Splinters: Part One

Part One | 4

"Woah, are you okay?" a high pitched voice asked.

"Yeah, I just... tripped." I mumbled, continuing towards the desk, not daring to turn and meet the eyes of whoever asked, knowing that my face was as red as a tomato.

"Do you need an ice pack?" the same voice asked.

I shook my head and dropped my bag next to the desk.

"Are you okay, Brayden?" Mr. Sanchez asked.

"I'm fine."

He nodded and turned towards the blonde girl in the front row. He told her to turn around in her desk and continue her quiz.

I'm sure I made an impression like Ursanne told me to, just maybe not the one she was hoping for.

...

The sound of the bell erupted me from my thoughts. Embarrassed from my humiliating fall, I couldn't pay attention to any of the class. And when the bell rang, I rose from my seat and exited the room hastily. When I heard a girl call from behind me, I assumed it was for someone else , but the hand on my shoulder proved otherwise.

"Hey..."

I turned, facing a really pretty girl.

"Brandon, right?" she asked. I realized she was the one who asked if I needed an ice pack. Her golden hair was straight and thin. She seemed to have a type of lip gloss on and some other makeup on her eyes. I remembered how makeup was against the rules, but she was pretty. She was really pretty. 

She was a little smaller than me, so I had to look downward to make eye contact.

"Sure." I muttered, looking away and walking forward. 

I noticed her frown in the corner of my eye.

"You okay? That was a pretty nasty fall."

I watched my feet as I trailed down the hall towards literally any room I stumbled upon. I didn't know where I was going anyway.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

"Are you new here?"

I looked at her and opened my mouth, but said nothing. Finally, I nodded uncomfortably.

"What class do you have next?"

I shook my head and laughed slightly. "I, uh... I don't know."

"Do you have your schedule?"

I nodded, handing the paper to her. She took it slowly, stopping in the middle of the hall, causing others to walk around us. I felt bad, and wanted to tell her that we should get out of the way, but it seemed as if no one cared that we were blocking their path.

"You have chemistry." She smiled and then reached into her large purse which I assumed to be her backpack. She took out a blue notepad and opened the first flap. Pointing a finger at a paper taped into her notebook, she showed it to me. It was her own schedule, only it was highlight in different colors for certain classes. "So do I. I can show you where it is."

I nodded slowly and gave her a tight smile. "Okay."

She nudged her head towards the opposite direction we were facing. I turned with her and together we walked down the halls. I noticed her walk closer and touch my arm when we squeezed through people. I noticed other students giving me weird stares, people whispering to others as I passed by. I felt like I was in an episode of one of the shows Josephine watches.

"I'm Collie, by the way." she announced, not looking at me.

"Collie?" I asked.

She nodded, smiling up at me.