Chapter 3

"Gabe."

I closed the door of my locker to see my partner from the History class standing right in front of me. He seemed... shy.

I furrowed my brows.

"What?"

"Gabe. My name's Gabe. I just transferred. What's your name?"

I blinked slowly. He didn't look like a bad guy. Yeah, his shaved head, his big muscles, his intimidating posture made him look like he had escaped jail thirty minutes ago, but the way he lowered his head said the otherwise. "Ivy. Ivy Moore. Nice to meet you."

He raised his eyes, meeting mine and smiled timidly. I put on a grimace, realising that I shouldn't make new friends. I didn't know if my problem would come back to me or not. It could've come anytime and I wasn't prepared to lose important things.

"I'm sorry I was a **** in the class. I was kinda pissed that my only friend here was not my partner. I'm not great at making new friends."

I giggled. We already had something in common.

He leaned against the locker next to him and folded his arms. I had to say, he didn't look bad.

"What's happening here? Already replacing me?"

Emily came next to us, smiling and playing with her long, blonde hair. Gabe bit his upper lip and lowered his head again. "Well... see you again, Ivy." With a shy wave, he left us, walking as fast as he could.

I chuckled. He was exactly like me in my first year of high school. I sighed and turned my face towards Emily.

She looked intrigued. She narrowed her eyes and grabbed my arm, dragging me slowly towards her Biology class, even though I had to go to Psychology next. "So... he's your partner? Nice muscles. Why didn't you introduce me to him?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's a shy guy. I won't force him to talk to other people."

"Oh my god, Ivy! I'm your best friend! I'm the exception, understood?" she said, letting go of my arm.

I stopped in front of her class's door. "Next time, you introduce me to yours and I'll do the same."

Her expression changed. She stopped looking into my eyes and, with a fake laughter she threw her hair on her back. "I don't think so. I think I should talk with Mr. Wilson. I can't sit next to that... guy again."

I studied her face, analysing her terrified expression. "Is he that scary?"

She glanced up to the ceiling. Her eyes were glossy. "No, no, he just... makes me uncomfortable. I just don't want to stay next to him, that's all."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to think how to make her open herself to me. It was rare to see Emily this scared and everything became worse because I didn't know how to handle the situation. "Okay, then... see you around at lunch?" I started walking backwards, studying her face one more time.

She seemed tired. Like that guy stole her energy. But she still managed to smile, even though she was faking it. "Of course. See ya."

She walked in the class, shutting the door and leaving me alone in the hallway. With a sigh, I turned around and walked towards my Psychology class, which started five minutes ago. It was a last moment decision to take this class. I needed one more class and I thought that Psychology might be just fine. It would be the first time I met my new teacher and I was already late. Great.

As I was walking, I noticed that there was not even one soul outside of the classes. I took in a deep breath, trying to not scare myself. I laughed, not believing what I was doing. Calm down, Ivy. There's nothing to be scared of.

Or so I thought.

Out of nowhere, a loud and disturbing sound made me wince and tremble in fear. I didn't know where it came from. I started running without thinking.

Throwing a fast glare in my back, the hallway was empty. I slowed down, exhaling relieved. I turned my face right before the impact.

I bumped into someone. I screamed, jerking away and massaging my nose. I hated this. Tears filled my eyes and I lowered my body, focusing on the annoying pain.

After a few seconds, I remembered that there was someone in front of me. I raised my head.

There was a tall, athletic and intimidating guy. He was wearing a black shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. His black, tight trousers made his legs look really long. I looked up at his face, but the big glasses with its dark-shaded lentils made it hard to see his eyes. His full lips turned into a thin line, like he was disgusted by me touching him.

"Are you fine?" He said, clenching his fists.

I blinked slowly, getting to my feet. His husky and low voice made me confused. "Yeah."

"I apologize." He mumbled, lowering his head. "I should've been more careful."

I massaged my hand, approaching him. "It's fine, really. It's my fault anyways."

He touched his glasses, making it look like one of those nerd's exaggerated gestures. If I thought about it a little more, he truly looked like a nerd. "Can I ask you something?"

I raised my brows.

I knew I should've ran to my Psychology class, but something about him made me more curious than I should've been. "Sure. What's up?" My voice cracked a bit, making me cringe, but he didn't seem to notice. Or, maybe, he didn't care.

"Where is the Psychology class?" He asked, touching again his glasses.

I blinked quickly and cleared my throat. This guy was intimidating. "I-I-I can show you the way. That's where I'm going."

He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.

Oh! He was waiting for me to move. I chuckled nervously, passing by him and going straight to the Psychology class. I sensed him following me, but I couldn't hear his steps. I exhaled sharply, feeling how my hands became sweaty and I used my jeans to clean them. Ugh, I hated this. Becoming intimidated for no reason.

"So, um... are you new? Haven't seen you around."

It wasn't like I was the friendliest person that existed, but my mind was empty in that moment. I wanted to fill the embarrassing silence and didn't know how, but chit-chatting.

"No. I've been here ever since the first year." He seemed distracted. He answered my question like a robot. It looked like he rehearsed his speech, ready to be asked this type of questions. Furrowing my brows, I turned a bit to see him right in my back, with his arms still crossed over his chest. His arms were veiny and masculine and it made me stare a little too much...

"...you?"

I raised my head so fast that I could hear my neck crack. I put on a grimace and start massaging my neck. "Sorry, what?"

If he was aware I was studying him, he didn't let it show. He looked like he was used to it. "I asked about you. Are you new here? Never seen you."

"Oh. I've been here since last year. I haven't really tried making new friends to be honest so that's why you've never seen me." I said, laughing at my own antisocial behavior.

"That's sad. Why haven't you?" He continued, talking politely but at the same time in a boring manner, like he just didn't want to be considered a jerk by no talking at all.

I sighed, trying to think about a good reason to give him. I couldn't find one. "Guess that's just... because I don't want to hurt people."

He was walking behind me, which made me feel a bit awkward. But after I said that, I was happy he couldn't see my red and flustered face. I didn't know why, but I felt vulnerable near him. Why did I say such a thing to a complete stranger? I shook my head and chuckled, embarrassed. I bet he thought I was weird.

I didn't know what to expect from him. To ask me why did I think I would hurt people? To assure me that no one will get hurt because of me?

Maybe I expected something. Maybe a pat on the shoulder. Maybe a small smile and a sarcastic expression on his face.

But when I turned around to face him, there was nothing. His expression was blank and impassable. He ran his hand through his hair and stood still in front of me. His height made me look like a small kid next to him, but I couldn't care less. I was irritated by his nonchalant behavior. I knew it wasn't something to be furious about, but I couldn't help myself.

We stood like this for approximately a minute, when, finally, he said something.

"Are we there?"

I blinked slowly, not understanding what he was talking about for a few seconds. Suddenly, my eyes widened because of the revelation. The Psychology class. I pinched the bridge of my nose and snorted.

"Yea, it's right here." I said, pointing him the door next to me.

Without throwing me another glare, he opened the door and closed it as fast as a hare.

What was wrong with him?

No, better question. What's wrong with you? Why did you say such things to a stranger?

I shook my head. Right. I was the weird one. I couldn't blame him for not wanting to talk with me. Sighing, I opened the door and got in the Psychology class.

"Another late one. I won't tolerate such behavior in my class!"

An old, wrinkled lady, who was standing behind the enormous table in front of the class, raised her finger towards me, making everyone turn their heads. I blushed, inevitably, and lowered my head.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't remember where this class was." I lied, looking through my classmates, hoping I might see someone familiar.

And there he was. In the back of the class, with no partner. He was resting his elbows on the table, supporting his chin with his folded hands. His dark glasses were still on his face. I wanted to see his eyes. I wanted to know their color.

"Can you hear me, young lady?!" The teacher hissed at me, making me wince, surprised by her high-pitched voice.

"Y-y-yea, sorry. I won't be late anymore, I promise."

She shook her head and gave a dismissive wave of her hand, letting me off the hook. I sighed in relief and walked towards the desks. I made eye contact -I couldn't be sure because of his glasses, thou- with the weird guy and, without thinking too much, I sat next to him. I knew I was weird and probably he would try anything to not talk with me ever again, but I didn't care. I wanted to feel comfortable, so I sat next to the person I knew the most from the entire class.

A soft sigh came from his direction and I raised my eyebrows. Did he despise me that much?

The teacher got to her feet and started talking about Psychology and what it means. I took out my notebook and a pen from my backpack and started writing down everything she said. With the corner of my eye, I saw him leaning his back on the chair and folding his arms, like he was there for a movie and not for actually learning something.

"Hey. Do you want a pen and some paper?" I asked him, desperate to make him talk with me.

He tightened his jaw, not even throwing me a glare. I backed off, blinking slowly.

"No. I don't need anything." He whispered, keeping his all-mighty composure.

I sighed, eyeing the clock. Other thirty minutes. I wanted to get over with it quickly. I couldn't cope with me being embarrassing even five more minutes.

So, I stood there, next to this weird, intimidating, nerd-like guy, trying to be as small and quiet as I could. At some point, I thought I stopped breathing and I panicked, but as soon as I drew a deep breath, I rested assured that I was still alive.

Finally, the bell rang and I rose from my chair, ready to leave the class.

"Sit down! I forgot to check the register!"

Everyone growled, tired and bored because it was the last class this day. I rolled my eyes and I sat down, shoving my hair back away from my face.

"Crystal Anderson?"

"Here."

As my classmates kept being called by their names, I was inspecting my nails, but with the eye of my corner, I was studying the guy sitting in my right. He seemed invisible for the rest of the class; like there was nothing impressive about him so he could turn heads towards him. But I couldn't imagine why. He looked stunning – excluding his eyes which I clearly couldn't see – and the class was predominantly formed by girls. I was expecting... I didn't know, but a lot of girls coming at our desks and trying to hook up with him or something. But it wasn't like that. And I was pretty confused by this aspect.

"Ivy Moore?"

He said he's been here since the first year. Maybe... maybe he said no to all of them... or maybe? Maybe he was gay?

"Ivy Moore is not here?"

I blinked quickly and raised abruptly my head. "Oh, yes, yes I'm here!"

The teacher huffed. She continued calling out names and I went back to my confusing thoughts...

Wait a second. I could find out his name! The old lady was checking the register and she would surely say aloud his name! I bit my upper lip, waiting impatiently and listening carefully to each name she said with her high-pitched voice.

"Zoe Sander."

"Here."

"Okay, class. That's all. Don't forget the books tomorrow! We really need them!"

People rose from their seats and started walking towards the door. Confused, I looked around me, not believing I failed. One thing I had to do. To listen. I smacked my forehead. I couldn't believe I was that stupid. This was my only shot to find out more about him.

A soft laughter found its way to my ears and I turned my head to my right, only to see him looking at me. I blushed, flustered by his sudden attention and I lowered my eyes.

I sensed a sudden move from his direction and when I raised my head he was already gone.

I stuffed my notebook and the pen in my backpack and stormed out the class, thinking how could I become more embarrassing than I'd already been.

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