Deepest Desire

She was everywhere

I pretended to act cool and ignored her completely. All the eyes were on me, even Mr. Duvall looked at me with curiosity. I wasn't going to let them know that I know her.

“My bad” she joked. “No pigeon today.” The class laughed and I sighed a heave of relief when all the attention diverted from me.

She then introduced herself which I thought was rude. “I'm Ivanna Fraser. I moved here just recently. Now here I am.”

The teacher told her to take the seat behind Olivia and my stomach started churning because I didn't want her anywhere near me.

After she was settled in her seat, Mr. Duvall started teaching but my attention wasn't there. Out of the corner of my eyes, I kept on looking sideways, in her direction.

I tilted my head and looked at her and found that she was staring at me, her face dead serious. s**t. I immediately turned away and felt my heart thumping louder inside my chest. She was scary.

Somehow the class ended and I was barely able to grasp what he taught. Logan Duvall wasn't strict but as I was the good girl with good grades, I was supposed to be attentive in classes.

Just as the teacher left the classroom, Olivia started talking with that weirdo instead of me. Huh? I scowled deeply as I watched them interact.

“You were so cool, I like your style” Olivia complimented her, smiling charmingly. Ivanna at first glanced at me and with a smirk, she turned her attention to Olivia.

“You are cute. What's your name?”

“God, I totally forgot to introduce myself,” she said, shaking her head. Olivia then told her name, her likes, and her favorite color. Olivia had this one habit of telling her likes and her favorite color whenever she introduces herself to someone.

“Let's be friends Olivia” Ivanna suggested, smiling wickedly, and then glanced at me as she stretched her hand for a handshake.

No way!

“Su—”

“Olive!“ I yelled her name hastily before she accept her friendship offer.

“What?”

“Come with me. I need to use the washroom” I got up and grabbing her wrist, I pulled her with me and out of the class until I reached the washroom.

She struggled in my hold and I finally let her go. “What are you doing, Astra?” she asked, confusion clearly on her face.

What was I supposed to tell her? She would ask questions about why I didn't want her to be friends with Ivanna. What a situation is this!

“I don't want you to be friends with that new girl” I blurted having no other option other than to tell her this.

Her frown deepened as she heard what I said. “Why?”

“I...I... don't know. I just don't want you near her, alright?” I tried to explain but failed.

She wasn't listening until and unless she knows the correct reason. “Do you know her? Earlier when she said pigeon looking in your direction, I thought she was referring to you. Is that true?”

I opened my mouth to speak and just at that moment, I heard the sound of a bell ringing. Dammit. “I'll tell you at lunch, kay?”

She wanted to ask more but she didn't. “Fine. But no lies, you got that?” she warned. I nodded.

We left the washroom and went straight to the class. It was an Arts class for me and she was to attend Music. We took our bags and left the classroom going straight to our respective lockers.

I put my government book inside and checking if I had the art material in my bag, I closed the locker and started walking to Arts class. On my way, I saw Alex who was putting something on the bulletin board.

I went up to him and said, “Hey! What are you doing?” I averted to the notice and I adjusted my eyes to read what was written.

“Doing my President's work” he answered and stood beside me when he was done pinning the notice.

“A workshop?” I asked as I read the whole thing on the paper. The school was organizing a workshop, especially for us students to help us guide us through what career we want or which career should be best for us.

“Yeah. The Career Point workshop. Heard that a famous speaker is going to come to the workshop” Alex informed in his stiff voice.

“So we have to come with our parents? is that compulsory?”

“I am not sure. I need to ask about that” he said. “Anyway, I am late for class. I'll catch you later” he added and went the other to his class.

I was late for my class too. I could continue walking, took the left turn, and reached the Art class. Just as I entered, my eyes immediately darted to the one person I was dreading not to see. Ivanna.

Goddammit, she was everywhere!

I gritted my teeth but without saying anything, I took the first seat. She was sitting at the second last and I was at least glad she was at a distance.

The teacher hasn't arrived yet. Miss Ruth was always late and no matter how much she made excuses about her lateness, her lateness remained constant. Some said she was late because she was busy sucking the d**k of one of the male teachers.

I took out my sketchbook and drawing pencils and the other required things.

“Hey barbie” someone called and I very well know it was for me. I turned back to see Steven Hales smirking at me with his eyes.

“I do have a name, Steven,” I told him for the God knows how much time.

“Barbie suits you” he teased, trying to flirt. I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

Ruth finally entered the classroom. She was huffing as if she came running. Adjusting her spectacles on the bridge of her nose and turned to face us. “What we were doing the last day?” she asked us.

“Stencil” we answered in unison. She then gave us the topic to make and went to do her work.

I was busy making the sketch I heard her voice beside me. I turned my head sideways to find that weirdo sitting beside me, and she was looking at me with a smirk.

What the hell? “Why are you here?” I asked in the stiffest tone I could manage.

“Why? Is there something wrong with changing places?” she retorted. Her unusual hair— pixie cut with long fringes on her right side along with platinum streaks at the ends of her dark brown hair. Her hair was striking and my eyes could help but look at them.

“N,o but I know you are here to disturb me,” I said, narrowing my eyes at her.

She sneered, “Do I know you? You ignored me earlier so how can you say that?”

I clenched my teeth and gripped my pencil tightly. “Whatever. Stay away from me.”

“That should be me telling that,” she said in a firm tone. “Don't come on my way fake barbie” she added and before I could reply to her, she went to her past seat.

Fake barbie. No one has ever said that to me. I shouldn't be bothered about that but it was bothering me. I kind of felt bad hearing the truth. I knew I was the fake barbie but getting to hear that from someone else's mouth was harsh.

I sucked in the air, trying to disperse those thoughts, and concentrated on my sketch. I would never come in her way and I do hope she does the same.