The Bad Boy and Faith

Chapter 5: I'm Clearly Not Social

My eyes grew bigger than I thought possible as I stared up at the beauty looming over me. The beauty I just so happened to effortless loath, but not in the sense that you thought. I loathed her because I knew I could never look like her and that I would never experience the same things she had to such a degree. How belong did she feel? How loved was she? Unconditionally? Irrevocably?

These were the kinds of things I wondered as I lay sprawled out across the floor with a dozen pair of eyes, maybe more staring at me. Not once did the thought of getting up cross my mind.

She reached her small hand out, offering me help. Although I failed to understand how someone of her size could help someone of my size. I pursed my lips and shook my head as I got to my feet.

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I said begrudgingly.

I dusted off my pants and sulked as I picked up my things scattered across the floor. And held my head as high as I could as I attempted to retreat to my next class. But she stopped me in my tracks. She placed her hand on my shoulder and tried her best to catch my eye. I thought I had long since learned my lesson about eye contact but I was wrong, her large inviting ones were unavoidable.

I caught a slight glimpse of her eyes and became paralyzed. I couldn't look away. She expressed genuine concern and worry. "Are you OK? Do you need to go to the nurse's office? Why is everyone standing around staring? Go to class." Her once worried eyes became stern and annoyed as she turned to address the on-lookers.

They retreated back to their lockers or to their original destination. She turned back to me, grabbed my bag and lead me to an unknown location. I didn't know where we were until we came upon a room containing a hospital bed and a nurse's station.

It took a while for me to register such a pristine hand gripping my flabby arm, but when I did my resistance went from nothing to all I had. Her gentle hand on my arm transformed into a death grip, a very painful death grip. "You really should see someone in case you sprained any limbs or possibly have a concussion."

I shook my head frantically still unable to talk. And tried with all my might to pull away from her but I deemed it in possible. I released a heavy breath, one that I didn't know I was holding in and sat down dejectedly.

I felt fine. I didn't feel like I had any broken or sprained limbs. Everything felt just as it did this morning, tense and disconnected. "I'm fine." And I stood up and headed straight for the door. "I have to go to class, it's my first day."

"Exactly, it's your first day, so if anything, you missing class wouldn't be a problem in the slightest. And what if there's something truly wrong, but you didn't take the time to check with a physician to make sure. You could be walking around with lime disease or ebola for all we know. "

"From a fall?" I deadpanned.

She chuckled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders as she slowly approached me as if I was a helpless animal frozen in fear.

"At least let me walk you to your class." It was more so a statement rather than a question. I could see now she wasn't one for taking rejection so easily. I didn't say anything but I'm sure my eyes were a telltale sign of defeat as she clasped her hands together in satisfaction. She grinned gleefully and held on to my arm. Which caused me to immediately be on guard. I could feel my ears turning beet red as I looked down at our intertwined arms.

"You're very touchy, feely." She laughed. It wasn't a joke.

"What class are you heading too? Actually, where's your schedule?" We stopped aimlessly walking as she waited for me to retrieved a crumpled up piece of paper out of my pocket.

She gave me a stern look but took it without a word. After overlooking the schedule her face lit up. "We have the next block together, which is conveniently down the hall from your current class. There are about 35 minutes until class is over so I think you'll make it safely. Follow me." She beckoned me over and waited until I was by her side to start walking.

It didn't take long for us to reach the class and when we did she felt obligated to knock on the door. Opening the door, was a middle-aged woman, dressed in a track seat whilst wearing a pair of trainers. Her red hair rested on her Nike clad shoulders as she stepped back to welcome us in.

"Sorry, Mrs. Collin, an accident occurred in the hallway I was ensuring that she made safely to class. She waves her hands signaling for me to come into the class because I lingered outside the door. I was hoping that a bus would someone how magically appear and hit me. I slowly approached her enthusiastic waving trying to muster up a blank face as best as I could.

I stood tight-lipped in front of the teacher's nearly blinding smile. "Is everything okay hun?" She placed her hand on my shoulder. "What's your name?"

"Faith," I responded shyly.

"Well, you can have a seat. Layla, I don't recall you being on my roster so head to class. She's safe with me." She winked jokingly while leading, who I had now discovered was Layla, out the class.

I quickly scanned the room looking for an empty seat, everyone was now blatantly staring at me, so I figured I should quickly find a seat. My eyes landing on a lone figure at the back of the class, next to him was an empty seat. Making that my destination, I silently locked my target, focusing only on that seat. I silently begged for a distraction to come to remove the attention from me, the new girl. I sighed heavily as I finally reached my seat, a weight physically lifting off my shoulders.

I placed my bag on the floor, after pulling out an empty notebook. And stared blankly at the empty sheets in front of me, trying my best to drown out the lecture. It wasn't long before the bell rang, seeing as I entered the class nearly 30 minutes late. I sighed heavily and waited until the class was nearly empty to start gathering my things. I stood up slowly gathering my items while heading to the door. I stopped midstep in order to zip my bag and place it on my back.

I didn't realize anyone was still in the classroom until I heard someone clear their throat directly behind me. It was the lone figure sitting in the back right next to me. It's crazy how absent minded I could be because I completely forgot about their presence.

I smiled apologetically, "So sorry." I mumbled and picked up my step and turned to watch him leave the class.

"It's fine, I'm very forgettable." He said barely above a whisper. His eyes displayed the exact opposite emotion of the words coming from his mouth. He looked arrogant almost. his sharp brows were slightly angled  giving him this permanent rebellious look and below that sat his deep eyes. He looked like a villain in a tragical romance and I didn't know how I felt about him. His eyebrows raised, questioning my lengthy stare.

I narrowed my eyes but didn't say anything in response. I watched his retreating figure and decided it was best for me to head to class, so I wouldn't be late for yet another class.

As I was traveling through the sea of teenage bodies, al I could hear was inaudible whispering.

Where they all talking about my tragic fall?

Where they even talking about me?

I rolled my eyes at my thoughts and visibly shook my head to clear my thoughts. As I continued down the hall I could hear bits and pieces of conversations

"I hear he's coming tomorrow."

"Is he here now?"

There had been constant talk of this mysterious boy who seemed to be known among the whole school. All the girls seemed to be excited to see him and the boys seemed annoyed when any girl speaks of him. I gather enough information to produce quite a few theories.

He was either a very popular guy in the school, possibly rebellious in nature or he was famous. Only one of those statements seemed likely. Why would anyone famous come here?

"Faith!" Layla stood next to a small crowd consisting of the popular boys and the two girls she greeted early. I pursed my lips and tried to act like I didn't hear her, but she wasn't having it because she set out my way. Once she reached me she grabbed me by the arm rather aggressively, but I stood my ground, shaking my head frantically in protest. "Let me introduce you to my friends." She said enthusiastically, disregarding the genuine look of fear on my face.

I stopped walking, struggling to get my arm out of her grip and crossed my hands over my chest. "I'm sorry, no," I said blatantly. She turned back to me, staring at me with her large eyes. "I can't. I'm clearly not a social person. I'll see you in class though." I mustered up the best smile I could as I walked away from her perturbed facial expression.