Trouble and I

Lions Den

“Wake up!” The pressure in my ear startles me awake to the point I fall.

Groaning, my eyes open to meet a smiling Cole, getting up I glare at him while I rub my now sore elbow.

“Why did you go and do that for?” I growl in anger.

Coles laughs pointing at me, “You, my dear sister, have school today and you don’t want to be late on your first day.”

Suppressing an eye roll, I groan and walk into the bathroom to do my business. As I brush my teeth, I start to think about what I am going to wear, I mean I’m not one to dress up but I don’t want to look bad.

Walking out the bathroom, I pick out an outfit, something comfortable yet casual, and fitting for the first day of a new school. I was surprised to find out the school did not require a uniform, especially since I thought Cole and Mya went to a private school.

Doing a once over in the mirror, I cringe at my cheek, the sensitive purple bruise is just what I need to keep a low profile. Sighing, I grab lip balm for my healing lip and headphones to get me through the day before making leaving downstairs.

“You’re right on time, we are just heading out.” Mya quietly says passing by me to the front door with Cole following her out but I grab onto his arm.

“Who is taking us to school?” I ask looking around for Marissa and Nathan.

Cole twirls his keys in his hand, “I am, now let go, I don’t like being late.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble.

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As soon as Cole pulls into the parking lot I immediately check out the school and I see what I’ve been expecting. Cliché and rich, the building itself cost more than all the schools I’ve attended altogether.

The carpark is littered with expensive cars and cheerleaders along with the jocks, the ‘popular girls’, all the socials.

My old school wasn’t like this it had culture and it wasn’t stereotyped, everyone just hung out with whoever but don’t get me wrong it had the same problems all schools have; drama lots and lots of drama.

“If you stare any harder your eyes are going to fall out.” Cole chuckles while parking.

Rolling my eyes, I get out the car with a slam that gets a whine from Cole. “Can you be gentle with Cheryl please, she’s sensitive” Cole rubs his hand along his car smiling like an i***t.

Shaking my head I cross my arms over my chest, “I can’t believe you named your car Cheryl, out of all the names you could have picked.” I scoff.

“Cheryl is a cool name!” He defends.

“If you say so.” I smile knowing it’ll get under his skin.

Mya laughs but it’s muffled by her hand as if she was trying to hold it in. If I’m being completely honest, I forgot she was even here.

Looking forwards I see now that we have watchers, my posture straightens as my eyes scan over the parking lot.

I groaning knowing I have to go into the pit of hell, “I don’t want to go in there.”

Cole’s rambling about how cool the name Cheryl is, stops as he comes forward, ‘You’ll be fine.” He waves me off, “come, I’ll take you to the office.” I have no time to interject as we rush to the building.

The school itself is huge, towards the back of the school sits a large two-story building while the front is open with paths that lead to the school.

“You know, let me just grab a book from my locker, my class is right next to the office,” Cole spoke bringing me out my thoughts.

“Okay.”

While walking to Cole’s locker, I got curious stares from everyone it’s like you can hear their thoughts; who is this new girl why is her face messed up?

Though I can’t say I’m surprised, I did transfer in the middle of the school year and I look like a horror story.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Mya walking with a tall boy, the two seem to close as they look almost like a couple walking into the school.

Soon we reach the locker and as Cole starts to dig into the pile the pigsty he calls a locker, an angry voice yells out.

“Cole Maria McCartney!” A girl with creamy brown skin and a short pixie cut hairstyle yelled furiously walking towards us along with a girl of warm skin and jet-black hair.

Cole comes out of his locker startled looking at the crazy girl, “Babe, what’s wrong, and did you have to say my middle name?” Cole whined looking at the curious stares he got.

The girl who yelled scrunched up her face at the word ‘babe’ and as quick as lightening her open hand makes contact with his face, sending it flying to the right.

“Ouch, what the hell did I do?!” Cole yelled.

The girl didn’t seem to like his response and raised her hand again ready to slap him once more but out of reflex, I catch her wrist in a death grip pulling her toward me.

“I wouldn’t.” I glare.

“Get your hands off of me boyfriend stealer.” She says struggling in my grip.

Boyfriend?!

Cole never told me he had a girlfriend and he didn’t tell her about me.

I can’t help but wonder why that is.

Letting her hand go I pushed her lightly to her friend who is standing with her mouth hung open.

“What the hell are you doing, Claire?” Cole asked holding her by the waist but she quickly pushed him back.

“You think I’m stupid, you ignored all of my calls over the weekend then all of a sudden I hear people talking about how cute you and your new girlfriend look together, so tell me, Cole, what do you think I’m doing!” At the end of her rant, her voice cracked as tears pricked her eyes.

Cole and I stare at each other in shock and after another few seconds, his face turns red and he’s bending over with his hand on his knees for support from laughing too hard.

Cole continues to laugh and the girl straightens up with her head up high sniffing looking straight at Cole, “Fine Cole, I get it but you don’t have to laugh.” She whispers getting ready to leave with her friend who tries to comfort her.

Cole stops laughing and points at me. “That’s disgusting.”

“Gee, thanks,” I grumble.

Claire frowns and goes to speak but Cole cuts her off. “This is my sister Kara and before you say anything, yes, I know I haven’t mentioned her, and yes I’m a jerk but for proof, you can just ask Mya.” He says looking into her eyes.

Looking around I see people staring and some recording, not wanting the attention I most likely already have on me I slip away from the scene making my way to student services that is just down the hall.

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“This is building HG and your first-period class number is room HG7 which is just two doors down from us”. The principal says walking down over to the burgundy door.

Following behind I looking over my school schedule once again.

English. Kill me

American government. Shoot me

Business finance. Push me off a cliff

Lunch. Poison me before the lunch does

Credit remake. Thank the lord

Art. That’s okay I’ll live for that class

Entering the classroom behind the principal the room grows quiet as the heavy door closes shut. I can feel every stare on me as the principal talks to a middle-aged woman standing at the front of the class.

Looking over to the students I scan the room and I instantly find a set of brown eyes on me that shows guilt. Cole stares at me from the middle of the class but I turn away from him and to the person sitting next to him. My heart drops as I stare back at the cold eyes, I saw yesterday morning.

The guy from the other night, Seven I think his name is, sends me a death glare but I give him one right back. He seems shocked at this and raises a brow in my direction and I soon realize my mistake.

I look away from him to the teacher at the front who just so happens to look at me at the same time.

“Hello and welcome to English twelve I am your teacher Mrs. Greene would you like to introduce yourself to the class?” Mrs. Greene asks as the principal leaves out the room sending me a thumbs up on the way.

Facing the class, I try to get rid of my resting b***h face and smile, “My name is Kara McCartney.” I spoke quietly but the students began to whisper as some looked back at Cole.

“Well I see you have an accent can you tell us a bit about yourself?” My teeth clenched in annoyance but I reluctantly nod.

“I’m originally from Australia but moved to Miami and lived there for a couple of years before moving here.”

“Any hobbies Kara?”

Is she writing my biography or what?

“No.”

“Well okay then, you will find your seat at the back of the class.” Mrs. Greene instructed pointing towards the back.

I find my seat with ease, seeing as it’s the only empty in the classroom. People stared at me out the corner of their eyes, whispering to their friends who sit next to them.

I can’t tell if they’re gossiping about my appearance or the fact that Cole and I have the same last name, or maybe both. I’m not saying he should have run down the hallway shouting about my existence but it seems no one here never knew until today.

The teacher, I already had forgotten her name, looked to her students with a warm smile, “I hope you all welcome Kara with kindness, it’s not easy to be a transfer student.” She spoke giving me a nod of reassurance before turning back to the lesson.

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There’re two different lunches in this world; regular lunch and high school lunch. Regular lunch is amazing because there is -of course- good food involved while high school lunch is just downright terrible.

It’s like all the animals from different places in the food chain coming together in one big room. There are prey and predators and almost every time the prey is always caught and to top it off, there’s not good quality food.

With a sigh, I enter the already packed lunchroom and do a quick scan of the room in general. Everyone is with their clique talking amongst themselves while I come across an empty table.

Whispers break out as I pass by tables but I completely ignore them. Just as I approach the table I am stopped by a hand.

“Hey, where are you going sis?” Cole asks frowning at the spot I chose to sit.

Yanking my hand away I glance behind him, the members of a specific table look in our direction, waiting for Cole to return.

“Somewhere that doesn’t concern you.” I grit out.

Honestly, I don’t know what I’m mad at, I have some thoughts about it but I can’t decipher my feelings at the moment.

“Ooooh burn bro.” A guy from Cole’s table yelled out laughing.

“Shut it, Alex.” Cole turns to glare at the guy who smiles sheepishly.

“Why don’t you just sit with me?” Clenching my teeth together I look away from his gentle eyes, even after all these years, his eyes haven’t changed in the slightest.

His table is full of two people I don’t know and two people I’ve already managed to piss off without even uttering a word. Seven sits at the edge of the table, across from where Cole would be sitting while Claire sits next to the spot.

“I’m good, but thanks for the offer.” I make sure to smile so he doesn’t worry before sitting myself down.

I don’t bother with lunch the line is too long and my thoughts are too tangled to enjoy food right now. Cole leaves back to his table without another word and I sigh in relief.

Glancing once more at that table, I’m met with a storm of grey eyes that belongs to none other than Seven.

What a great first day, please note my sarcasm.