Chapter 41 TOO BRUISED TO BELONG
My hands graze the soft fabric of the most expensive clothing I'd ever worn. I look at myself standing in front of the small mirror, dressed in my new school uniform which consisted of a dark pleated skirt, fitted black jacket, and a white dress shirt underneath covered with a perfectly folded bow.
Unfortunately, my dirty, torn up shoes didn't exactly match the extravagance of the beautiful fabric, but I didn't mind too much. They were comfortable, and that's all that really mattered to me.
I brush my long brown hair out, looking back at the clock that read exactly 6am.
Jumping up from my seat I grab my bag and phone that had the walking directions already ready. It was a 30 minute walk, so I had to get ready earlier since I wasn't the fastest at walking with all of my injuries slowing me down.
I had all of my textbooks already packed in my old backpack. I was hoping the heaviness of them wouldn't tear through the fragile fabric of my bag from everything it’s gone through.
I take one more look at myself in the mirror, my bruise had only gotten worse and a small sigh leaves my mouth at the purple and red skin surrounding my eye.
Quietly, I start heading out of the room. I didn't want to wake anyone, even though most of the maids had already been up to start work.
How was it even true that I was attending such a prestigious school? I only hoped there would be no more bullying, or at least not as bad as Roger.
There couldn't be though, they all came from well off families, it's not like they'd want anything from someone like me.
I wondered if I should thank the owners of the house for letting me attend the school for a moment, but then remember how different we were from each other. I was probably worth nothing in there eyes, which was definitely true either way.
As I'm walking I count how many steps it takes for me to reach each line of the sidewalk, I was trying to distract myself from all the nerves building up inside of me.
Maybe if I didn't talk to anyone, maybe if I pretended like I wasn't even there, no one would bother me.
I never expected anyone to talk to me anyways, there obviously had to be a reason why no one's ever wanted to be my friend after all.
My head suddenly snaps up at the sound of a loud horn, and I move my gaze to the side to see a familiar handsome blonde poking his head out from the back seat of an expensive car, a large smile painted on his face as he waves at me, as if we were friends who'd known each other for
years.
" You work at my house right? Why are you walking?" He yells from the window, and I watch him, my hands grasped tightly onto my backpack straps as I look at him in confusion.
Why was Wayne Conner bothering to talk to me? A nobody.
I swallow the lump in my throat before slowly pointing my finger towards the direction I was going. "S..school." I manage to say, pieces of my hair blowing in the chilly morning wind.
" We can give you a ride, you don't need to walk it's too far." He says, but I don't move in my spot.
I shouldn't be talking to him, Mrs. Carmen would execute me if she saw how unprofessional this
was.
Not to mention the fact that if Wayne was in that car calvin had to be too, and I didn't want to be anywhere near him.
I shake my head no rapidly when he starts to get out of the car, opening the door for me.
"II like walking, but thank you." I say, waving bye to him before quickly walking back on my route. I slightly turn my head back to see an amused look on his face.
His eyes lock with mine, and when they do his gaze softens, but I quickly turn my head back, focusing on whatever was in front of me.
I only wondered what his stormy blue eyes would look like up close...
I dismiss my odd thoughts, and by the time I'm out of my daydreaming I'm already at the school entrance.
Multiple expensive cars lined the front of the large gates, the drivers opening doors for students as they made their way into the towering school building.
It wasn't modern looking, but more like old money looking, wealthy looking in general.
I couldn't even be surprised at the students with designer backpacks and shoes, wearing them like it was normal.
I keep my head down as I walk towards the door, until I'm suddenly stopped by an older woman's hand in front of my face.
She was dressed in formal businesswear clothing and had her curly hair tied in a low bun as she held a clipboard tightly against her chest.
"Are you sure you attend this school?" She asks, looking down at my nervous stance through her thick framed glasses.
"I just transferred here, i was given admission by the Conner Estate." I say. My tone only gets more nervous when people start staring at me, noticing me, giving me odd looks, disgusted ones as they look at my bruised eye.
I wanted to run, hide somewhere, away from all their judging eyes.
At the mention of the last words that leave my mouth the woman's face turns pale as she only nods her head, moving out of my way.
I watch her in confusion before entering the school. Thousands of students lined the hallways as they spoke to friends and walked to classes. It was hard to think all of these students had lived an extravagant life, things must've been so easy for them.
I couldn't help but be envious of them.
I should be grateful though. I try to remind myself everyday that I'm lucky I could even go to school, have shelter, food most of the time.
My eyes scan the paper schedule Mrs. Carmen had printed out for me last night. I had looked over it countless times, nervous of what to expect.
I look for my first period, which was history with some teacher named Mr. Silas. The room number on my paper read 243 and I try my best to find it but there were so many students I could barely make out the room numbers.
The bell had already rung by the time I find the room, and I take in a deep breath as I open the door. I don't even bother to look around when I feel everyone's eyes on me, and I walk straight towards one of the two empty seats left in the back.
"Are you new here?" The middle aged teacher suddenly asks, and I move my head up, nodding in response at his question.
The eyes of the students in my class weren't helping my anxiety, and I try to ignore it but it only gets worse when he calls me to introduce myself in front of the class.
"Come on up, don't be shy." He says as he sits in his chair, and I swallow the lump in my throat as I slowly get up.
I stand in front of the class, my fingers clasped together nervously.
I hear two girls in the back laughing at me, and that only makes the growing pit in my stomach larger. I felt like throwing up, my heart was beating too fast for my own good, and I think I was starting to sweat.
I open my mouth, but no words come out when the door suddenly slams open, and everyone's attention moves towards the sound.
I felt relieved that their eyes weren't on me anymore, until I recognized the cold grey eyes and dark hair of the guy that had walked in.
His jaw was clenched as he walked towards a desk, throwing his backpack down before sitting in the chair right behind my own.
No
"Mr. Conner late again like always." Mr. Silas grumbles as he marks him absent.
Calvin only gives him a small smirk before his icy eyes land on my nervous figure standing in the front of the room.
I shift in my spot as he watches me closely, but I don't dare to look back.
" Continue the introduction Ms.Dawn, we don't have all day." Mr. Silas sighs.
Just get it over with
"H.hi." I start like an idiot. The giggles only get louder and I try not to let it affect me but I could hear everything and I hated every second of it.
" My name is Elara Dawn, I just transferred here from..."
I shouldn't have said that. Why did I say that?
Why did I keep talking! I wanted to throw up, I wanted to get out of this class, get away from him.
"From?" Mr. Silas says impatiently.
" Riverford high school." I mutter out and I could already hear the gasps, the whispering. All of their heads had turned to gossip with the person next to them, except for his. He had been staring at me like a hawk would stare at its prey, like it was amusing to him seeing how scared I was.
" Alright everyone settle down already, we still have notes to finish." Mr. Silas says and a groan leaves the students mouthes.
I take my chance to walk away from the front, keeping my eyes to the floor as i walk to my chair.
I try ignoring his presence behind me, but just the thought of knowing he had a gun that night sent shivers down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.
I'm not even sure what the teacher was talking about, all I could focus on was the clock. As soon as the bell rang I stood up, walking straight out of the class that had only felt suffocating to me.
By the time lunch came around I was exhausted.
Any time I'd see Calvin or Wayne in the hallways I'd have to turn the other way, hide in a bathroom, and when the coast was clear I'd continue to my
class.
The cafeteria was huge, and I could already see the cliques forming as students sat at certain tables. I couldn't help my eyes as they moved to where Wayne had been sitting, laughing with all the football players and the gorgeous cheerleaders right next to them.
I still never understood how Wayne and Calvin seemed to be so different. Wayne was popular, happy, and much nicer.
His brother on the other hand was the complete opposite.
I spot an empty table in the back corner, keeping my eyes low as I walk over with my lunch in my hand. Unfortunately, that wasn't the smartest thing to do because before I even make it to the table I bump into something, someone.
My food falls all over their expensive uniform as my grip on the tray loosens and I stumble back from the force I had bumped into them with.
I look up, instantly regretting it when my eyes make contact with Calvin furious eyes. He looks down at the food stained all over his clothing, only growing even more angry.
It seemed like the entire cafeteria had gone silent, which it definitely did.
Everyone was watching us with a look in their eyes that knew not to mess with him, and when his eyes burn into mine, well, I knew I was done for.
"I...I.I didn't see you there I.I'm so s..sorry." I say, stumbling over my words as I try to speak as quickly as possible. I could barely hear myself over my thumping heart.
I try to hold in my watery eyes, just waiting to get hit at this point. It was only normal for me anyways.
" Watch where your going." He scowls, pushing past me as he walks off. I look down at my feet, my hands were involuntarily shaking, maybe it was because my body was so used to getting hit after doing something wrong.
But he hadn't hit me. Why? Would he do it after school, or when no one else was looking like Roger and his friends had done to me?
I slowly kneel down, picking up the remains of my lunch and when I get up I notice the shocked look on everyone's faces, as if it was supposed to end another way.
I couldn't take it anymore, so I walk out of the cafeteria alone as I lock myself in a stall, silently crying to myself. I only wanted a normal school day, but I was hoping for too much, I'd never get normal, as much as I wanted to.