I wake up to bright sunshine blinding me as I stretch. Slowly I roll over, my eyes squinting to see the time on my alarm clock.
"Shit!" I fly out of bed, scrambling to get ready in my groggy state.
I trip as I hurriedly pull my jeans on and continue on only to fumble with my shoes. Panicking, I fly down the staircase and stumble to the door. My head pounding as I rush, it dawns on me that I don't have a ride.
Sighing loudly, I glance up and down the street, waiting for a miracle. Well, I might as well start running. I take off down the sidewalk, the sensation feeling a bit more foreign than usual. My converses clack on the concrete as my hair whips around. My mind still hasn't woken up and in my rush I failed to tie my shoes.
My leg jolts to a stop midair, and the world begins to spin. Gravity pulls me down into a nearby thorn bush and I can't help but let out a shriek. Thorns rake my skin as I try to clamber out.
"Fucking great," I stand up to notice my torn shirt. There's no time to go back and change, so I brush myself off and start running again.
When I burst into the school, the hallways are quiet. I power-walk to my locker and drop my bag off. Checking the time, I grab my books for second period.
All eyes are on me when I walk into class and I try to duck into the nearest empty seat.
"Ms. Parker, so nice of you to finally join us," Mr. Greenly smiles down at me.
"Uh-" I stutter.
"Might I ask why you are late to my class? Causing disruptions in my class? And did you really think I'd let that shirt slide in my learning environment?" His voice casually scolds.
"I woke up late, and ran to school. I fell in a bush, hence my ripped shirt," I reply.
"Go to the office," He shakes his head.
"But I fell, on my way to school, of which I was in a hurry to get to," I feel my jaw fall slack as I stare at him.
"Get out of my classroom!" He turns, snapping at me.
"With pleasure," I growl grabbing my stuff and storming out. The door slams behind me, echoing off the empty hallway walls. My legs burn as I make my way to the front office. My mind is foggy but I know one thing. This really shitty day is all Charlie's fault.
I throw open the office door and step inside.
"Ms. Porter! So nice to see you!" The short lady behind the desk looks up at me from over her glasses.
"It's Parker," I huff.
"Oh my, that's right," She shakes her head, her giant gaudy gold earrings causing her ears to flap. My eyes notice a few specks of gray poking out of her short hair, permed and obviously died an artificial red.
"Well, what can I help you with, dear?" Her elderly voice gives me a frontal headache.
"Mr. Greenly kicked me out," I roll my eyes.
"Again? You should behave yourself, graduation is coming up," She shakes her head again as she digs through a stack of papers on her desk, the rings on her fingers clinking.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I sigh as I take the paper from her outstretched hand before walking into Principal Fieti's office. I don't even bother to knock as I step in, closing the door behind me.
"Eliza," He nods acknowledging me, though his eyes are still glued to his computer as he finishes his typing. Finally his eyes turn to look up at me, a smile plastered on his face.
"Have a seat," He gestures. I hand him the detention slip as I relax in his plush office chairs.
"What was it this time?" He takes the cap off his pen.
"I was late and Mr. Greenly grilled me about it. Plus my shirt is ripped," I gesture to the obvious gash in my clothing.
"I see," His eyebrows furrow as he places the cap back on his pen.
"Could you explain to me what you told him?" He looks back up at me, hands folded on the desk.
I roll my eyes, letting out an internal groan. My eyes catch sight of Fieti's eyebrow raising, awaiting my answer.
"I told him I was late, so while I was running to school I fell in a thorn bush. I didn't have time to go back and change so I dusted myself off and continued to the school," My voice comes out pretty monotoned.
"Ms. Parker, where exactly do you live? This town's not that big, you could've been here in time," His voice is smooth, like he's trying to coax a bomb.
"I don't see how that's relevant. If I wake up near the end of first block there's no way I can make it for the start of it, now can I?" I snap. "John, can I call you that, John? I feel like I know you pretty well. I wasn't out doing drugs, I wasn't sleeping off a hangover, I wasn't starting a fight or anything. I simply overslept. I don't get rides to school, so I had no choice but to run. In my rush to get here I didn't pay attention to tying my shoes. I fell in a thorn bush and ripped my shirt as well as adding minor scratches to my skin. Yet, I still had the sense of urgency to come to school," I shrug.
Fieti looked at me long and hard before leaning back in his seat, raising his eyebrows and looking down at the detention sheet.
"Strangely enough I believe you," He sighs. "But disciplinary actions for being tardy and sassy," He pauses to look at me, "will have to be taken. I'll let the shirt slide just this once, however, this is a school full of teenage boys. Could you please find a gym shirt or something?" He begins writing on the paper, checking boxes, filing out blanks.
I stand up to leave and grab the paper from his grasp, "Thanks Fieti."
"Please, call me John," He smiles before letting go of the paper. A shiver goes up my spine as I quickly turn to the door.
"Oh and Ms. Parker?" His voice speaks up, the cool metal door knob under my fingertips.
"Red is a nice color on you," The chill of his words make me wanna hurl as I throw open his office door. I storm out of the main office, slamming all doors. Once in the hallway, I look down at my torn black tee shirt to see the edge of my bright red bra poking out.
"Fucking perv," I growl. "This is all Charlie's fault," I mutter.
Letting out a strangled scream, I throw my books across the hall, kicking my second period text book for emphasis. My fists curl and uncurl themselves as my lungs heave for air.
"Fucking prick!" I grunt, sitting down against the wall and tucking my head in my lap.
A few silent moments pass before the loud, obnoxious bell goes off and students file out of classrooms , pushing and shoving. Casually I stand back up, dusting myself off. My eyes watch as a dozen set of feet trample my books. Shrugging, I turn down the hall, nearly colliding into a tall sturdy frame.
"Eliza," His deep voice is shocked as he grabs my upper arms.
My eyes slowly travel up to meet his darkened green eyes. A scowl soon crosses my features.
"What the hell do you want?" I snap, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Are you okay?" His voice is soft.
"What does it matter?" I huff.
"It matters to me," He replies, his thumbs rubbing gently back and forth on my arms.
"Don't give me that shit, leave me alone," I throw my arms out, pulling them from his grasp.
"What's going on with you?" He stars at me bewildered.
"This is all your fault! Being late, being made a fool in class, getting a detention, getting harassed! It's all your fault!" I shout hysterically.
"I don't understand," his eyes bore into mine in attempt to read me.
"You kiss me last night, then push me away and lock yourself up, what is that supposed to mean?" My fists curl up as I feel my eyes begin to water.
"That's what this is about?" His eyes soften. My arms fall slack as I nod childishly.
"Eliza-" he stops, his eyes searching mine. "I don't want to move too fast."
My mind goes blank. What did he say? Suddenly I'm overly aware of my heart beat.
"Wha- what do you mean?" I fumble for words.
"I lo-Ike, I like you. A lot. More than a friend. I didn't want- I want-. Why can't I find the words?" He chuckles nervously and I can feel my chest swelling. "Ah, yeah uhm, I like you." He scratches the back of his neck. "Do you want to go on a date, sometime, maybe?" His cheeks fill with a shade of light pink. As if he couldn't get any cuter. However my face begins to heat up but I try to play it off.
"Uh yeah sure," I nod, fidgeting with the sleeve of my t-shirt.
"Alright cool," he nods rocking on the soles of his feet.
"Yeah," I nod, my face so hot it should start blistering any minute now.
"So I'll catch you later," he finally looks me in the eyes.
"Yeah, yeah totally," we exchange smiles before awkwardly heading to our next class.