After leaving Mr Oliver's classroom I scoured my planner for a timetable. Luckily, first lesson was fairly close and I could find it easily. Looking up momentarily and saw Joel and Claire speaking at the end of the corridor. Joel seemed mad. After speaking to her he spun on his heels and entered the classroom behind him. Checking each classroom's number, my heart began to sing as I drew closer to the room Joel had entered.
Please God, please.
It was.

The room was cold and unwelcoming. As well as the chipping, dirty grey walls, a silence fell across the room as I entered and eyes burned into my back as I approached the teacher's desk. She was a stern looking woman, around 50. She had sparkling grey hair and a tatty looking cardigan. She inspected me as I inched towards her desk.
"Yes?" She asked in an irritated tone, as though the thought of another child entering her class filled her with dread.
"I'm Cam?" I said hopefully, longing she had some knowledge of my new place at the school.
"Right. Take a new exercise book from the shelf at the back and sit there."
God bless that battleaxe's soul.
She had sat me next to Joel.

Eyes followed me around the room as I tried to keep my cool walking to the corner of the classroom and grabbing an exercise book. You have to feign confidence to gain confidence, I thought to myself. I wanted to make a good impression. I smiled at Joel as I slid into my seat. Better turn on the charm. He smiled back and then looked ahead; he seemed nervous. Surely not? I thought. How could someone as gorgeous as him be nervous around someone like me? Surely he was one of the most popular boys at the school? Something wasn't right.

I heard muttering around me and a boy behind our desk gave Joel a slip of paper. He quickly scanned it and seemed angry by what he had written. He scrunched it up and threw it in his face, hissing something I failed to hear. He turned back to face the front and sighed; I longed to comfort him seeing him so upset. He lacked the confidence he had in form, maybe he wasn't the strong, tough guy I got the impression of? Still handsome as hell though.

The teacher began to write on the whiteboard but remained silent. Joel turned to me to speak. His voice was hushed.
"She's Miss Everton," he began. I nodded like a moron as he spoke. "She's worked here for years. She's pretty stern but if you get on her good side, she can be really nice. Once she-"
"Hey!" Someone whisper-shouted behind me. I felt an aggressive tap on my shoulder.
It was the boy who passed the note to Joel. Dark brown hair, messily combed to one side. He looked messy in general; I wasn't going to like him.
"What's your name?" He asked, leaning forward against the table.
"Cam." I answered meakly, trying to hide my immediate disliking to this boy. His face contorted into a dirty grin.
"You're fit, Cam." He said with a smirk plastered across his face. Grim.
Suddenly, Joel raised his hand and slapped him across the head.
"Don't be a dick, Tom." He advised, shaking his head. Tom's smirk remained.
"What is it Joel? Got a crush on the new girl?" He blushed and my heart soared through the clouds. I was the luckiest girl in the world. But Tom continued.
"Has she turned you?"
Joel's face fell to the floor. Turned him? What did that mean?
"Watch yourself, Tom." He spat. Tom was still unfazed.
"What're you gonna do Joel? Spank me? Tell me I'm a naughty boy? Sorry to disappoint you mate, but I'm not that way inclined."
Was Joel gay? Please, no, I prayed.

This was the final straw. I saw hatred in Joel's eyes, and, for a moment, I was scared. Suddenly, he rose from his chair, knocking mine to the floor with his powerful legs. My head thumping, I looked up to see Joel's strong hands gripping Tom's top button, raising him slightly from the ground. I sat myself up in time to see him raise his fist.
Oh no.