"Ms.Brooke, where on earth were you yesterday when you were supposed to be attending the school?" My mom shouts at me as I sit on the table to have my breakfast.

"I wasn't feeling well." I Lie.

"You should've at least told me about it and I could have called your school to tell them about you taking a leave. Your school's principal called me in the middle of my important meeting. He told me that you didn't come to school and asked whether you are ill or what. And I was there on the other line of the phone, clueless about your whereabouts. I do not expect this kind of behaviour from you."

"I am really sorry mom. I won't do anything like this in future. I promise."

"Good. Now eat your breakfast quickly or you'll get late for school... Noah will be dropping you today.

"OK."

"And I hope you are prepared for next week?," she asks in her a-concerned-mother tone.

"Next week?" I ask being clueless.

"Oh Jesus! You're having your school elections then."

"Oh, right. I forgot. But don't worry I am prepared."

"Good, then. You should probably leave for school now."

"Um...Yeah"

I waved at Noah as I closed the door of my house behind me. He was waiting for me in his car.

"Hey bro," I say in a very high pitched voice. Emphasis on very.

"Hey chipmunk, how are you doing?

"Same old, same old- wait what! I am not a chipmunk," I say being annoyed.

"Okay, okay," he says  laughing.

"Do you know Alex's grandmother died a few days back?"

"The one who was 105 years old?"

"Yup," I say popping the p.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No, I am Haley."

"But seriously I thought she would live for some more years."

"Same."

"Hey, it's my jam," I say as I hear Let Me Love You being played on the radio.

I put my hands in the air and start to dance like mads to the beats of the song. Hey, don't judge my dance moves. Those are original and I have my copyright on them. Terms and conditions applied.

***

I wave with genuine smile to Noah as we part ways.

Without wasting time I collect my books from my locker and hurry towards my Advance English class.

I take a seat in the front row and with alacrity wait for class to begin.After some time, Ms.Heather enters the class followed by a girl that I have never seen here before.

I know her. She is the one who moved in the house beside our's. Ms.Heather introduces her to the class and tells us that she'll be taking Advance English with us all.

Then without once reconsidering the'new' girl proceeds towards me and takes the vacant seat beside me.

"Hi," she instantly speaks.

"Hi," I say. "I didn't know that you will be joining this school."

"There are many things you don't know," she says turning from me towards Ms.Heather.

Well, yes. There are many things I don't know about her.

OK, I don't know her at all. Can't blame me as, I just met her once before today. And that too was for a few minutes. Therefore, I have been proved to be innocent for not knowing her at all.

 Why do I exaggerate everything so much?

***

At lunch, I wave at Alex and sit next to him. He elates to see me after such a long day of misery.

"It has been Haley proven that I missed you a lot yesterday. As well, I am sorry that your grandmother kicked the bucket," I say with empathy.

"My grandmother didn't kick any bucket. Well she could have also. But as far as I know she never kicked a bucket before she died."

"It's an idiom Alex."

"Idioms and I don't go very well."

"Noted." I say with a smile creeping up on my face.

While we are indulged in talking, Kiara comes and sits next to me. 

"Do you mind," she asks.

"Yes," Alex replies instantly.

"Oh, I am so sorry to disturb you. I'll find a seat somewhere else," Kiara says in a melancholy voice.

"No, it's totally fine. You can sit with us," I say as she was steadying herself to leave but she relaxes as I finish my sentence.

Before Alex says something rude again, I eye at him, indicating that- she is new at school and we need to help her feel comfortable.

The rest of the lunch period went quite well, fortunately. Alex actually enjoyed her company. Hopefully craziness ran into her blood; and she joined our team- Halkiarex.

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