I walk towards my next period not even bothering to find Cheyenne because I remembered what she said and I entered the classroom, sat down and put my head down as usual not looking up until class started and while looking around I noticed the empty spot next to me giving me a sigh of relief,
my routine is back to normal.
I start taking notes on what the teacher is saying feeling multiple stares boreing a hole into my head but it doesn't faze me, I'm used to it.
When class ended and I started to pack my stuff I catched a glimpse of dark red hair and fair skin, Grace.
"Grace!" I call out without thinking and I walk towards her as she jumped a little at my shout. "Mm?" She mumbled softly but I could see the terror in her eyes, She was scared of me and my shoulders stiffended.
"Hey so for biology class can we switch places?" I tried sounding nice but I don't exactly talk to people much and Cheyenne is the only one I truly feel free with so my tone came out sharper than intended. "Sure!" Grace quickly responded,
I don't even think she thought about it she just agreed to it, well I'm not complaining but it does kinda sting a little.
I nod and go grab my stuff again as Grace rushes out and I roll my eyes.
They act like I'm some scary monster or something when I'm just a teenage girl with social anxiety.
I leave the classroom and I go to my 4th period and find a seat and sit down waiting for Cheyenne and when I see her the corners of my mouth lift up but then immediately drops because the person behind Cheyenne was none other than Xavier,
I'm not embarrassed or shy, I'm annoyed.
Why is he everywhere I go?, he's in my first two classes now his in my 4th? How many more classes is he gonna be in?
I unconsciously glare at him and he caught my eye, his eyes widened before darting across the room then locking back unto mine while Cheyenne looks between both of us sensing the tension and smirking.
I back down realizing I've been making eye contact with him all this time which is already a big step out of my comfort zone.
Cheyenne sits next to me grinning like the joker and opened her big mouth. "What was that?" She said cheekily "what was what?" "Don't play dumb with me! That eye thingy you did with Xavier!"
She swinged her arms up in the air, excitement evident in her voice.
"Him? I don't know why but I find him annoying, I just noticed him and he's everywhere I go! Like give me a break how many emotions is he gonna make me have? From embarrassment to nervousness to annoyed, it's like he's all up in my business without actually being in it."
I complain to Cheyenne who raises an eyebrow with that cocky grin still on her smug face.
"You find him annoying or attractive? Because I don't know, it sounds like to me he got your attention without even saying a word." Cheyenne shrugged like this wasn't a big deal even though it was for me.
"Ew, just because he's popular doesn't mean every girl finds him attractive, his presence just annoys me." I lean back, crossed arm with a very much annoyed expression plastered on my face.
Before either one of us could say anything else the teacher stood up and announced that class was starting and I locked in immediately and I started paying attention,
unconsciously tangling my finger in my hair and biting my lower lip then when I looked up and looked to my left I saw him, staring at me with the same intense focus I had just now.
His eyes has an unreadable look to them, I couldn't tell what he was thinking at all. When he realized I was staring at him back his eyes settled on something else other than me but mine lingered longer trying to figure out what his problem is,
I don't think we had any interactions other than today and there isn't anything interesting about me except I'm the quiet kid with the looks.
I sigh and turn my attention back to boring physics.
After class ended I stood up and packed my stuff and Cheyenne went to talk to her friends, I don't mind, it would be selfish to keep her all to myself just because I don't have any other friends.
I finished packing and I walk over to Cheyenne, "are you coming or not." I asked looking directly at her as her friends stare at me. "Yeah give me a moment." Cheyenne replied turning to her friends but before she could talk one of her friends touched my hair.
"Your hair is so healthy! How did you get it like this?" Her friend asked, marveling at my hair and I instinctively slap her hand away.
"Don't you know it's commen decency to ask or you just haven't learnt it yet?" My voice hardened because I wasn't about to do this again.
Her friend looked hurt but I didn't care, I just grabbed Cheyenne's hand and walked out.
"Soooo what was that?" "Nothing I hate strangers getting close to me especially one with no manners." I hissed, "but I was a stranger until this morning," Cheyenne mumbled.
"At least you didn't go invading my personal space by touching my hair instead of asking like that's just stupidity in the form of a human being!" I blow off clearly fuming.
"Woah there! that's my friend you're talking about." Cheyenne stated, "won't you be angry too? Like someone you don't even know just goes touching your hair like we've been friends for 10 years." I inquired still agitated.
"Or maybe you're not used to it, I mean Cora you're a senior in high-school for who knows how long you've never had friends so I don't think you've had the average teenage experience because this is pretty normal."
"Normal?!" I scoffed, "haha very funny, if this is pretty normal than what is pretty weird because in my book that's plain disrespectful." I swing open the classroom door with force I didn't even know I had in me.
"Excuse me young lady but you cannot open my classroom door like that!"
"Then bite me."
It came out sharper than I intended to, I didn't even mean for it to come out at all, I was agitated, angry, and definitely had no control over my mouth.
"Out my classroom, now!" I groan before stepping back out of the classroom and slamming the door shut as I started walking around with an attitude.
This was all so annoying, the minute I start socializing everything decides to go left instead of right like everything is just so stupid, stupid, stupid!
I crouch down next to a wall as tears start to silently fall for a few minutes, my chest tight like it's folding in on itself. Then I feel a palm on my back.
It's Xavier.
I don't even have the energy to be irritated. The moment I realize it's him, something in me gives way and the tears come harder.
He doesn't say anything. He just stays. His hand moves slowly, almost hesitant, like he's not sure if I'll pull away.
I hug him without thinking, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as I press my face into his shoulder. My breathing is uneven, embarrassing, loud but he doesn't move.
For a second I feel him tense, then his arm comes around me, steady and warm, like he's grounding me back into my body.
The hallway is quiet. Too quiet. The moment feels small and huge all at once.
When I pull back, it's sudden. I can't look at him.
"I-I should go," I say, already stepping away, I didn't have a reason, all I knew was that I didn't like what was going on.