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This is a story I've been working on. It's completely original, from my own mind. Steal it and you will become inexplicably and extremely unhappy. Comments and feedback are loved, but only if you follow this simple color scheme.

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PART 2

“How may I help you?” She asked in a concern, yet slightly detached voice that mimicked every other school secretary I’d met.
“We’re new to town.” I’d heard this speech enough time to recite it while unconscious. “I called a few days ago, about registering my daughter for class?”
The secretary nodded.
“Of course. Charlotte’s classes are all picked out.” I was not a fan of my real name. It made me feel like I’d stepped out of an early 19th century novel.
“That’s great.” Mom sounded relieved. It meant she didn’t have to be here for that much longer.
The secretary bustled about, looking in various filing cabinets before pulling out numerous papers and handing them to me.
“That’s your class schedule, those are the periods, that’s the map of the school…” She pointed out each of the papers, though I didn’t pay attention. I was a pro at being new. It had stopped scaring me a long time ago.
“If you’d like, I’m sure we could find someone to show you around.” She smiled like it was an exciting thing.
“No thank you.” I said, stuffing the papers in my bag. The last thing I needed was a teacher’s pet trying to play tour guide.
“Well, if that’s everything…” Mom was definitely eager to escape. She was a rat and this ship was burning fast. She kissed me on the check, ignoring the look on my face. “I’ll see you at home.” She promised. And then she fled.
Without another word to the woman, I turned and did the same. Only, being under-aged, my only option was to flee into a different building. Off of the roasting stick, into the campfire.

My first class was Trigonometry. Also known as the Achilles heel to teenagers everywhere. Why they didn’t just stop after long division was beyond me.
I walked slowly, weaving in and out and the crowds of kids. They were all talking incessantly, so caught up in their high school dramas too notice a new girl. And I wasn’t complaining.
I found the room with little trouble. I slipped in and sat in the farthest back corner. Most of the kids already sitting in the back glanced at me, but what they saw obviously didn’t impress them much.
By the time the bell rang, most of the kids were in the room, with a few stragglers rushing in.
The teacher, a portly man name Mr. Hartley, walked to the front of the room. He looked every inch the math geek, complete with uneven glasses and pocket protector.
“Welcome ladies and gents.” His attempt at being smooth was marred by the fact that his voice cracked. I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. This was going to be a long period.
I prepared myself to the normal rigmarole. Syllabus, rules, expectations, etc. The best part about the first day of school was the lack of actual learning. An entire day to zone out.
Just as Mr. Hartley began passing out the syllabuses (syllabi?) the door opens. I was too busy envisioning Alaric in his epic sword fight with the dragon. Somehow I doubted it would go well for him. After all, a dragon is nothing to sneeze at.
There was silent, collect gasp from the females in the room. I looked to see a 6 ft. 1, blond hair, blue-eyed jock strolling into the room like he owned the place. I looked around the room. The only open seat was…next to me. Peachy.

PART 4

I looked pointedly at the girls around us. All were glancing repeatedly at Axel and whispering amongst themselves.
“Call it a hunch.” I said, turning back to him.
“Who says you’re an outcast?” He asked, leaning in closer. The whispers multiplied.
“Quiet down.” Mr. Hartley called out in an unimpressive voice. The whispers subsided for a moment, but all eyes were on us.
“An answer, please.” He said bluntly.
“No.” I said, just as blunt. There was a mixture of relief and disbelief on the females’ faces.
The whispers swelled again as Axel leaned away from me. I caught some of what they were saying.
“How can anyone turn him down?”
“I don’t care, I’m just happy that she did.”
“Why won’t he notice me?”
“He’s so hot.”
I shook my head in annoyance. They were all the same.
Mr. Hartley was about to open his mouth again, when the bell rang. Axel stood up slowly, glancing down at me.
“See you later.” He said with a smug grin. He turned and walked away, leaving dropped jaws astonished faces behind him; including mine, to my chagrin.

The rest of the morning classes passed in their usual blur. Social Studies was bland as ever. Health was guaranteed to be awkward, full of blushing girls and laughing guys. Biology was a bit better. Science was fairly easy. Then their came the blessed time of the day: lunch.

The cafeteria was stuffed to the brim with hungry students. There was a constant buzz of conversation and movement. I slipped through the massive throng, invisible. I enjoyed my invisibility. It was my not-so-super power.
As I stood in line for food, I noticed Mr. Perfect looking at me. Instead of looking away when our eyes met, he smiled. I, on the other hand, frowned. What was up with him? I knew the Prince Charming types were supposed to be…well, charming…but this was going over the top.
I grabbed my food and sat down. It wasn’t so awful if you took into consideration it was school food. Still, I dug in hesitantly. I was almost finished with one of the greasiest pieces of pizza I had ever eaten, when someone sat in the chair next to me.
“You’re honestly going to try again?” I turned, expecting Mr. Perfect. Instead I was faced with a small girl with mouse-brown hair and glasses perched on her nose.
“Oh, sorry.” I said lamely. “I thought you were…”
“Someone else?” She finished for me, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t worry about it. Everyone does.” For a moment her eyes looked sad, before clearing up. “I’m Miriam.”
Miriam was the epitome of nerdiness. Her hair was in perfect braids, her clothes were neatly pressed and I had to resist the urge to start in with “Good golly gee, isn’t school swell?”
“Charlie.” I replied.

PART 6

“Maybe I just like what I see.” He replied with a smirk. Unlike Axel, who seemed bent on trying to charm me, this guy was just trying to throw me off balance.
“Be still my beating heart.” I said, putting a hand on my chest. Sarcasm was much more fun than taking anything seriously. He smirked.
Ms. Crim called the class to order then.
“Alright, sit back and listen up.” She said. The students looked at each other in amazement. Did a teacher just say that?
“My number one rule in here is simple. Use common sense.” She leaned up against the chalkboard. “You’ve all managed to survive the educational system this far, you should know by now how to toe the line.”
It was like the teacher of my dreams, come to life.
“Don’t be late, don’t backtalk, do your work.” She counted off on her fingers as she said them. “Don’t act like your hot stuff and we’ll get along fine. Now, onto more important things.”
I didn’t know teachers like this actually existed outside of teenage soap operas.
“Your first assignment is called ‘Mind Reader’.” She continued. “You’re going to partner up. Talk, get to know each other, then write a day in the life of that person.”
I liked the assignment. I didn’t like the way tall, dark, and scary was looking at me. Like he already assumed we’d be partners. I had to admit, I wondered what it was like under all those raven locks.
“You have 3 days to work on it.” She said. “Get to know them. Make up a story. The setting doesn’t matter. Spaceship, alternate universe, I don’t care.”
She couldn’t exist. This had to be a figment of my imagination. Wasn’t it an unspoken rule among teachers to only rise to a certain level of awesomeness?
“Alright.” She said loudly, clapping her hands. “Get on it!”
The class erupted. Kids jumped up from their seats. 3 days of class spent just talking? Everyone rejoiced. I might have been rejoicing a bit too, but it was on the inside.
I watched as the kids paired up with those they knew, completely avoiding me and the guy beside me. There were a few glances in his direction. They looked…nervous.
“People avoid you like the plague.” I pointed out for no particular reason.
“Yep.” He smiled. It was not a nice smile. “Are you going to?” It was a dare. Of course I had to take it.
“A little disease spices up an otherwise mundane life.” I replied smoothly. He smirked.
“Gray, good to see you again.” I looked up to see Ms. Crim standing on the other side of him. “Maybe this time you should try to pass the class.” There was obvious familiarity between them.
“And miss seeing your gorgeous face every day?” He quipped. She smiled and rolled her eyes. She looked to me.
“Since fate has thrown you two together, do me a favor.” She said with a twinkle in her eye. “Keep this kid in line.” With another smile she was off across the classroom.
“You failed the class.” I said after she’d left. I wasn’t exactly an honor roll student myself, but failing a class like this floored me. There were no right or wrong answers, how could you fail?
“Yep.” He said, staring at his hands, now folded on the desk. “Got into some stuff, did some stuff, got caught with some stuff, you know, the usual story.”

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