Hannah
Turns out getting accustomed to this new life wasn't so easy . For many reasons than one .
First , I have no clue how to act like a spoiled kid who knows when to talk , what to say , how to act ... I only do things according to myself . Mom is trying to get me to dress elegantly and has been insisting on me to wear some makeup and all , and I have no idea how much more I can hold up . Not because it's tempting but because of the stupid need I have to please my mother . Somehow I feel guilty about what my father did to her . To us .
Second , that girl is not helping . She got along with mom just fine and they end up ganging up on me . Being neighbors with her isn't really helping either , especially that she doesn't take a hint . I tried to push her away and failed , somehow in this short amount of time , I got used to her by my side all the time especially at school . Paget isn't a bad girl or a spoiled one . Not too much anyways , compared to that Selena Jarick . Apparently she and Paget are enemies , or at least Selena thinks so because Paget doesn't give her much mind . Neither do I honestly , bullies never were something I fear or worry about . I proved as much to Iker . He is very much the male version of Selena , however Paget claims he is different , stating he's her childhood friend who is always by her side . Still I punched him in the guts for swinging by my house one day to deliver condoms to my mom pretending that I ordered them as a friendly prank . I don't do this shit , plus we aren't friends or anything . The only times I see him are around Paget and even though he is trying to be less of a bully and tease me and all I ignore him .
Third , my teacher .
I forget he is my teacher sometimes and I hate it . Focusing on his class is a very hard task , especially with the feeling of being watched by him all the time . I can't say that I don't observe him a little when he isn't looking but still ... There is a pull between us , like we keep swimming in different ways but the current pushes us together the more we fight it .
My breaths catch in my throat when I feel a warmth around me pulling me out of my mind . I turn around slowly to find him standing behind me , most of his face concealed with a masquerade mask , his jaw tight and lips pursed as he eyes me harshly as if I missed an assignment he required .
« What are you doing , teacher ? »
He tenses for a fragment of a second before regaining his composure and leans in to whisper . « Go to Paget then to the ladies room . »
My cheeks are probably flushed from his proximity and his deep voice that penetrated my ears , while his hot breaths made shivers run down my spine . I look up at him as he pulls away , my lips parted and my lungs tight from how dense the air suddenly became .
I shake my head as I look away with a confused frown .
« What ? » I say breathlessly before letting my gaze meet his again as I turn around to face him .
With our costumes and the faint disco lights around , it is hard for anyone to notice us , however I fear that suddenly only me and him are visible in this moment and I dread the feeling .
I dread being so worked up about him , I hate that he successfully ignored me in class , never addressing me unless it's necessary and oblivious to my presence . If he couldn't care less about me then why should I spend my energy in thinking about him ?
He adjusts his tie and looks around before leaning in to whisper again . « You dress is cut open . »
This time I am frozen in place , my eyes wide with mortification as I reach for the back of my dress under his vest and indeed it is , revealing my entire back and probably my panties too . Don't tell me he saw me like that ?
I scan the room for mom or Paget or anyone who can help , but instead Iker appears next to us .
Maybe I am hallucinating or Mr Oliver just took a step closer to me .
« You took all this time and still didn't manage to bring drinks ! » He says playfully but I don't have time for this .
« Have you seen Paget ? Or mom ? »
« I don't know about your mom but Paget is taking pictures in the photo booth . »
I am heading to the photo booth direction before Iker even finishes his words , but suddenly stop and look back at Mr Oliver . « Thank you , I will bring your ... »
« It's alright . » He answers firmly , his jaw ticking and his hands shoved in his pocket . I nod and walk away .
« Who's this ? » Iker asks , as he catches up with me .
I don't know if I should explain things to him or just ignore his question . Would it be weird if my teacher gave me his vest to cover me ? Probably not but everything seems suspicious to me with Mr Oliver , as if even looking at him is a crime .
Plus I am not forced to explain myself to anyone , so I just ignore his question .
Paget is indeed taking hundreds of pictures in the photo booth when I bypass the long line waiting to drag her away .
She pouts and looks at me confused as I pull her by the elbow . Since mom is not reachable here , Paget is my only savior . She needs to fix my dress so that I can give the vest to its owner . Wearing it is like being hugged by him , his perfume lingering in it and making me feel his presence even when he isn't near .
« What's with you ? » Paget asks with a really funny face . She is dressed like Britney Spears in one of her many music videos . I don't recall which clip this costume is from , no matter how much Paget tried to get me to learn the songs because she is insane about the woman and deems her an inspiration source . I just find it absurd to obsess about these celebrities anyways . They are just puppets , slaves to the money and fame and public acceptance , they crave love and respect from strangers because they didn't find it among those who are near them . I find it stupid to take them as an inspiration source . If anyone wants inspiration they can take it from themselves , love yourself and see how well you will live , believe in yourself and watch how everybody will believe in you .
« My dress is torn apart from the back . » I hiss through my teeth . Damn I forgot to ask him how did that happen . I forget a lot of things when that man is around me so it's no surprise . Paget rolls her eyes and pouts in frustration .
« How did you make that happen ? Seriously , Hannah you're like ... »
« I advise you to be wise about how you finish that sentence . » I look away , at my left side Iker is still standing there , suppressing a laugh . I ignore him .
« But how did you manage to get it torn apart ? » Paget asks again with a squeaky frustrated voice .
I grab her hand and pull her behind me towards the restroom inside the school . Once we're in the hallways and near them , away from the noise of the party I look at her to answer but I notice Iker is there with us too .
« Why are you still here ? »
« I'm here for Paget . »
I narrow my eyes at him , while Paget side eyes him weirdly before shaking her head and looking back at me . « Whose vest is this ? »
I swallow before answering , trying to find my steady voice tone . « Mr Oliver's , I believe . »
« Mr Oliver's here ? » Both Iker and Paget ask , looking at one another , before both of them start smirking . I thought I was being neutral with the way I was speaking .
« That explains why Ellie was so worked up about this party . » Iker says in a playful tone while rubbing his chin . Ellie Lambert , who they must be talking , about is our history teacher and Iker's cousin .
« Miss Lambert must be over the moon now . » Paget says with a chuckle .
So that woman has feelings for our teacher . I knew she looked at him differently when I first walked in and glanced him with her . Due to his mask and costume , I didn't recognize him at first , but once I saw his eyes , even from afar , I knew doubtlessly it was him . I don't know why and with all honesty I don't want to know why I felt like poking her eyes out of her skull for sticking by his side and looking at him that way .
Now with Iker and Paget speaking of them this way , I feel more agitated and more aggressive .
« Hello ! I have a major problem here ! » I say trying to conceal my anger .
Paget averts her gaze towards me . « I usually have a change of clothes in my locker , you know just in case . » She winks and smiles while I let out a relieved sigh . « Go to the restroom and I will fetch it for you . »
She walks away leaving me with Iker . Just as I am about to head inside the restroom , he stops me .
« I will be here in case you need anything . » Iker says in a quiet voice tone , one I never expected to hear from him . I nod and and walk inside letting out a heavy exhale . He is becoming really friendly with me lately . Probably for Paget's sake .
Once inside I look at myself in the mirror .
Dressing up as Lydia Deetz ! The hell was I thinking agreeing to this ? He probably thought I was ridiculous , while he made a stupid Halloween costume look so good it was hard to look away from him or notice anybody else besides him .
Someone must remind me next time of never listening to mom or Paget .
That's not me . I don't dress up for Halloween , I don't wear makeup and I especially don't get all worked up for not being impressive enough to people .
I'm not Miss Lambert , and with all honesty I don't want to be . She might be kind and caring but I don't like how desperate she looks for Mr Oliver's attention .
Paget walks in carrying a blue T Shirt and jeans . I take them from her and she nods walking out to let me change . After I remove the dress and put on the clothes Paget brought me , I inspect it carefully . The cut was done with something sharp enough to cut through the fabric easily and swiftly enough that I didn't even feel it , but who would do such a thing ?
I grab Mr Oliver's vest and my ruined dress and get out . I already put my hair back down and wiped away the stupid makeup from my face . Halloween is over , time for hunting down some ghosts and freaks .
I freeze when I find Iker , Paget and mom standing outside with Miss Lambert and Mr Oliver . My mom is shaking his hand , once she notices me she approaches me with a smile .
« It seems like whoever did this to your dress , did you a huge favor . »
In fact , it's true . But still I need to know who did that . I smile back tightly at my mom before averting my gaze to my teacher and walking towards him , with sure steps . I hand him his vest , still trying hard to maintain eye contact with him . He removed his mask , and is now standing tall as he takes his vest back from me , while eyeing me carefully .
« Thank you again Mr Oliver . » He nods , so I continue . « Who did this ? Have you seen them ? »
« Hannah ... » Mom tries to speak but I turn around and give her a look , pleading and glaring at once . My mother knows me well enough to be aware that I won't let that slide so easily . When I look back at Mr Oliver , his gaze is unwavering .
« I don't know for sure ... but I think it was a girl , all dressed in purple . »
« Selena's minions . » Paget mutters .
Before anybody could stop me , I find myself heading back to the party . Once inside I get lost in the crowd searching for the evil Regina George's brunette version . Selena is a condescended girl , with her small group of idiots following her around like lost puppies and her insane love for the color purple .
I hate that color . For reasons Selena doesn't relate to .
She likes to believe she rules the school , and I couldn't care less if she didn't try to make an enemy out of me . I don't tolerate bullies , and Selena must start to realise that immediately . When I glance her from afar , I go grab a drink and walk towards her group . She's sitting on her boyfriend's lap while laughing , I don't stop until I reach her and pour the drink on her head startling everyone around her while she lets out a gasp .
« Next time you or your stupid minions try to pull a stunt on me , I will tear your hands away . »
She stands with her boyfriend who walks towards me , trying to intimidate me with his height while his girlfriend is complaining about her ruined hair and costume . I look back at him , straight in his ruby red eyes , his breath stinks with alcohol as he keeps himself upright . I snort walking away not giving a damn about them .
And like the dog he is , of course he doesn't bite or even attempts to . I bump into Paget who was looking for me along with the others .
« For Heaven's sake tell me you didn't do something stupid . »
I shrug and walk past her towards the exit .
« Where do you think you're going ? » She calls after me starting to follow me .
« Home . »
« Hannah , what have you done ? »
I don't turn around or stop as I reply . « Something I am used to do to those who don't know their true place . »