Hazel eyes
1636 Words
*Tala*
I can’t remember sleeping this well in like forever and I stretch my body with a small groan, feeling like a warm liquid glob, melting back into the bed, drifting off.
Then my eyes pop open, something is wrong, very wrong ... something is missing.
Blinking away the remnants of sleep, a nebulous dream clings to the edges of my consciousness. Its essence eludes me, leaving behind only a warmth that ebbs slowly in its wake.
Abruptly, panic jolts me upright. "Damn, the clock!" I curse under my breath, nearly tripping over my own feet in my haste. My mom had to go to work early today and I had to get up myself, way to handle that.
In a blur, I toss on an old pair of jeans and a sweater from my wardrobe, a mismatched sock swinging from my foot.
A piece of slightly charred toast clutched in my hand, I mourn the absence of my usual packed lunch. But tardiness wasn't an option today. Swiftly, I sling my bag over my shoulder, making a dash for the reservation highschool.
Upon my late arrival, the school corridors echo emptiness. Only a handful of students remain in the cafeteria – the ones for whom caffeine is a greater priority than punctuality.
Skirting past them, I hasten to my first class - the dreaded math. My relationship with the teacher is already tenuous at best, and my tardiness risks further tarnishing my image.
With bated breath, I gently push open the door, attempting to blend into the backdrop of the classroom. I edge towards my seat, praying to go unnoticed.
"Greetings, Miss Bylilly," The teacher's stare cuts through me, "What a pleasant surprise to have you attend our session. Perhaps next time we could aim for punctuality... if it's not too much trouble."
Caught red-handed. "Sure... or no... What I mean is... sorry, good morning," I manage to murmur, aiming for an apologetic grin instead of the grimace I feel creeping. I haphazardly find my seat.
"He's a real piece of work," Halyn murmurs as I sink into the seat beside her, "Just a miserable little man who gets a kick out of tormenting students... or anyone who has a life, really."
I raise an eyebrow and roll my eyes.
"You think he is completely p***y whipped at home and his wife suffers from chronic migraines?" Halyn smirks.
"More like she eloped with one of the senior footballers after last year's prom," I retort, a sardonic chuckle slipping past my lips.
That sends Halyn into a stifled fit of giggles. Unfortunately, our teacher picks up on it and whirls around, "Ah Tala, it seems you are not only late but also chatty today. I assume you are versed enough to find X in the equation of a straight line?"
The room suddenly falls silent as all eyes turn to me. Panic seizes me as I fumble for my book.
Halyn nudges her book my way, pointing out a specific section with her black painted nail. I gratefully accept it, the silence now deafening. Try as I might, the words blur together like a dyslexic nightmare.
"I... um... well," I choke, my tongue feeling like dry leather in my mouth.
"Perhaps you girls should prioritize your studies over idle chatter about boys," the teacher suggests, his back now turned to us as he resumes his work.
A wave of relief washes over me as the focus shifts. I fumble, my hands searching for my notebook and textbooks.
"Who needs math or him," Halyn scoffs, "Why don't we aim for a stint on Paradise Hotel or some reality show next year? They could ise some more diversity and we could catch the eye of a big-shot producer and rake in loads of cash just for being ourselves. No need for this dull math."
An involuntary chuckle escapes my lips, "I would love to see that... the reigning queen of goth shaking up Paradise Hotel, sending those blonde airheads running scared."
"Enough!" The teacher's voice reverberates, his palm slamming down on his desk. In a rasp, he commands, "Tala, you are clearly uninterested in this lesson. Leave."
I can feel my face burning, the laughter of my classmates echoing in my ears. Hastily, I gather my things, using my dark hair as a shield before scurrying out. Once the door swings shut behind me, I hurl my bag across the hallway, slumping against the wall with a heavy sigh.
There is this oppressive weight in my chest, the sort that only comes on the days when my bed seems to be the only safe haven. Days like this one. I should have stayed there.
Why am I even here? Education has never really been my strong suit. The tears start welling up, my mind spiraling into a panic about the looming exams.
I'm clueless about my future, about what lies beyond these high school walls and the reservation. If it weren't for Halyn, I would have probably dropped out long ago.
A pair of lovebirds saunters past me, their hands intertwined. I avert my gaze as they share a kiss, and they move on, untouched by my existence. I watch them go... freaks.
But who am I kidding? I'm the freak here, not them. I have always been an outsider, an oddity. I'm too reserved, always declining party invites with excuses of being busy or a strict mom, even if she isn’t really. I just feel out of place.
But the truth is, I'm terrified. I struggle to even participate in group projects, especially if there are boys involved. So, when everyone's trading party stories and gossip on Monday mornings, I just sit there, mute. They stopped inviting me a long time ago.
Pulling myself from the floor, I collect my discarded bag and trudge towards the cafeteria. Some coffee and a moment of solitude might help me regain composure, maybe even help me decipher the alien language that is math that I'm missing out on now.
With a mug of lukewarm coffee in hand, I trudge towards a stiff-backed chair, my math book, an unwelcome companion, clutched under my arm.
I deposit the empty vessel with a resigned sigh. It becomes clear to me, the bitter liquid is no magic potion to ward off the impending doom.
Suddenly, a voice, warm like the summer sun, breaks through my musings. "Hey, are you okay?"
It's unfamiliar, a stranger in my world of equations and formulas. Curiosity piqued, I twist around in my seat, only to be met with a sight that brings the world around me to a halt. I fight the urge to gasp, my hand flying to my mouth.
Standing before me is a boy or more a young man, a splash of vibrant color in my grayscale world. His eyes, a captivating kaleidoscope of brown and green, framed by a riot of dark curls.
He is an enigma, a face I don't recognize, though I'm certain I would remember those eyes, a mesmerizing mishmash of earthy browns and lively greens. His skin tanned, but lacking the terracotta undertone of most of the students. He looks like he might be mixed raced.
He follows my gaze to the open book, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Ah, the trials of math," he says, his voice laced with understanding. His casual approach to my nemesis leaves me with a sense of ease I didn’t feel before. “I get it.”
"You get it?" I half-whisper, furrowing my brows as I try to figure out what he gets.
"Yeah, you were making so many noises, I thought you were in pain or something," he says, a small grin forming. “But it was just math.”
I shrink, trying to make myself smaller, focusing on the book. "Oh... no... I'm okay... kind of... Math just doesn't click with me," I stammer. Ugh! Why can't I think straight when an attractive guy is nearby?
"Tell me about it," he chuckles softly. His laughter is warm and, dare I say, beautiful. "I'm Jacy, by the way."
"Tala... uh, I mean, I'm Tala," I mumble like an i***t, stealing a glance at him.
He is really tall, towering over me and blocking my view. Lost in watching him, I startle when his warm voice breaks the silence. "I just started here. We moved to the reservation last weekend, and it's a bummer to catch up on a new curriculum. But hey, I guess I have to make it work."
"Yeah... must be tough," I scramble through my jumbled thoughts, desperately searching for something clever to say. Other girls flip their hair and flash seductive smiles to get guys' attention, but my face and hair refuse to cooperate. Heck, even speaking is a challenge.
"Maybe I could help you with math someday, and you could help me catch up on the curriculum," Jacy suggests, looking at me expectantly.
I nod, not entirely sure what I'm responding to, and honestly, I don't really care.
He just stands there, studying me... why is he looking at me?
Oh God, does he expect me to continue this conversation? What on Earth am I going to say? I swallow hard, attempting to muster something remotely intelligent.
"Well... I should probably head to the office. I need my schedule," he says softly, gesturing towards the office door. "It's that door over there, right?"
But before I can even gather myself to answer, he's already walking towards the door. He turns his head, and I feel like I'm in free fall as his eyes lock with mine, accompanied by an almost blinding smile. "See you around, Tala."
Why do I have this strange sensation that my life just took a permanent turn down a new road?
- Writer
