Chapter 117 Recognized

Chapter 117 Recognized
ALICIA'S POINT OF VIEW

I woke up staring at the ceiling.For a few seconds, I didn't move.I just lay there, listening to the silence around me then I sighed,Another horrible day.

I slowly sat up and rubbed my face before running my fingers through my hair.I barely slept last night.Every time I closed my eyes, my mind went back to the bridge.

To the cold air,To the tears on my face and most of all...To him.

I shook my head.Why was I even thinking about him?

He was a stranger.....A complete stranger who happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.Or maybe the right place at the wrong time,I didn't know.

All I knew was that he had stopped.He could have ignored me like everyone else had but he didn't.I pushed the thought away and climbed out of bed.

"I wonder how this new school is going to be."I sighed again.

"Probably horrible."I had spent years wishing high school would end.Now I had to start all over again....New school,New teachers,New students,New faces.....More pretending.

I grabbed my towel and headed toward the bathroom.Maybe this day wouldn't be as terrible as I expected.Then again.....I didn't exactly have the best luck.

After getting ready, I walked back into my  room.My eyes immediately landed on the bed.My new uniform had already been laid out neatly.

I stared at it for a few seconds then I scoffed.

"What a horrible uniform."I picked up the skirt and held it up.

"Who designed this? It looks like something from the nineties."I dropped it back on the bed.

"Whatever."I wasn't in the mood to argue with anyone about a uniform.I applied some lotion, got dressed, brushed my hair, and grabbed my school bag.

I stared at myself in the mirror one last time...I looked fine.That was enough.

I walked out of my room.....As I headed downstairs, I could already hear voices coming from the dining room.

And immediately my steps slowed.I knew exactly who was sitting there.Mom.....and him....with Damian.

I took a breath before walking in and Mom immediately looked up.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

"Good morning, Mom."I turned toward the other person at the table.

"Mm... morning."Mom frowned.

"Is that how you greet your father?"I froze for half a second then I looked at her.

"The last time I checked, I don't have a father."The room went silent.Mom's expression changed.

"Alicia."

"What?"

"Don't speak like that."I pulled out a chair but didn't sit.

"I don't have time for this."

"He is your stepfather."

"And?"Mom sighed.

"Please. It's your first day at your new school. Don't start your morning like this."I looked away.

I didn't want to argue,I didn't want to talk,I didn't even want to be in the same room.My stomach tightened simply because he was there.I reached for my bag.

"I'm leaving."

"You haven't eaten."

"I'm not hungry."

"Alicia, sit down."

"Alicia!"I turned around.

"What?"

"You need to respect the people in this house."I stared at her.

For a moment, I wanted to say everything.I wanted to ask her how she could keep pretending everything was normal.

How she could sit there every morning and act like nothing was wrong.How she could tell me to respect someone who had made me afraid of being alone in my own home.

But the words wouldn't come....They never did.So I simply shook my head.

"I have to go."I walked away.

"Alicia!"I ignored her.

"Alicia, come back here!"I kept walking.

I pushed open the front door and stepped outside.My driver was already waiting beside the car so I opened the back door.

"Please start driving."

"Yes, miss."I climbed inside and shut the door.The moment the car started moving, I leaned my head against the window.

I rubbed my forehead,I was already exhausted and it wasn't even eight in the morning.

"Great."I closed my eyes.

"Just great."The car moved through the streets.I watched the buildings pass by without really paying attention.

Then something caught my eye.....A bicycle.A boy riding past us on the other side of the road.

My eyes followed it for a second and suddenly...I remembered Seth again.

A small smile appeared on my lips before I could stop it.I remembered the way he'd stood there.

The way he'd refused to leave,The way he'd kept talking to me even when I told him to go away.I shook my head.

"Idiot....he should have just ignored me."I smiled faintly.

"I wonder how he's doing."I stared out the window.

"I wonder where he is."Then I caught myself.

Why did I care?I had only met him once.I leaned back into the seat.

"Forget it."But the smile remained for a few seconds longer.

By the time we arrived at West Bridge High, the school was already busy.Students were everywhere,Some were walking toward their classrooms......Others stood in groups, laughing and talking.

I stepped out of the car and adjusted my bag on my shoulder.Immediately, I noticed a few people looking at me,I frowned.

Was there something on my face?I checked quickly...there was nothing.

Then I heard a girl whisper to her friend.

"Wow."

"What?"

"Her hair."I glanced over.

The girl was staring at me.

"Is that her natural hair?"Her friend looked at me.

"It's so long... I'm jealous."I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

I wasn't interested,I had enough problems already.I followed the directions I'd been given and eventually reached the principal's office.I knocked.

"Come in."I opened the door.The principal looked up from her desk.

"Good morning ma'am"

"Good morning dear, You must be Alicia Adams?"

"Yes, ma'am."She smiled politely.

"Welcome to West Bridge High."

"Thank you."She picked up a file from her desk.

"Everything has already been arranged. Your transfer documents are complete, and your homeroom teacher has been informed."

"Okay."She reached for the phone on her desk.

"Mr. Andrew?"There was a brief pause.

"Could you please come to my office?"She hung up.

I waited quietly and A few minutes later, a man walked into the office.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," the principal replied.She gestured toward me.

"This is Alicia Adams, our new transfer student."The teacher smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Alicia."

"Nice to meet you too."

"Please take her to Class 12B."

"Of course."I adjusted my bag.

"Thank you."The teacher opened the door.

"Come on."I followed him into the hallway.As we walked, my stomach twisted slightly.

I hated starting over but maybe.......Maybe this time would be different.

We reached the classroom and I could hear voices coming from inside.The teacher opened the door.

"Good morning, everyone."The noise slowly died down.I stood beside him.

"Class, we have a new student joining us today."A few students immediately started whispering.I ignored them.The teacher turned toward me.

"Alicia, you can introduce yourself."I took a small breath.

"Hi, everyone. I'm Alicia Adams. I hope we all get along."A few students smiled.Others simply stared then I looked across the classroom.

And my eyes stopped.....My heart skipped.No,It couldn't be.He was sitting at the back of the classroom.

The same boy from the bridge,The same boy who had refused to leave me alone that night,The same boy whose face had somehow stayed in my mind ever since.

Seth......He was staring directly at me and judging by the shocked expression on his face......He recognized me too.