When Cam entered the room, I sat myself up and wiped my clammy hands on my trousers. I had never been this nervous around anyone; but she was different. She seemed to glow, radiate with beauty. When she entered a room, it became alive, and even the dingiest place could become beautiful. She seemed to change my perspective of life, turn it on its head; she was everything I had ever dreamed of.

For a moment, she lingered by the door, shuffling her feet and looking at the ground, glancing quickly at the class to her left before once again lowering her head. I couldn't believe how nervous she was! Girls as beautiful as her usually shone with confidence, taking everything in their stride. I wanted to scream at her in that moment; tell her she was beautiful, tell her how she made my stomach flutter every time I saw her, hell, I'd only known her for 20 minutes, but God it was true.

We sat two to a desk in Miss Everton's class and it was only me and Jack with empty seats on our desks. I glanced over to Jack, who, from the way he was sitting himself up and eyeballing Cam, I could see also wanted her to sit with him. In fact, as I looked around the room, many of the boys were gawking at Cam in the very same way. At least I wasn't going crazy; she was very, very good looking.

Cam had quiet words with Miss Everton before she hurried to the back of the classroom to retrieve an exercise book. I could see she was trying not to look like a nervous wreck, as when she came down the classroom she walked more slowly and calmly. I felt bad for her, recalling how nervous I was on my first day, but she seemed to be handling it a lot better than I did.
My heart stopped as she slid into the seat next to me, flashing me a warm smile as she did so.
Miss Everton I love you.

I smiled back at her and looked forward again. Tom sat behind us and I felt a sharp kick on the back of my chair. This was the first time in a way he had acknowledged my existence, so I suppose you could say I was somewhat hopeful that he had suddenly, miraculously turned a corner and wanted to speak to me again. Instead, he handed me a note.

"why do you get the new girl gay boy? a girl that fit would never touch you anyway"
His ignorance and flash judgements irritated me. I screwed up the torn paper and threw it back at him.
"You better leave her alone." I hissed.
"You can't make me." He smirked.
God I hated him, but I remembered Cam sitting was next to me and murdering someone after knowing her for less than an hour would not bode well for me.

I calmed myself down and faced the front, and I could feel her beautiful eyes burning into me. She was curious, but I didn't want to seem weak in front of her. Instead I began to introduce her to Miss Everton. As I spoke, she listened intently, hanging onto my every word. She looked up at me and for a moment I imagined her closing her eyes and stretching up to kiss me, as I leaned down and held her cheeks.

"Hey!"
It was Tom. She frowned when he practically punched her shoulder. He leaned forward against the table, speaking breathily in Cam's face.
"What's your name?"
She squirmed. I could see how uncomfortable she felt speaking to this absolute knob. She looked down and spoke quietly.
"Cam."
I watched in horror as Tom's true intentions shone through, a dirty grin spreading across his face
"You're fit Cam."
I took matters into my own hands.

I turned and thumped him on the head.
"Don't be a dick Tom." I said, shaking my head.
It surprised him, but that awful smile refused to shift.
"What's wrong Joel? Got a crush on the new girl?"
He paused; I knew where this was heading.
"Has she turned you?"
I wanted to kill him there and then, but I managed to restrain myself. I spoke again with gritted teeth.
"Watch yourself Tom."
"What're you gonna do, Joel? Spank me?" Stop. "Tell me I'm a naughty boy?" Why? "Sorry to disappoint you, mate, but I'm not that way inclined."
That was it.

I flew up and faced him head on. For a moment he was unaware, smiling proudly at the small disruption he had made. As he turned his face dropped, and silence fell around the room. I was aware or Miss Everton calling behind me, but nothing could distract me. I raised my right fist and Tom eyes widened and he grabbed the table, paralysed in fear. I slammed my burning fist into his cheek and he flew into the boy to his left. His head clashed powerfully into the table behind him and he bounced and fell to the floor.

"Joel!" Cam cried, sitting scared against the table leg behind her, a chair at her feet. I must have knocked her as I stood up. Her eyes were wide in fear and she held her knees tightly against her chest. She looked at me as though I were a monster.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I cried, falling to my knees to assist her. Her expression suddenly relaxed and she lowered her legs.
"Oh, it's fine don't-Oh!"
I grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. She was flustered and her cheeks burned as I picked up her chair and gestured for her to sit.
"Ah ha, thank you." She sighed breathily, sitting down.

She turned her head to face me, but her face suddenly dropped.
"Look!" She cried, extending her hand.
Tom was up again and his fist was flying rapidly towards my mouth. His burning eyes were the last thing I saw before my head slammed into the desk.