but this time with anger.  

“Oh why don’t you just shut up Connor.” I snapped at him fighting the urge to blacken his eye.  

He kept laughing his shoulders shaking and his face going red from trying to contain the laughter. I turned angrily from him and faced the front to watch the biology lesson that had already begun.  I ignored Connor, his face turning once in awhile to smirk at me.  I studied intently on the notes that I was meticulously writing instead.  Refusing to acknowledge that he was even breathing.  Maybe he was social suicide.  Maybe I could just murder him instead.  The idea was really very appealing.  I couldn’t ever stand a chance of physically hurting him.  He was such a large person but I could hit him with my BMW.  While I was sitting there the bell rang.  Signalling my lunch break.  It was strange to me that not everyone had lunch at the same time in this school. But I headed for the cafeteria.  Tim had given me a hundred dollars that morning for my lunch.  A hundred seemed to be a lot for lunch to me.  But then again I was pretty sure the Jimmy Choos all over the hallway ran in the thousands.  

I chose a chicken caesar salad. Every day here is bikini season and I need to lose some weight.  This place is going to change me.  I knew a hundred was far too much.  My salad and a bottle of fiji water came out to $8.93.  I pocketed the change.  I would give it back to Tim tonight.  I looked around for somewhere to sit.  Spotting an empty table I made a beeline to it and plunked myself down on the bench.  I began unceremoniously picking at my salad. Yuck greens, so gross but I had to get rid of my stupid gut.  I wanted to be thin and beautiful and tanned too.  While I was debating asking Tim for money to go to a trainer I felt someone sit at the other side of the table.  I peered to my left through my long mane of hair that had fallen over my shoulder blocking my view like a curtain.  There sat Connor, and I wanted to get up and leave so bad.  I was debating it when all of a sudden a group of people sat down at the same table.  One girl to my left stuck out her hand. 

“Hi, I am Norra!”

I smiled at her, she seemed so plain compared to all of the other people in this school.  She was short, a bit stout but still thinner and less chunky than myself.  She was wearing a fox hoodie and silver jeans.  With DC running shoes.  She had name brands on but not the right kind of name brands for this school.  Her bright blue eyes sparkled in the light and her platinum blonde hair was cut off in a beautiful pixie cut.  My kind of person.  I knew instantly that we would be friends.  

“Liv” I said smiling back and offering her my hand in return.  

“So how is your first day going Liv? Everyone being nice?”, Her question seemed extremely curious.  I might make my first friend.  I wanted to tell her how embarrassed I had been earlier but I didn’t know how.  So instead I said,

“Good, yes everyone is being very nice.  Thanks so much for asking!” I was being genuine now.  The boy next to her piped up.

“I’m Owen, nice to meet you Liv.” I smiled at him and nodded,

“Nice to meet you to Owen,” He seemed off for this school too.  A bit nerdy, glasses and pimples.  He was wearing jeans and a t shirt.  The girl next to him was stunningly beautiful.  She was talking to Connor over the table.  She had beautiful and straight long blonde hair with lavender streaks throughout it.  It cascaded over her arms like a perfect waterfall.  Her dark brown eyes sparkled in the lights and a perfect petite nose was framed by her small smooth face.  She was thin and beautiful, tanned like the rich girls here.  She wore expensive brands like the people around us.  She seemed very out of place sitting at this table.  More fitted to the table behind her where 5 blonde girls with extremely expensive looking handbags sat.  She was the last person sitting at the table so I chose to introduce myself.  

“Hi I’m Liv.” I said flashing my friendliest smile.  Thinking to myself.  Please oh please be nice to me.  The scarred little girl inside wanting to run away.  She turned and smiled at me and said,

“Hi Liv! I’m Peyton!” Then she went back to talking to Connor, they seemed like they were very close.  

Norra turned back to me.  “So what is your last class Liv?”

“Ummm….” I pulled out my schedule and looked down it.  “History.”

“Oh goodie me too!” She said smiling at me, with perfectly straight teeth.  Then she turned to Peyton.

“Hey Peyton, we get history with Liv, isn’t that great?” Peyton looked up and smiled a genuine smile. 

“Yea awesome, good now we have our third person for this stupid project that we have to start today.”  She said, I wondered secretly how she knew this but brushed it off.  I was rather excited that I was going to have a class without Connor.  I also got lucky and had met people before the class.  This made the next few hours feel much less daunting.  I was about to ask about the project when the bell rang.  I grabbed my bag and the three of us walked to class together.  Mr. Coles chose to make me introduce myself as well.  I stood once again embarrassed in front of the class. But thankfully I got to run back to Norra and Peyton rather than to have Connor laughing at me.  Mr. Coles was a rotund man.  Tall and hefty with a shiny bald head.  He wore small round glasses and adjusted his waistband often showing how he was self conscious about his protruding middle.   

The project we had to work on thankfully only had to be completed during class and involved building a replica of a historical building of our choice.  The girls wanted to build the white house and I was more than happy with that.  So we got our start during the hour and a half.  Laughing and chatting.  By the time class was almost over I had learned a lot about the girls.  Connor was Peyton’s brother and twin.  Norra was  head over heels in love with Owen’s brother Landon.  They had been dating since grade 9.  They had both been born in Phoenix and had known each other since kindergarten.  I wanted to know everything about them.  They were both so interesting.  When the bell rang I was almost sad.  But I was dying to rush home and see if I could spot my sexy neighbour.  I grabbed my bag headed to my locker where Connor was getting his stuff from the locker beside mine.  I smiled at him as I approached.  Quickly grabbed everything I needed shut my locker and headed out to the parking lot.  I turned my head as I walked away and said, 

“See you in the morning Connor.” I did not stop to look back at him.