"Adira hurry up!" I hear my dad calling for me downstairs. Anger lingering in his tone, making me hurry up. "I'm almost done!" I reply while quickly tying my shoes.
I'm definitely not almost done.
I really spent over 20 minutes trying to chose an outfit, overthinking every single aspect- every single possibility. Would I feel comfortable? Do I look fat? Is my skin showing too much? What if I have to run and this outfit won't let me, I better be prepared.
I decided on just wearing a cute white oversized t shirt with my comfy blue jeans and my favorite sneakers. I let my wet hair down, hoping it won't be all fluffy when it dries.
Monday. What a happy day.
I'm always in a bad mood on mondays. Actually, I'm in a bad mood everyday but specially on mondays.
But today I have decided it would be a great day. My mom has always told me to be positive so positive things come to me, so I'll try that because I'm tired of just being in a bad mood every single day.
I grabbed my things and quickly headed downstairs where my dad was impatiently waiting for me.
"What took you so long? We all are late now and it's all your fault. Why can't you.." I just stopped listening. I'm tired of hearing him say how stupid I am and how its my fault. It's always my fault.
Well that whole 'positive day' thing is over before it even started. I wish his words wouldn't affect me- wouldn't scare me, but they do every time, even if it's nothing new.
"I'm sorry dad." I say avoiding his angry gaze that I'm so scared of.
I said goodbye to my mom and headed outside with my dad who is dropping me to school. My school isn't that close to just walk to it, I mean I could do it, but it would take me a long time, and I'm honestly scared of going for a long walk alone. I'm way to paranoid for that.
So, I'm so thankful my parents care enough to drop me.
I sat in the passenger sit and look through the window all the way to school. As soon as I caught a glimpse of a familiar building, I unbuckle my seatbelt.
"Thank you dad, see you later!"
"Have a good day." He says and I just nod at him while I get out of the car. I see how his car goes away and I head inside school.
Oakley high school. Even the name is shitty.
7:52a.m. 8 minutes before my class starts. My dad is so dramatic, I thought we actually were late.
I head to my class and take a sit in my usual lonely spot in the middle of the classroom. I don't like sitting at the really front because I feel all seen, but I don't like sitting at the very back because I can barely see or hear anything, so the middle is perfect for me.
I do great in all my classes, it's not like I'm the typical nerdy girl that has the perfect grades and studies all day, but I've always been really good, even if it cost me part of my mental health.
I guess my grades and hard work is the only thing I'm proud about myself.
I partly do it because I don't want my parents to be disappointed or mad at me because I did bad at school. They always say it's my only obligation and I should do my best. So I guess that's what I do.
It's not like I have anything better to do anyways.
I barely have any friends apart Jess, my best friend since middle school, and the only one that hasn't left me yet.
Call me dramatic or whatever but it makes me sad things have changed. I mean we are still friends and hang out sometimes, but she has more and different friends that she spent more time with now. I mean I do know more people around here too, but they are more of 'school friends', if that even makes sense. I just miss the simpler and happier times with her.
She do has invited me to hang with her and her friends, but I just feel so excluded and weird around them, I feel like I'm intruding, and I hate that. They have different 'hobbies' -if that can be a name for doing drugs and having sex- that I clearly don't practice, so it gets really awkward if I ever hang out with them.
I'm still thankful that Jess is my friend. My only real friend.
I looked at the clock in the front of the class room, 8:01 a.m., the teacher enters the classroom and starts her class shortly after. I'm not really in the mood to learn about whatever a vector is.
After what felt like an eternity, it was time for lunch and the halls were flooded with people. I entered the crowed cafeteria and scanned the room for my usual table, Jess was already sitting there, as she does whenever she wasn't hanging with her friends, but this time her friends where sitting there too.
Just the sight of it made me feel anxious, I always sit there, with or without Jess, but never with other people. It's not that I'm picky and hate them or something, it's just that I feel uncomfortable around them and I want to eat my sandwich peacefully not feeling all awkward.
I began searching for other tables I could sit in, hoping I could find an empty one. I saw two lonely tables, one beside the trash cans and another one that seemed perfectly fine, I obviously reached the second one.
I sat and start eating my lunch as I continued with my pending math homework.
"That's our table." I suddenly heard a deep male voice behind me and I turn around to face him.
"What?" I stupidly asked the two intimidating men in front of me, although I heard them perfectly, but I was confused if they were talking to me.
I know them, of course I do when they are know for being nothing more than trouble, specially the other member of their trio but I don't see him here.
They are really popular, even if they barely attend school. But right now they are here, talking to me. This can't be good.
"That's our table and we don't remember inviting you, love." The light-brown haired guy says looking at me, with a slightly annoyed look in his face.
What am I supposed to do? Run? Yeah, I think that's the best option.
I feel myself blushing just because of their presence, how pathetic.
"Stop being a jackass Roman, let's just go to subway or something." The other guy kicks the light-brown haired guy, whose name seems to be Roman, in the back of his head, gaining a glare from Roman.
"It's okay. I was leaving-" I start picking up my things, I don't want to intrude.
"Wait," Roman says making me stop picking my things to look at him. "Actually, why don't you sit with us."
Didn't he told me to leave a second ago? And why would he want me to sit with them. What a bipolar dude.
"Um, I thought you wanted me to leave." I say moving my gaze back to my belongings, avoiding eye contact.
"Well I changed of opinion." He says with a smirk on his face, making me start overthinking due to his sudden change. This will just end in one way or another, either I embarrass myself or I embarrass myself, there's no other option.
I sit again where I was sitting before I was interrupted and they sat near me. Roman sitting next to me while the other guy sits next to him. My cheeks still feel warm, I really hope they can't see it.
I eat the rest of my lunch awkwardly while they are both in their phones. Roman is in a call and the other guy seems like he is playing some video game in his phone, he seems so entertained.
"Why are you blushing? Nervous?" Roman says after his call ended, making me blush even harder. Calm your tits Adira, they are just boys.
"Nah I'm just naturally red." I say without thinking. He chuckles deeply and I feel the urge to slap my face. Such a good answer.
"Make sense because you look like a tomato," People have told me I look ugly, tired, but that I look like a tomato? That's a new one.
"Wait no, actually you look like a pumpkin." He says smirking at me. Pumpkin? Ok what even is his deal.
"Aw you are so nice." I say sarcastically, not knowing how else to manage this situation.
"Right? I don't know why this dumbass keeps saying I'm rude." He says glaring at his friend while I lowly chuckle at the look in their faces.
"If being a complete selfish jerk is being nice, then yeah. I agree you are nice." The other boy says without stuttering, his eyes barely leaving his phone screen.
"Look you fucking-" Roman starts angrily but the other guy cuts him off.
"No you fucking look, I'm tired of-"
"What the fuck is going on here?" I hear another deep male voice coming behind us and both boys stop fighting.
"I'm just tired of his annoying ass." The guy that once won't stop playing in his phone says, not even looking at the phone anymore.
"I don't fucking care, Blake. Stop it. Both of you." I see the tall man standing behind me and I nearly gasp. His tall and muscular figure was intimidating by it self, but the tattoos in his hands and arms adding up with jewelry he was using such as the rings in his fingers and the piercings in his ears and nose made him look 'scary' for some people, 'hot' for others, I couldn't decide which one applied for me. Probably both.
His eyes remained focused on the two boys sitting with me, he never looked my way, maybe he hasn't even noticed me here.
I started packing my things up quickly, saving my notebook and pens in my backpack in a quick movement, not arranging them how I use to. I don't want to be here anymore, this whole thing is none of my business.
"Who are you?" He says finally looking at me and I finally get to completely see his face. Beautiful chocolate brown eyes staring into my own, the way his messy dark hair rested in his forehead was mesmerizing for some reason.
I was so lost in his eyes I forgot he asked me something. I felt myself blushing -again- when I realized I have been staring.
"I'm Adira...Russell." I reply, my voice low and cautious, afraid it would come out shaky.
"She was sitting here before us and this fucker just told her to go away." The guy playing in his phone before, who's name is Blake, says and I suddenly feel guilty. I'm always making problems without even trying. I think I am the problem.
"That was before I changed of opinion and invited her to sit with us. She thinks I'm nice, ain't that right pumpkin?" Roman says meeting my eyes with a smirk in his lips, inviting me to join their show.
"Well I don't give a fuck. Let's go already." His chocolate eyes not meeting mine anymore. He literally asked me, but he doesn't give a fuck, makes sense.
"Good bye pumpkin, stay out of trouble and stop getting red." I roll my eyes at him, specially for the last part.
"Bye Adira, I'm sorry about this fuck bothering you." Blake says and I slightly smile at him. "Don't worry, thank you though." I reply.
The bell finally rings and I feel relieved I can get out of here. I can't tell what would be worse, sitting with Jess and her friends or sitting with this guys.
Mental note: take the table next to the trash cans next time.
When my classes were finally over, I waited for my dad to pick me up in the usual corner outside of school. I hope he isn't mad right now, I'm exhausted for that.
"Adi?" I hear a familiar female voice coming behind me.
"Jess! Hey." I say looking at my friend. She seems confused.
"Where were you at lunch?"
"Oh, I sit in another table. I saw you with your friends and I didn't wanted to interrupt you all." It's kinda true though, I didn't wanted to just reach them and see the disgust in their faces when they see me.
"Adi you know you can always come." I don't think she would ever get the hint that I don't really want to, and that makes me feel mean.
"I know. I just had to finish my homework and needed some silence." Which I didn't even get thanks to this boys.
"I understand." She says and I just nod at her. I hate how we just do small talk lately, it's getting awkward.
I finally see my dad parking the car, I feel relived I don't have to stay in this awkward conversation any longer.
"Bye Jess! See you tomorrow." I say and she stops me. "Actually, can I get a ride home? My other ride ditch me and I don't really feel like walking." She says.
My dad hates giving rides to other people. He is a really busy man and he is taking some time to pick me up. He gets furious when I lose any more of his time, but Jess is my best friend and I can't just let her walk alone.
"Sure, let me ask my dad." I say to her, turning to ask my dad in the window. I'm so scared he would get so angry right now and start screaming at me in front of Jess, he has no shame.
"Dad, can we please take Jess to her house, she doesn't has a ride. It isn't that far." I say terrified. I know he will get mad either way, I'm used to that.
"Ok. Get in." He says and we both get in the back part of the car. He will be furious when we reach home, but it's nothing new.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hey guys, I have some chapters ready so I'll post them in a row.
What do you think about the characters so far? I'm curious.
-ARV
Published: April 24 2021