The first meet
Walking down the corridor, I knew something was different about this term. The corridor wasn't as busy and the people on it were the ones known as the geeks and freaks. I am one of them but my best friend, Cassie, is one of the popular kids so usually I'm known to "follow" that group even though one of the leaders is my bestie. Making my way to the hall I could hear Cassie's laugh, it's the type that lights up the room and makes everyone else smile.
I hurriedly put my bag down and skipped over to where she was, she looked at me and smiled shyly then moved round so I couldn't join in the huddle. Angry, but not wanting to cause a scene, I shuffled to a bench near the wall and sat down. I could still hear her laughing along with something and then I heard a new voice. A deep voice. He was telling a joke and the huddle of people around him burst into laughter while he just stood there scratching the back of his neck.
The bell for first period went off and I grabbed my bag and walked out of the hall and into my form room, cassie walked in, talking behind her, as usual, fashionably late. Unlike usual she tells me to get up and move so the new boy can sit next to her. I look up and there he is, 6'3" of handsome MAN in front of me, brown hair, blue eyes with a slight, shy smirk on his face. He puts his hand out to shake mine but before I can, Cassie interrupts.
She points to the boy in front of me and says, "This is Chase, he's just moved here."
I shyly whisper, " Hi Chase, I'm Anna."
His deep voice drowns out the rest of the class as he replies with, "Hi Anna, it's nice to meet you."
Cassie tells me to move so he can sit down, I shuffle out of the way and quickly pick up my stuff without making eye contact with either of them. I end up sat at the back of the class away from everyone I talk to. I pull out a book and start to read as register is taken. Then Chase has to introduce himself to the class and all the girls are gawking at him while he speaks, I'm sure I saw a few girls rub their chins to get rid of drool. But I'm not listening.
I'm not interested.
As he starts back to his seat I put my book down to open my bag and our eyes meet; mine are tired of this and slightly angry but his; his are sorry and I know they were meant for me to see. The bell rings and everyone rushes out but I take my time picking my stuff up and putting my book in my bag. I look around as I leave to make sure no one has left anything but instead I see chase still sat in his seat.
I wander over and ask him why he's still here. He meets my eyes and then looks down at the table, there are my carvings that I did whenever I was bored in form, nearly all of them have something to do with cassie whether it was us playing noughts and crosses or hangman, to us having a conversation with a year 9 who sits there in maths. They all show our friendship and I can tell he feels like Cassie making me move is his fault.
I tap his shoulder, making him look at me. I smiled and whispered shyly, " it's not your fault, I don't mind. If the carvings annoy you I'll swap the desks with the one I'm sat on."
He shook his head and whispered, " I don't mind and if they do annoy me I'll swap the desk, not you."
I smiled again before making my way out of the room; at the doorway I looked back and put my hand up to say goodbye. He smiled and did the same.
The next few breaks were quiet for me, Cassie didn't run up to me after classes as usual and none of her friends asked me for homework. At lunchtime, I usually sat with them though, but not today. I lined up on my own and walked passed where they were sat with their food I looked over but Cassie didn't even look up as I went passed. Sitting at an empty table, I started to eat.
Halfway through my meal, Cassie and her group walked passed, I could hear her laughing and chatting with them. I looked lonely and sad now that she wasn't talking to me. Chase was at the back of the group and when he saw me he put his hand up; I just looked up at him and smiled slightly but cassie saw me and gave me a quick death stare before carrying on her conversation.
The stare that means "stay away, he's mine!"
