Until We Met

~Chapter One~

"Hannah!" Someone squeals. I turn in a effort to see who squealed at me but they had thrown their arms around me into a violent hug. It almost through me off balance and into the floor. "I've missed you so much!!"

The girl pulls away from me and smiles. I roll my eyes at my cousin. "It's been what- five years since we last spoke? And you're excited to see me now?"

Jenna looked a little startled at my accusation but quickly compelled herself. "I figured you were busy...with your mom and all." She looked down at the hall floor and started making a imaginary circle with her shoe.

"Yeah but you could have called. Or text me. Heck you could have sent me a letter or email just to check in. To see how I was dealing with everything." I sighed in relief when the bell rang, ending our discussion at that. I walked past Jenna without so much of a glance.

I looked down the hall at the room numbers, searching for my first class. I found the door I was looking for a few minutes later. I took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy door.

"Sorry I'm late." I mutter before I get the scolding that I knew was coming from the teacher. The older woman shifted in her seat to stand.

"Are you Hannah Rivers?" She asks as she leans against her desk ,adjusting her dark floor length skirt so she doesn't step on it. It reminded me of those pictures you seen from the early 1900s. It came up above her waist with a red checkered blouse tucked into it. She pushed the nose rim of her glasses up, waiting for a response.

"Yes. Sorry I got a little held up trying to find the right classroom." I quickly explain. I spot a empty seat and practically sprint to it. Once I'm seated I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans, I can't stand being the center of attention.

"Alright well please be on time tomorrow." The teacher finally says after a long pause. "I am Miss Willow in case you weren't aware yet. We are reading pages 52-63 in your Algebra 2 textbook. Would you mind starting where the last student left off Hannah? Page 56."

So much for not drawing attention to myself. Most teachers notice my awkwardness in class and refrain from giving me public reading or any speaking assignments.

I pull my book out and flip to page 62 and begin reading the rest of the paragraphs on the page.

I wish I had passed Algebra 2 last year.

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I sat at a table alone at lunch. I know what you're thinking. Poor Hannah the loner. How can she make friends if she sits alone and refuses to interact in classes unless forced. I use to enjoy school. Summer ruined everything good for me.

A tray slams down in front of me. I look up to see a guy sitting down across from me. He picks up his sandwich and starts to take a bite but sees me staring. "Uh I'm sorry was this seat taken?"

I sigh quietly. "No it wasn't."

"Ah good." He smiles warmly at me and resumes eating. I pull my books out of my bag and open it where I stuffed my raggedy bookmark. The thing was falling apart but I couldn't bare to throw it away. My mom and I made it when I was little. She even sewed my name on the leather end with the tassel.

"Anne of Green Gables..." The boy across from me mumbles in a thinking manner. "It's a good read but way too many words I had to look up in the dictionary to understand. It felt like I was reading the dictionary more then the book." He cracks a smile.

I choose to ignore him and flip to the next page,even though I skimmed over it because there were indeed many words I didn't understand the meaning too.

"Would you say you're more like Anne or more like Diana?" He questions and I fold the book to set it on the table.

"Why are you talking to me? What do you want?" I ask the dark haired and blue eyed boy in front of me. "Did I seem approachable when you chose to sit down?"

The guy frowns at my choice of words. "Well you didn't seem unapproachable but now I am not so sure." He chuckles. "And I don't want anything from you, except to maybe say a few kind words to each other while we eat our lunches." He points at my untouched food.

I shove the tray towards him and he catches it. "I'm not hungry." I mumble as I grab my book and walk out of the cafeteria. I make my way to the library down the hall. After looking around, I find a comfy looking spot in a bean bag chair near the window.

I sink myself into the bean bag chair like it's my nest. I open my book back up and begin where I left off.

After about ten minutes of reading and skipping several large words that Lauren Montgomery keeps placing in the chapters, I fold the book closed and shut my eyes.

A moment later I can sense someone standing over me. The person clears their throat to get my attention. I open my eyes to find Jenna staring at me curiously.

"Please forgive me!" She blurts out loudly enough for someone to shush her. She tucks her long blonde hair behind her ear. "You're right I should have called or something to see how you were dealing. I'm not good with that kind of stuff and I was just worried I'd say the wrong thing. "

She nudges the bean bag. "I'm sorry about not talking to you when you probably needed someone. I'm sorry I shut you out when you called. And I'm sorry I wasn't a better cousin."

Jenna is staring at me, waiting for me to say something to her apology. And because she hurt me I decided I wanted to hurt her too. So all I did was shrug, get up and leave her just like I did this morning in the hallway.

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"How was your first day at school?" My grandma asks as I set the table. I lay the two plates across from each other.

"Okay I guess."

"Did you make any friends yet?" She inquires eagerly. She's carrying a large plate of fried chicken and a bowl of green beans in the other hand.

"Not yet Gran." I reply, setting the glass cups down on the table. I reach for the pitcher of tea and pour some into both glasses. She places the food in the center of the table.

"I'm having your car brought down tomorrow evening. So you should be able to drive to school yourself Friday. " Gran says as she sits down. I grab the mac n cheese with a towel and bring it to the table as well. I throw the hand towel on my shoulder and sit in front of her.

"Thanks."

She starts to put the food on her plate. "You know it doesn't hurt to open up a little Han. I know you've gone through a lot but you need to talk to someone at some point about it."

I pick up the glass of tea and bring it to my lips so I don't have to reply. That doesn't stop Gran though. "Maybe not a therapist. But even if you could just talk to me. Or a friend, I don't know hun. I know how hard it's been on me. So i can imagine what it's been like for you."

I fill my plate as she continues to talk, not failing to notice my hand shaking when it places a scoop of mac n cheese on my plate.

"Hannah. Are you listening?" Gran says after a few more minutes of only her talking.

I stand up,toss the hand towel on the table and grab my plate. "I'm listening Gran. But I'm not ready to talk about it."

I turn from the Gran and leave her at the dinner table alone. I make my way upstairs and set the plate of food on my desk. I kick off my sneakers and throw myself backwards on my bed.

When will this pain stop?