Damaged

First Day of a New School

Jessica's POV:

        First day of school. I was dreading this day. Ever since that first day I spoke since the incident I’ve been practicing speaking when no one was around. My voice is still pretty raspy but it’s going to be a while before I would be able to speak without the raspiness.

        I woke up early that morning at five. I had showered last night. I grabbed the dress hanging my closet. I pulled it on and paired it knee high white heeled boots that I had in my closet. I actually stole them from Jaime. Right now I feel no shame with that. I pulled half my hair up and curled the ends. I put on pencil eye liner on bottom and liquid on top creating wings on both sides. I added mascara, a bit of pink blush and clear lip gloss. I finished the look with a black leather Jacket. 

          I grabbed my shoulder bag and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. I cooked eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, hash, and toast. I seat it up buffet style and I grabbed food and orange juice. I put my coffee in a thermal mug. 

        So David is going to bring me to school and drop me off in the office since he doesn’t trust the kids to do it. He lumbered in with coffee and a plate. Some of the kids have a license so some of the kids are going to carpool with those kids. I would have to after today. 

        We finished our breakfast and headed to his car. He got the new Mitsubishi Eclipse. It was black. I’ve never really been alone with David. I do know he’s not much of a talker. It’s not going to matter because I can’t speak either. I enjoyed the silence though. I was nervous though. I expected not to make friends, but I was scared that I’d get bullied. We pulled up after an hour of driving to a huge school building. It was a red brick building with letters that said Oakland Mill High School. The entrance had stairs leading to the double door entrance. It was about four sets of severed steps.

        I was about to open my door, but David was there opening my door and helping me out. I grabbed my bag and coffee mug and followed into the school. The school was only two times bigger than the house. 

         The main hall was long and had multiple cases for championships trophies for different sports and other activities. 

         We walked until in the middle of the hallway we turned to the right and through the door was an office. I was so nervous. David must have sensed that because he placed his right hand gently on my left shoulder. I looked up at him. 

         “It’s going to be okay Jessie,” he said gently smiling at me. I smiled widely at him. I took a deep breath and we walked into the office together.  

          It smelled of paper and something musty. We went toward a desk with a young gentleman sitting there working through some papers. He was the secretary. The plate on his red wooden desk read: Mr. James Mckraken Secretary of school. He looked up at David and smiled brightly. 

         “David, it’s so good to see you again, and who do we have here?” He asked. His golden blonde hair, green eyes and his bright smile practically blinding me. 

        “This is Jessica Delaney. Due to circumstances she can’t speak.” David introduces me to him. 

        “Another student from the household. How many does this make?” He asked.

        “To be honest Jessie is related to a friend, however that friend passed and I had agreed years ago to take her in if something happened.” Mr. Mckraken kept smiling and shook my hand. 

          “Well it is a pleasure to meet you and welcome to the school.” He lowered his voice to a whisper even though David would still be able to hear him. “I’ve known David for a while. You could say we’re friends but then again we’re not because it’s hard to get along with him.” I think he was trying to upset David, but I mimicked David and went stone faced like I was unamused.

         “Really your going to be on his side?” I nodded my head. I pulled out my phone.

         “Of course,” I replied. He scoffed and chuckled. This guy I thought as my eye twitched. David turn towards.

        “Have a good day. Daniels going to pick you up after school,” he patted my head and smiled softly leaving me with the secretary.

       “Alright so here is your schedule and map. You do have a guide and he’ll be here in five minutes. Since you have a half hour before school starts he will probably show you around a bit. His name is Duke Grey. Just sit in that chair right there and he should be here in a bit.” Mr. Mckraken said. I sat in the chair with my phone face on my leg and I kept my leg bouncing in anxiety. 

         I hope this kid doesn’t bully me. I hope he’s a nice person. I was sitting there lost in my thoughts. When footsteps approached the desk. 

       I looked up to see a muscular kid with tousled black hair and piercing gray eyes. He had plump lips and chubby cheeks. Not like the fat kind. He looked to be at least six feet tall. He was in a green striped polo long sleeve, dark green joggers, high top basketball sneakers. He wore a thin black zip up hoodie and his backpack slung over his left shoulder. 

         “Morning Mr. McKraken. I’m here about the new student this year?” He sounded sweet and his voice was kind of deep. 

          “Yes, she’s sitting right over there.” Mr. McKraken pointed to where I was sitting.

         “Are you sure? I thought you might’ve set up a larger than life doll over there. I know your pranks sir. But she’s way too beautiful to be real,” Duke said. I got up and made my way to him. I don’t know if I should be insulted or if I was complimented. 

        “My names Jessica Delaney. Nice to meet you,” my phone spoke for me. He lifted a brow. I was nervous. One of two things could happen. He would shake my hand and be nice. Or he could awkwardly rub the back of his neck and be weirded out by me.

          “Nice to meet you Jessica. I’m Duke Gray. Do you mind if I call you Jessie?” He asked his voice seemed full of confidence. I smiled and nodded my head.

        “Great, Jessica is just a mouthful,” I nodded my head in agreement. “Have a good day Mr. McKraken.” We walked out of the office together. He was able to show me the important place and places I really wouldn’t need to know about. 

        It was about five minutes before class starts. I tug on his sleeve and point to my schedule. He just smiled. 

       “The reason why we are paired is because we share all our classes this semester. You want to head to first period now?” He asked and I nodded my head vigorously. I pulled my phone out. 

        “I’m the nerd that is first to class. I like being early,” he chuckled.

        “I’m the same so let’s go,” he held out his arm for me. I slid my arm in and plowed out through students trying to figure their schedules out. Once outside room number 302, which I chuckled at. He gave me this look.

        “I used to live in Vermont. I live on route 302.” I chuckled as my phone explained. He chuckled.

        “Oh the irony,” Duke said with a big grin on his face. He opened the door to AP chemistry. The teacher was setting name plates on tables. Assigned seats, yay. He and I aren’t even partners. I was sitting next to Jamal Langston. 

        The teacher turned to us a little surprised.

       “Mrs. Fuller, this is Jessica Delaney. I don’t know if you know, but she is mute. Not permanently, but she is unable to speak. The principal and the school board have given her permission to use her phone as a means of communication.” Duke explained. The teacher sized me up and down. She was young like in her early thirties young. She had auburn colored hair in a tight bun. She wore a white button up blouse and a black pencil skirt. Her dark blue eyes pinning my icy blue ones. She wore pearls around her neck and in her ear lobes. Her black heels clicked on the floor.   

          “It’s good to see you Duke and nice to meet you Jessica. I actually heard about you from the principal. I’m so sorry for your loss,” I felt my eyes burn. 

         “Thank you ma’am,” my phone spoke for me. She put her hand on my shoulder.

         “I also heard about how smart you are. Duke you better work hard this year. She has passed her classes with A’s. Especially her English classes with A+.” Duke gave me an incredulous look. I just shrugged and sat in my assigned seat and so did he.

         The warning bell rang and students filed into the classroom. I was lost in my own world when the chair to my right scraped the floor. A boy with shoulder-length, black dreadlocks, dark skin, dark eyes, and pretty built sat next to me. He gave me a confused look but plopped his backpack next to the table. My shoulder bag was set in front of the chair. 

        The bell signaled for school to start and kids should already be in classes. An announcement started off. I did pay attention, but not really important to me. When they ended class could finally start. We started on the class syllabus.

       “So, I know I don’t normally do assigned seat, but I want you to work with your partners. This will only last about a month. I have paired you up based on your grades. One of you has a higher grade than the other. So please help each other this year. You may now take the time to get to know your desk mate for the rest of class,” she went to her desk and sat down looking quite busy. 

        “My names Jamal. I am on the basketball team. And it must mean you have the higher grade huh?” I typed in my phone really quick. 

        “My names Jessica. It must mean that. I’m new to the area and school. As you can tell I’m mute, but only temporarily,” he raised a thick eyebrow at me. Here we go. The two options stand in this situation. He rubbed the back of his neck and turned away. This is going to be a long day.

         In the next class it seems assigned seats are becoming a thing this year. I was introduced to the older bald teacher with glasses. He had on a blue knit sweater and black slacks and loafers. I was introduced to the teacher in the same manner. He smiled and asked me something.

        “So I heard that you like to read,” he stated but nodded. I typed in my phone.

        “I have a mini library at home,” I listed off the books that I own and he seemed a little impressed. I then sat in my seat. 

         The warning bell rang and students started to pour in. A girl with coke bottle glasses sat next to. She had strawberry blonde hair, sapphire colored eyes. Thin eyebrows. She dressed preppy. 

          I introduced myself through my phone and explained that I was temporarily mute. She was nice to me though. We talked about books until class started.

          Next class I had was psychology and I could sit with Duke. The psych teacher used to be a licensed psychologist. He was in his early forties with short black hair and gray streaks. He wore a suit black dress shoes. His dark brown eyes searching me. 

          “I heard about your family. That must’ve been traumatic.” I just nodded my head and averted my gaze. 

          “Somebody hurt you, didn’t they?” He asked me. I just nodded my head and I turned to go to my seat. “You loved him didn’t you?” I paused in my spot shocked. I sighed and turned toward him.

          “Yeah,” my phone spoke. “I don’t really want to talk about it,” I said.

           “You know if you want to talk I’ll be here,” I got a weird sense from him. I think he just wanted to delve into my mind. I sat down.

             After two more classes and lunch hit. I went to my locker grabbing my lunch. It was last night’s dinner. Lasagna with garlic bread and a side salad. I heated it up in the cafeteria. They had a microwave. I sat down at Dukes table he and the girl I sat in English with was there. There were a couple other kids in his group that I was introduced but they didn’t take to me. 

          “Wow that smells good. Can I try a bite?” I nodded and he took a piece of a with a spoon he hadn’t used yet.  He put in his mouth.

          “Wow that’s good. Who made it?” I pointed at myself. “No way.” He said.

         “My mom couldn’t cook a thing and my aunt would make some weird tasting food. So at the age of seven I learned to cook. I’ve been improving over the years I cooked. This was leftover from last night's dinner,” phone spoke as I dug into my salad. 

           “I still don’t believe you, but then again they say seeing is believing. So I probably won’t believe you until I see you cook something and I try.” The conversation at the table was fun. We talked a lot. 

            In my last classes with the same introduction to the teacher and then sitting through classes. 

          I jumped out of my seat and ran to my locker grabbing everything I need to bring home. I did have math homework and English homework. I had study hall after math class. So no math homework. I didn’t need to take P.E until my second semester. 

         I had stopped by the office and thanked Mr. McKraken and left for the parking lot. I spotted Daniel standing next to his car. He drove a Toyota Outlander. An SUV and it was blue.

         When he caught sight of me he raised an eyebrow. He seemed disapproving in what I was wearing. I rolled my eyes and smiled. Not realizing at the bottom of the steps Duke called my name. 

         I had forgotten he wanted to switch numbers. I quickly put his number in my phone and messaged him. 

        I turned back to Daniel who seemed lost in his mind. I stood in front of him. He slowly came back and smiled at me. I smiled back at him. 

         “How was school kiddo?” He ask helping me into the car. 

         “School is school,” my phone spoke.

         “Who's the boy?” He asked.

         “A friend I made. He also showed me around the school. Introduced me to the teachers as well,” my phone spoke.

         “Just a friend?” Daniel asked. 

         “I don’t plan on dating anyone until college,” my phone spoke as I looked over at Daniel. 

           “You don’t plan on it, but things can change,” he stated. 

         “I don’t need to date anyone. Plus you never know, maybe living with a bunch of guys I could become a lesbian,” My phone stated. He stepped on his breaks a little too hard. He looked me incredulously.  

         “I’m kidding, but I’m serious, I'm not going to date anyone,” my phone spoke after he recovered from what I said earlier. 

         “Are you sure? If not I can be your dates for homecoming and prom and stuff,” he said

        “I’m sure and you know you do have competition on that one,” My phone spoke. He shrugged.

         “I know. The others would want to compete with that one,” he said

          I am able to make noises now even if they sound off. I chuckled at that statement.

          “It’s nice that your starting to get your voice back,” Daniel said. “Also you have two letters at the house. Homework first and then you can read the letters. Or so David says anyway.” 

          “I’ll still do my homework first. Pretty easy and straightforward. Plus no math homework. Did it during study hall,” he just nodded. “I know mom told you guys I put my studies above all right?” I asked knowingly.

           “Yeah she did. She was so proud of having such a smart daughter. But you should still have fun too.”

            “Yeah, but after studies,” I stated. 

            “By the way, you look beautiful,” he said making me blush. 

             “Thank you,” my phone spoke for me. It was quiet the rest of the way. But it was a comfortable silence. I enjoy being around all the guys. They make me feel comfortable. Once in a while Elias will come and hang for a while and tease me. But then it’s weird when I try to get back at me he looks and dangerous, but very very sexy.