Different life

School day

For Lily, walking to school felt different. She could feel eyes on her. The whispers of her classmates echoed in her mind, a mixture of curiosity and judgment. With each step, she wondered why. Lily thought maybe she had a stain on her hoodie, or maybe her hair looked like a mess. She wanted to hide from their looks and whispers, but she couldn't; she needed to get to class because class would start soon. Sebastian followed her.

"So which class will be first?" Sebastian asked.

"You don't have a lesson schedule?" Lily looked at him seriously.

Sebastian shrugged, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I thought I'd just wing it and see where the day takes me. Don't you think it's more fun this way?" he replied, trying to lighten the mood as they hurried down the corridor.

Lily rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You might end up in the wrong place altogether. Before transferring here, didn't you choose what classes you would take?" she teased, quickening her pace as the sound of the bell echoed in the distance.

"Yes, I picked the same classes as you." Sebastian smiles, matching her pace.

"How do you know which class I chose?" Lily looked surprised.

"I know way more about you than you think."

Lily raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh really? Care to share what else you know?"

"We don't really have time for that right now, so to which class are we going?"

"We are going to biology."

They both reach class just in time. Lily sat in the same place she always did, near the window where the sunlight streamed in. No one sat next to her. In all her classes, she always sat alone. As the only seat left next to Lily, Sebastian sat next to her.

Sebastian glanced at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Mind if I join you?" he asked, breaking the comfortable silence that enveloped her.

Lily looks at him. "You didn't have a choice since the chair was the only one left."

Sebastian chuckled softly. "True enough."

"Can I ask?" Lily asked.

"Sure," he replied, leaning slightly closer. "What do you want to know?"

"Do I look terrible today? Because everyone keeps starting and whispering about me."

Sebastian shook his head. "Not at all. You look perfectly fine."

Lily sighed with relief but still felt a twinge of insecurity. "I just wish people would mind their own business," she muttered, glancing around the room to avoid his gaze.

Then the teacher came to class. The lesson began, and Lily focused on it. The lesson went on smoothly; after all, it was her favorite subject. After the lesson she took her book and notebook and put them in her bag. Lily got up and started walking to the next class. As she walked, she felt that someone was following her. She turned to see what was following her. Lily saw that it was Sebastian.

"Why are you following me?" She asked.

"Like I told you before, I have the same classes as you."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't mean you have to shadow me," she replied at the moment she felt a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

"Well, it's my job to protect and follow you." Sebastian smiled and looked at her.

"Wow, you really need to get your head checked. Go find someone else to follow." Lily crossed her hands as she said that.

"I'm fine; don't worry about me."

Lily turned from him and walked away. She could still feel him following her. Then she heard her sister's voice.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Her sister called out, catching up quickly.

Lily sighed, knowing she couldn't escape the conversation that was about to unfold.

"Nowhere special, just to the next class," Lily replied, trying to sound casual.

"Who is he? Why does he follow such a loser like you?" Her sister Kathy asked, crossing her hands.

"Like I told you before, he is my new classmate." Lily said

"Excuse me, but why do you talk to your sister like that?" Sebastian stepped in between Kathy and Lily as he spoke. His presence seemed to shift the tension in the air.

"I can speak with my sister any way I want. Why do you even bother to stand up for her? You would have so much fun if you spent time with me rather than her." Kathy smiled at him.

"Well, I don't like being around people like you." After Sebastian made that statement, he grabbed Lily's wrist, pulled her away from her sister, and began to walk away.

Lily glanced back at Kathy, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. She knew that the confrontation wasn't over and that her sister was now pissed.

"Please, just let me go." Lily pleaded.

Sebastian tightened his grip, oblivious to her distress. He kept on walking, dragging her along with him.

"Hey! Did you hear me? Let me go. Do you know what class will be next?" Lily tried to pull her wrist out of his grip.

"I'm sorry..." Sebastian let her wrist go. "What class is next?"

Lily took a moment to regain her composure before answering. "It's chemistry; we really need to hurry, or we will be late."

They both went to the next class in silence. The lesson went on smoothly. Lily kept thinking about what would be waiting for her at home. The remainder of the school day passed quickly.