Troubled

EIGHTEEN

KYLE GARCIA

I flung my bag on the desk, I had advanced chemistry this morning but I was going to skip like I was did, I had a feeling they put me in this class because of my parents were major sponsors. Or else why would they put me in advance classes when I was going to keep skipping? I knew they were all holding their breaths and counting down the days till I graduated. But they wouldn't get rid of me that easily, I already had a plan to frustrate each and every one of those teachers, maybe after I graduate they would start to treat every student equally, whether the parents are the owners of the school or not.

I got to school earlier than usual, mostly because I couldn't handle mom poking around my business trying to find out if the session with Miss Suzie had already started to change my life.

I scoff, as if it was that easy.

She was everywhere, smelling the clothes I wore yesterday in pretense of doing laundry, then she hugged me, I knew she was checking my breath. And I could see her beaming, like she was floating off the ground, her legs were at least half an inch off the ground. Simply because she didn't perceive anything on me.

Truthfully, I didn't smoke. I was in my therapist's office, how could I manage to smoke? I could try all I want but I knew not so deep down that the real reason I didn't smoke was because I fixed my fascination on somewhere else. Someone else. I was so fixated on her that I didn't even get the itch to hold a smoke between my fingers.

I had to get out of the house as fast as possible, staying there while mom pried open my brain as she searched for reasons to give herself false hope was not what I planned to do with my morning.

Plus, there was nothing I could fix on, nothing I could think of to hold my attention, and manage to sway it completely from a cigarette.

Now I itched for one. Luckily I kept my hidden pack in one of the classroom ceilings. Dawson was a real bad influence, he knew all the spots we could hide cigs in the school compound and not get caught. Once a teacher caught him, but he quickly put it in between in cracks in the wall, the teacher couldn't prove anything, and he was let go.

I walked into the classroom, I knew it was the last row to the left, i headed there straight. A girly scream came out of my lips when I see someone sitting in the dark alone.

"What the f**k? Cora?"

Her eyes widen as she took me in. She was so tucked into the darkest part of the classroom that I had to squint to see her. She had drawn the curtains low so that no light was allowed to come in.

"What the hell are doing here?" I couldn't even hide my surprise. But she had gotten over her initial shock and she went back to her normal expressionless face.

She was still so stunning. How on earth was someone this beautiful?

"I could ask you the same thing, what are you doing here?" Her voice was ever silky, if I closed my eyes while she talked, I was sure to drift off to sleep.

"I came to get an education." For some reason I was ashamed of the fact that I smoked and I didn't want her to know. And I don't know why, everyone who knew me knows I do smoke. Even my cousins in New York. They called me a chimney. So I was confused as to why I wanted to hide it.

"Me too."

I nod, it was fair.

"What are you doing sitting in the dark all by yourself?" By this time my eyes had adjusted to the dark. And I could see her pretty well. As well as I could in the dark.

"Privacy. A concept that seems surreal to you I see."

I snicker, so she could make a joke. I swing my leg over the desk, so that I was standing beside her.

"What are you doing?" She asked as she eyed me.

I make a dramatic show of plopping down on the seat behind me.

"Why beside me? Why this class?"

"It's also my school, I just happen to want to sit here."

"It's a huge school, you can pick any of the classes you want."

I shrug lazily. I feared looking at her face directly, the girl was a little too beautiful. What was I saying? A little? She was too beautiful.

"I'll be going then." She started to pack her stuff.

I struck out my hand and hold her. She pulled her hand away from me immediately. Like I was fire, and I burnt her.

"No stay. I won't bother you. Besides you were here first, you shouldn't give up your spot because of me." I say honestly.

She snorted before stalking away from me. I sat there staring at her with my mouth wide open. That speech would have gotten any girl at this school and in our city to sit down again. Just sitting with me alone was enough motivation for them actually. But not for her.

I start to laugh uncontrollably. This girl was a one hit wonder, I couldn't even feel offended by her. She made things very interesting for me. I didn't even feel the itch to smoke when she was around.

The sound of students chattering destroyed the peace and reverie I got from the little piece of Cora I was able to get today.

I was just about to get up and leave when I spot something on the desk where she just left. It was a piece of paper. I tilted it towards the light, and I gasped.

It was a drawing of a half a pencil. The front half with the tip was stuck inside what I assume was an eye. The drawing was grotesque, it looked.. life like. And the art was beautiful. She put in the details so much that I loved the painting so much.

I hear th warning bell ring, so I take the drawing with me as I leave. My phone dinged with a message. I check the message, the cracked screen made it difficult to navigate.

It was from Ray.

"Dawson is in trouble."