The clock was too fast.
That's what I thought about in every morning class, hardly paying attention to what the teachers were saying (I would have tried, believe me).
After arriving to school, I'd gotten my books, ready to tackle the day, try to ignore that a Grim reaper is inside the boy of my dreams and try to get an education. Then the hallway went quiet and everyone turned to the entrance like a teen highschool drama.
The doors opened and Bradley, technically Iazel, had walked in, wearing the trendy clothes he'd magically made this morning and dark sunglasses that hid his grey eyes (makes sense, Bradley's were blue). A couple of girls giggled coyly as he walked past them, whilst some jocks greeted him.
He ignored them all, his steps going straight towards me and like a deer in a headlight, I couldn't move. The air was charged with tension and the closer he got, the thicker it became. I almost felt like I couldn't breathe but the rising and falling of my chest said I was still breathing.
Then he stood before me and handed me a piece of paper... and walked away.
I frowned at his back and quickly opened the paper he game me, finding a message written on it.
'I forgot to exchange numbers for easier communication, here's mine; ### ### ##
We'll communicate during class if you wish since you do not like me in your head.
At lunch we'll converse properly.
Until then, Sarah'
"What does it say?" One of the girls near by asked me in surprise.
I looked at her, then everyone else looking my way, and saw Cindy enter the hallway.
Chomp!
I stuffed the paper in my mouth and forced it down my throat, then with my books I quickly left that place, seeking shelter from the rising gossip that was appearing, before Cindy heard about it.
My morning followed a pattern of ignoring Iazel on my phone, he found my number someonhow, and dodging Cindy like the plague. I practically ran to my next class when I saw her heading my way during third period.
Now I was in my last class before lunch and the clock, the horrible thing was moving too fast!
Each tik and tock was a blade digging into my heart, filling my head with bloody images of Cindy ending me and Iazel collecting my soul afterwards.
I took a deep breath as the bell rang and got up with the enthusiasm of a inmate on death row. As soon as I got to the cafeteria I had to choose to either go to...
Wait a fudge minute, I thought quickly and raced out of the class quickly.
My feet almost burnt rubber as I raced to my locker, undid the lock and got my lunch and raced again towards the cafeteria.
"Hey, no running in the hallway!" A hall moniter shouted at me and I apologized but did not slow down.
Cindy would be angry seeing Bradley sitting with me but I had a feeling Iazel wouldn't care to spare her feelings.
He didn't seem the type honestly.
However there was a difference between me going to sit with him and him coming over to sit with me. Cindy would target him first before me, hopefully I could move myself out of the situation and avoid Iazel till later.
I just had to get a seat somewhere near an exit but not too close to the entrance.
The cafeteria was a whitewashed mess of teenage hormones, sloppy seconds being a special on the menu and day old muffins. Benches of oakwood and steel had occupants claiming them and I zeroed in on a seat halfway to the exit but a bit close to the entrance.
My fingers moved slowly as I took out my lunch of three cupcakes, apple slices, diet cola and fruit juice. The light from the windows touched my cupcake sprinkles making their rainbow hue pretty tantalizing and the chocolate cupcake immediately found its way into my mouth.
I kept my eye on the double doors, wondering who would arrive first between Iazel and Cindy.
If Cindy came up to me what would I say? She's probably heard about Iazel giving me a letter in the morning, and she would definitely not let it go. I couldn't help but take another big bite of my cupcake, wishing Iazel had chosen to be in anything or anyone but Bradley.
The doors opened and three attractive teenage girls came through.
Cindy and her friends, I turned my head away, acting as if something outside was truly interesting.
Did it work?
I really really hoped in the name of glob that it did.
"Well if it isn't Miss desperate."
Oh fudge, I swore internally and turned around and Cindy was right infront of me, her friends at her sides and a mean look in her eyes.
"Hi Cindy." I said softly and she scoffed.
"The nerve, saying hi like you aren't a thirsty skank trying to steal my boyfriend. Who do you think you are?"
"Yeah, just who?" One of the girls said," Cindy is Bradley's everything, and you're just-"
"All this." The other girl indicated all of me with a wave of disgust.
"I swear I'm not trying to steal him, he just handed me a note and I got rid of it, I swear." I tried to explain without adding the whole truth because it was unbelievable.
I should have saved my breath though, Cindy didn't seem to care as she opened her mouth to spit more venomous words.
"Hi, Love."
A hand appeared on my chin and turned me towards a handsome face with grey eyes hidden behind dark blue sunglasses. Iazel looked at my chin and wiped off a tiny bit of frosting, before licking it off his fingers.
The cafeteria combusted in whispers as everyone turned to me, him, Cindy and back and forth.
"Brad, what are you doing?" Cindy asked in a high pitched voice, her eyes livid and shocked.
"Oh, it's you?" Iazel looked at her and frowned," Sandy was it? I thought I told you never to be near me again?"
"Uh, Cindy, why did he call you Sandy?" One of the girls whispered softly.
"He... He has amnesia." Cindy said loudly as her face grew sad," I didn't want to tell anyone because it was just too painful. He doesn't remember me or our time together and I... I didn't know what to do."
Cindy sniffled dramatically as her two friends started comforting her and the whispering gossip grew again.
"So what's she doing with him?" The other girl asked, pointing at me.
"She was at the hospital too, I guess she must chatted with him before I arrived and now he's... I ... Ohhh." Cindy sobbed softly and I could see alot of eyes grew sympathetic towards her and alot of scowls turn my way.
"I didn't do that. I only saw him once and-"
"And what? You sweet talked him to think you're his Love?" One of the girls said," You boyfriend stealer. And using Bradley while he has amnesia, gross."
"I guess Miss desperate can stoop to anything. We should report this to a teacher or the principal. She's like totally using him."
"I can't believe it." One student said in anger.
"Who does that?" Her friend replied equally as indignant.
The vibe grew worse and I felt like a witch about to be hunted down by a mob.
Slam!
"Shut it!"
The cafeteria went quiet as a loud angry voice spoke up and I turned to see Iazel standing on the table.
"My name is Bradley Quincy and I know who I am," he pointed at me," Who she is and,"
His finger landed on Cindy.
"Who she really is."
"What are talking about?" A jock nearby asked and Iazel scoffed at Cindy.
"Before I went out for a car ride, someone gave me a packet of exotic candy, right Sandy?"
The colour drained from Cindy's face.
"Exotic candy? Meaning what?" One of Cindy's friends asked him.
"Gummy bears laced with-"
"Shut up!" Cindy shouted at him and he smiled coldly.
"Is there a problem Sandy?" He asked her and she growled at him.
"I was helping you out! You asked for them, don't you dare pin this on me you son of a bitch!" She shouted at him and the cafeteria grew livid with curiosity.
"Right, so what now?" He hopped down and looked at her," Sandy?"
"Girls we're leaving." She said sharply and her two friends barely had a chance to react before she stormed out of the cafeteria.
"Damn, what was that about ? Do you think she actually drugged him?" Somebody whispered nearby.
"Are you alright?" Iazel asked me softly.
I took a deep breath and got up, facing him.
Slap!
My right hand landed on his cheek and landed a blow loud enough to echo across the cafeteria. His sunglasses landed on the floor and everyone nearby turned to us with shock at either my audacity or that Bradley wasn't doing anything.
"You did slap me. Again I suppose." Iazel said nonchalantly and I scowled harder," I understand you might be angry, but I don't understand why. Did I do something wrong again?"
"You... What... I," My anger was so hot I couldn't even speak.
"Sarah Bucklehim."
A figure appeared by the doors, a short man with a bald head and square glasses walked into the cafeteria and headed towards me.
"Mr Robinson, I-"
"Ah, save it young lady, first you ran in the halls, then you accused a student of drug possession and now you are assaulting a student." His angry eyes didn't match the smile he had," You're coming with me to the principal's office right now. As for you Mr Quincy, go to the infirmary and treat that busted lip."
"Wait, busted lip?" I took a double take and saw Bradley's lips had split and a bit of blood was dripping out.
I did that? I thought fleetingly as Mr Robinson led me out of the cafeteria, amidst whispers and gossip.
"I'll see you later, Sarah." Iazel said in my mind.
"Stay away from me." I thought back and he didn't reply.