As I stepped into the grand, ominous halls of Balthany High School, I felt a chill run down my spine. The students seemed to be watching my every move, their eyes piercing through me like daggers. I was a newcomer, an outsider, and they could smell my vulnerability.
"Welcome to Balthany High School," Ashly whispered in my ear, her voice laced with a hint of warning, as if she knew the dangers that lurked within these walls.
I looked outside the window, and my heart started racing. I didn't know the school was this big, this imposing. It looked like a fortress, a prison, and I was about to become its newest captive.
"Okay, guys, I won't be able to pick you up this afternoon. I have a business meeting," Dad said, his voice firm, commanding. "Ashly, make sure you take care of Testimony."
"I can take care of myself," I uttered, stepping out of the car, trying to sound braver than I felt.
"Let's go," Ashly said, leading the way, and I followed her, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step I took closer to the building, the more my anxiety grew. God, this is overwhelming.
Compared to what the other girls were wearing, my skirt was pretty long, conservative. I couldn't help but notice everyone was looking at me weirdly, as if I was a rare, exotic creature.
"Look at her; she looks like a grandma," two girls passed, giggling, looking at me with disdain. Grandma? Are they perhaps talking about me?
"Uhmm, why is everyone looking at me?" I asked, feeling uneasy, vulnerable.
"Don't mind them," Ashly replied, her voice cold, detached. "Some people don't know what to do with their lives, so they just stare at other people for their own foolish entertainment."
I squeezed my hands out of nervousness, feeling like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare.
"Hey, girls!" Ashly shouted excitedly to a group of girls, her voice echoing through the hallway.
"OMG, she's here!" one of the girls with darker hair said, and everyone formed a group hug while they screamed in excitement.
"OMG, you look amazing," another girl said, her voice dripping with insincerity. She's light-skinned with short hair, a perfect replica of the plastic dolls that lined the shelves of the local toy store.
"Your skin is glowing, honey," the third girl said, her voice laced with envy. "What do you use?" She's also light-skinned, with a face that seemed chiseled from marble.
I scanned all the girls, and they were wearing mini skirts, their legs exposed, vulnerable. I looked at myself, and my self-esteem dropped to the floor. I wished I could just disappear.
"Oh, almost forgot, girls, this is my sister Testimony," Ashly said, her voice cold, detached. "Testimony, these are my friends Trinity, Bianca, and Kim."
"Hey," Trinity said, her voice dripping with malice. She's the dark-skinned one with a beautiful smile and lovely eyes, but her gaze was cold, calculating.
"Ashly, we didn't know you had a sister," Bianca said, her voice laced with curiosity. She's the light-skinned, tall girl with a radiant smile and brown eyes, but her gaze was piercing, as if she could see right through me.
"Uhmm, actually, she was staying at the-" Ashly was interrupted by the bell, its loud, jarring sound echoing through the hallway.
"We better go, or else Mr. Zonde will kill us," Kim uttered, her voice laced with fear.
"Okay, girls, see you in class," Ashly said, her voice firm, commanding. "I have to accompany Testimony to her class."
"Okay, girl, but don't be late," Bianca shouted, her voice echoing through the hallway as the girls turned the corner.
"Wait, we're not in the same class," I mumbled nervously, suddenly feeling like I was going to have a mental breakdown.
"No, sis, you have hospitality and drama classes," Ashly replied, her voice cold, detached. "I have physics classes. But don't worry, Micheal is in the same class as you. Everything is going to be good."
"I'll see you at lunchtime. I gotta go," she smiled and rushed to her class.
My heart beat a thousand miles per hour as I pushed the door open. Oh God, my legs shook. Never before was I this nervous. I slowly walked inside, and everyone was staring at me.
"And you are?" the teacher uttered with an unwelcoming attitude.
God, I'm just five minutes late. My tongue suddenly twisted, and I couldn't utter a word. I heard giggles and whispers filling the room. I knew some girls were judging my skirt or perhaps my looks, but I felt uneasy, and I just wished my mom was here.
"Uhmmm...a," I mumbled.
"Well, are you going to speak, or should I send you to the principal's office?" the teacher shouted, making me feel more nervous and unwelcome.
"Uhmm, I'm...my name is Testimony, ma'am," I mumbled.
"Testimony for what? For being late?" she rudely snapped at me, and the class laughed.
"No...no, ma'am," I mumbled with tears in my eyes. Why is she so mean?
"Are you backchatting with me, young lady? Don't you have manners?" She yelled, and I flinched. Tears were rolling down my eyes, and I couldn't control them anymore.
"Oh, look, everyone, she's crying," I heard one of the girls say, and the whole class laughed louder.
"No, ma'am, sorry, ma'am," I sniffed, trying to hold back my tears.
"Seat down," she ordered, and I scanned around for an empty chair. There was an empty chair at the fourth row, third desk, before the last one. A boy was seated wearing a black hoodie. He seems like he's not wearing a uniform. Maybe he's a substitute teacher, I thought to myself while I walked to the desk.
Everyone was giggling. "Village girl," the teacher said, and the class giggled louder, but I didn't want to pay attention to her anymore.
"Ouch!" I yelled, falling to the floor, spilling my books all over, and the class giggled.
"Ops," the girl next to me said, and I knew she tripped me on purpose.
I picked up my books, but as I was taking the last book next to the boy, our hands touched, and I slowly looked up to meet the most gorgeous light brown lazy eyes ever. He's a student, not a substitute teacher. His lips were perfectly round and pink; they looked juicy and attractive.
What! What the heaven's are you thinking? I snapped out of my thoughts.
"Sorry," I quickly removed my hands.
He formed a small smile. "It's okay," he uttered, looking surprised at his own words.
I took my book and sat next to him. I took out my hospitality notebook. But I didn't have the hospitality textbook.
"Do you have the textbook?" he whispered, and I shook my head.
"Not yet," I said, feeling a little ashamed and annoyed.
"We can share," he uttered, pushing his book between the two of us.
"Thank you," I uttered with a smile on my face.
He just formed a small smile and gave his entire attention back to the teacher while I caught up on some notes.
Putting my pen down, I couldn't help but wonder why he was dressed separately from all of us.
As the lesson dragged on, I found myself stealing glances at the boy beside me. He seemed to sense my gaze, and his eyes flickered towards me, our gazes meeting for a brief moment.
I felt a jolt of electricity run through my veins, and I quickly looked away, my heart racing.
What was wrong with me? I didn't even know his name, and yet I felt drawn to him in a way that I couldn't explain...
The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, and I quickly gathered my belongings, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere. As I rushed out of the classroom, I spotted Ashly waiting for me, a hint of concern etched on her face.
"Hey, girl," she said, her voice laced with a mix of sympathy and warning.
I couldn't muster the energy to match her enthusiasm. "Hey," I replied flatly.
Ashly's eyes narrowed. "Didn't have a good first day, huh?"
I raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
She leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "News spreads fast here. Whatever you do, keep it a secret."
I nodded, feeling a sense of unease settle in.
As we walked home, we stopped for ice cream. While Ashly was busy paying, I caught sight of him—the boy who had captivated me earlier. He was walking in the distance, surrounded by his friends, but his eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through my veins.
A sly smirk spread across his lips, and he turned away, disappearing into the crowd.
Ashly handed me my ice cream, oblivious to the exchange. "Here's your ice cream."
I took it, my mind still reeling from the encounter. "Thanks."
As we walked home, the silence between us was oppressive. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that unblinking eyes were trained on me.
When we arrived home, Ashly yelled out to her mom, while I trudged upstairs, feeling like I was drowning in a sea of uncertainty.
I collapsed onto my bed, my mind racing with thoughts of him—the boy with the piercing gaze and the sly smirk.
What a day.
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