24 days before Valentine’s Day.

        “Morning, snoring imbecile.” I greeted with a smile as I walked past Dylan who was stood in front of his locker.

        “Shut up.” He hissed, glaring daggers at Emma and I as we walked past.

        “Nice one!” Aaron chirped up earning him a punch on the arm from Dylan.

        Emma grimaced. “Did he really snore that loudly?” She asked, giving me a sideways glance as she clutched her textbooks close to her chest.

        I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah,” I answered. “It was so loud that we might as well have slept with a giant snoring pig in the room.” I joked.

        Emma tried to suppress a laugh, I could tell. I saw her lips form a thin line, “I never heard it. I can’t believe I slept through that.”

        I chuckled, “I’m surprised that we’re not all deaf!” I felt a sharp jab on my side, “Ow! What the h-“

        “Shush!” Emma shushed me harshly and tried to frantically brush her hair through her fingers. I coughed and raised an eyebrow at her in confusion. Her eyes darted past me and down the student-filled hall.

I never even got to say anything.

        “Hey,” Aaron nodded.

        “Hey,” Emma replied. I just smiled.

Three seconds after Aaron popped out of nowhere like a mushroom; the two were already in deep conversation. The three of us were stood in the middle of the corridor blocking the way, but people didn’t seem to mind. They just walked around us and carried on walking and chattering.

        “That movie was so good! It was so funny! Remember when-“ Emma reminisced.

        “Yeah, and that time when-“ Aaron joined in.

I wasn’t involved in the conversation, like, at all. It wasn’t that I didn’t say anything or at least attempt to try and join in, it’s just I was just completely ignored. Aaron and Emma were immersed in their own little bubble, where they forgot that they were stood in the way of student-traffic in the hall –which I didn’t mind- but, they also forgot my existence and the fact that I was stood there.

        “Okay, I think I’ll get going and go to my lesson. I’ll see you later.” I say, receiving no response from either of them, I decided to try again. “Okay, I’m leaving now.” Still, nothing. “Oh my! I am chocking. Help me.” I say in a monotone, acting was never something I excelled at, unfortunately.

        I shrugged and gave up. “Fine. Goodbye.” I gripped my bag strap tighter and spun on my heel.

I was hoping to make a nice, clean and maybe, dramatic exit and just, I don’t know, disappear into the crowd. But, that only happens in movies. And this is the real world.

        “Sorry!” I exclaimed, walking straight into someone much taller than me. They were so tall that my face actually hit their chest and I had to look up to meet their eyes, smile and apologize .

        “Excuse me.” I pushed through a group of gossiping girls. I heard them say something about how rude I had just been, walking right through the middle of their pathetic little clumps.

I turned back to shout something clever or just put my middle finger up at them but someone stood on my toe.

        “Ow! Watch it!” I screeched. Someone walked into to me and stood on my toe.

        “Did I just stand on your toe? I’m so sorry.” The toe-stepper exclaimed.

I studied his face carefully; I don’t think I’ve seen him before. I gaped at him for a few seconds before he raised his eyebrows at me and gave me a lopsided smile. He probably got weirded out by my staring.

         “I-I-It’s fine.” I stammered. I was thinking about giving him a lecture about watching where he’s going but, I don’t think I can.

        The unfamiliar –gorgeous- guy just smiled sheepishly. “I..um..I’m new, sorry. I guess, I’m kind of lost.” He help up a piece of paper in his right hand, his timetable, I suppose.

        “That explains it.” I grabbed the piece of paper from his hand and began reading it.

        “Explains what?” He asked and I looked up to see him with confusion written in his face.

        My eyes widened, “Did I say that out loud?” I asked and he nodded. “Oh. I was just thinking that I’ve never seen you before, that’s all.” I explained quickly.

He looked at me expectantly. He looks adorable. My hand shot up to cover my mouth instantly after thinking it. Please say I didn’t say that out loud too.

        “Are you okay?” He asked in concern.

Great. Now he probably thinks I’m some creepy weirdo.

        I scoffed, "Yeah, of course." I looked down at his timetable in my hand again. “Let’s see... You have Calculus first period, then double science. Ew. Unlucky, two hours of science. Then, you have lunch, P.E and English Lit.” I recited.

        He ran his hand through his hair nervously. “Yeah. So, can you help me find the classroom because as I’ve said before, I’m kind of lost.” He shrugged.

Damn. He’s so damn cute! Act cool, I told myself.

        “Sure thing!” I say too enthusiastically. Gee! Now I sound like an idiot. “We have first lesson together with Mrs. Wilson.

RRRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNG!

        “There’s the bell.” He pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. “State the obvious much?” I said. I wanted to hit my head on the wall. Not only did I make a fool out of myself by staring at him and sounding like an idiot, he probably thinks that I’m a bitch too.

I decided not to think about it. I was determined to make a better first impression. I swiftly walked down the emptying hallway and headed for my first lesson. I turned to look back and saw that he was walking too slow. Or was it that I was walking too fast?

        “Come on, slow poke. We’re going to be late.” I half-shouted and he increased his pace.

He quickly caught up with me. He was quite a bit taller than me, so he had longer legs. His one stride, matched with two of mine as we walked quickly to calculus. Nobody dares walk in that class late. Everybody is afraid of being eaten alive by Mrs. Wilson.

You might think that it’s an exaggeration but if you’ve seen her, you might think so too. Now, I can’t really describe her properly. She’s kind of one of those people you have to see for yourself to actually believe what people are saying about her and see that none of it is an exaggeration or even close to it.

Mrs. Wilson, I don’t know where to start except that she’s a short, old woman who looks like she’s at least ninety years old. And she has dark brown eyes that are so dark that they might as well be black. They look a lot like the eyes of possessed people on horror movies. And her teeth are really, really yellow and a few of them are missing.

        He stopped walking for a second and held out his hand which I quickly shook. "I'm Jason, by the way."

        “Avery.” Then I started walking again, “Walk and talk, Jason. Walk and talk. We can’t be late to Calculus. You’ll understand the minute you walk in there.” I told him.

I suddenly turned left and he didn’t notice straight away and carried on walking a bit. “Jason!” I called and he followed me to a blue door which was the gateway to one of hell’s many torture rooms.

        I sighed, “Here goes nothing.” I turned the handle and stood by the door. Everyone stared like I was an alien who just randomly walked in and murmurs erupted in the class. They were all sat down in their seats already.

I was late. Great.

        “Quiet!” Mrs. Wilson shouted loudly, making me flinch. For a small old woman, she has a really big mouth and an extremely loud voice. I just wish she’d shut her mouth because seeing her yellowing teeth is gross enough to make everyone in class feel sick and her voice is just annoying.

        “Avery. Would you like to explain why you’re late? And you better have a good reason.” She hissed, I tried to keep avoid eye contact with her at all times and just look at the top of her head. Which, actually isn’t very hard because to look at her eyes, I have to look down. This way I can just look straight ahead, avoid slouching and not look at her in the eyes. It’s a win-win situation, really.

        “Well,” I started. “Funny story, actually. I-“

        Jason stepped in front of me. “Hi, I’m Jason and I’m new. She had to show me where my other classes were. That’s why we’re late, sorry.” He interrupted.

        Mrs. Wilson was stilled pissed but sighed in defeat. “Very well, then. Sit next to Avery. Michaela, move to the spare seat next to Josh, please.” And with that I was saved from a boring lecture about punctuality.

I now also sit next to a really cute guy. I just hope that he doesn’t turn out to be a creep or a jerk. I feel bad for Michaela though, there’s a reason that nobody sits next to Josh. He, well, to put it lightly, he smells of B.O. But, I guess every class needs at least one smelly person sat at the front. At least, that’s the unspoken rule at my school.

Calculus went by faster than normal. Maybe it was because it wasn’t as boring because I was now sat next to Jason who is actually really funny. It was a lot better than sitting next to Michaela because it meant that I didn’t have to suffer awkward attempts at making conversation. We never really had anything to talk about since we had nothing in common except being trapped in the same classroom, three times a week for calculus.

I might have spent half of the lesson just staring at him from my seat. I’ve basically memorised his face enough to draw him from memory. I know every single wave there is to his sandy blond hair and every green speck on his blue eyes. That’s how much time I spent staring at him.

It turns out that Jason had moved to Westwood hill over the week-end after his Dad left for a business trip so he’s staying with his Aunt and cousin. I asked him who his cousin was but the bell rang and I forgot that I had asked when he waved goodbye and flashed me a brilliant smile.

I never thought that Monday mornings in calculus could be so great.

I’m actually looking forward to my next calculus lesson which is on Wednesday. It feels like such a long time to wait. But, the good news is, I’ll see Jason in fourth period because he has P.E too.

        “Why are you smiling like an idiot?” Dylan smirked when he saw me walking out of class.

        I shrugged. “Nothing.” I answered nonchalantly. Nothing can ruin my mood, not even annoying, snoring Dylan.

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{Unedited}

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