“You um…you look different,” she said awkwardly, twisting the strap of her bag between her fingers. “Like in a really good way — I mean you look really good.”
It was the first time a girl had ever referred to my looks in a positive way. The unexpected compliment raised my already good mood up a few notches.
I grinned. “Thanks Grace.”
“Ha, um, you’re welcome.” She glanced over at the group, someone signed something to her. “Oh, I heard you have a sports car. Is that true?”
Wow, that was fast. “It’s true, I do.” She suppressed another giggle. “Wow that’s so cool. Um, sorry for asking, but how can you afford that?” “Oh, a rich uncle died and left me some money,” I lied with complete confidence.
“Wow, amazing! I mean — no, wait…that’s not amazing him dying and that. But leaving you money, that’s amazing.”
I smiled again.
“So anyway…I mean we don’t really know each other, but I was wondering if…well if you wanted to go for a drink some time?”
First I’d been complimented and now the same girl was asking me out. I was deep in unexplored territory — a surreal experience. I stared at her, unable to produce an answer. “Um look, don’t worry about it,” Grace said, her cheeks flushing. “Sorry for bothering you.” She swung on her heel and started to walk away. “Okay,” I blurted. Grace spun back round, a smile forming. “Great! Um well, do you want my number or something?” “Sure.” I slid my phone out of my pocket and we exchanged numbers.
“Cool, well, text me or something. I’ll see you soon,” she said and hurried back to the safety of the herd. They were all giggling and she went more and more red, trying to shush them.
I paused for a moment, struggling to believe what had just happened. I’d been asked out within an hour of attempting to re-invent myself. It was unbelievable. The notion that it was all very superficial was not lost on me, my improved look and car clearly playing a large part, but I was an seventeen year old brimming with hormones — I wasn’t about to get all resentful about it.
Without warning, my heart began to hammer against my chest and a sheen of sweat appeared on my palms. A delayed response. Tossing the magazine aside, I unsteadily left the common room before my body could give me away.
I headed to the bathrooms and splashed cold water on my face, to calm myself down. Maybe this is what they mean about my body adjusting I thought, through the dizziness. I stayed there, clutching the sink for a few minutes until the sensations passed. I wiped my face with paper towels from the dispenser and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
“Keep it together Alex.”
After weaving my way through the crowds, I reached the science department. My heart thumped louder with each step I made towards the classroom. In my mind I tried to imagine what she would be wearing, how her hair would be done. My heart sank as I reached the door. Full class — no Gabriella.
The gossip machine had been running at full speed. Half a dozen people came up to me and I had to repeat what I’d told Tim half a dozen times. Everyone seemed to believe the lie as easily as Tim had. I guessed it was just a matter of confidence. Only one person didn’t utter a word, but sat hunched over his desk with a deep scowl etched on his face.
Silence descended as a slightly harassed looking Miss Steele paced through the door. Her eyes scanned the room and settled on me. Then she seemed to relax. Pulling her specs from her bag, she slid them over her petite nose. Her hair was unfastened today. It swept over one shoulder and hung just below her breast line. The thing I noticed the most however, was the perfume she was wearing. It was both intoxicating and overpowering, like she’d used half the bottle. It surged up my nostrils and flooded my brain with images of majestic flowers which stretched up towards the sky, glossy black petals open like outstretched fingers. I blinked a few times and the images faded, followed shortly by the scent.
Super smell, I assumed without much thought. It seemed that nothing could surprise me anymore.
I was wrong.
Halfway through the lesson, Miss Steele asked for a volunteer. As expected, every single male in the class put up their hand. She chose TJ.
I decided it was time for a little revenge.
I waited until he was almost at my desk and pretended to drop my pen. As I hopped off my seat to pick it up, I used my heel to slide the stool into his path. His foot caught against it and he let out a cry of surprise as he fell, bringing it clattering down with him. The room erupted into laughter. He clambered back up, with a face like a storm. I feigned innocence. “I’m sorry, I dropped my pen.” I waggled the offending object to emphasise my point. “You dick!” he shouted and shoved me as hard as he could. I didn’t move. I stepped towards him until my face was inches from his. Powerful waves of sizzling anger rolled through my body. “Bring it asshole!” I spat.
Miss Steele was quick to intervene, wedging herself between us. “Stop it this instant!” she hissed. “This is not a playground. I will not tolerate this type of behaviour. Do you understand me?”
Neither of us said a word, our bodies still squared up to one another. I was clenching and unclenching my fists, trying to resist the urge to throw Miss Steele out of the way and break the prick’s jaw. He glared daggers back at me, probably thinking the exact same thing. “I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?” I sighed, letting the anger ebb away. I nodded as TJ mumbled “yeah.”
“Good,” she said. “Now both of you sit down so we can continue the lesson. I think I’ll do the demonstration myself…honestly I have never seen such immaturity.” She shook her head and marched back to the front. As she passed me, I could have sworn I saw the faintest hint of a wink.
The lesson continued without further incident, although I could feel TJ boring holes into my back. If looks could have killed, I would’ve been six feet under.
At the end of the lesson, Richard Lawrence and Elliot Shaw — two guys from a few rows back I’d barely ever spoken to — came over to my desk as I was packing my things away. Elliot clapped a chubby hand on my shoulder. I tensed up, anticipating the worst. But when I turned, I saw he was smiling.
“I had no idea you were such a nutter pal. Fair play, TJ is a knob.” He spoke in a low voice, making sure the subject didn’t hear as he disappeared through the door, giving me a final glare.
Richard nodded, his curly blonde hair bobbing with it. “I really hate Terry’s lot. I mean this isn’t school anymore, I can’t even believe they get away with this crap.”
I raised my eyebrows, surprised that one: they were even talking to me and two: they were being sympathetic.
Elliot patted my back and gestured for me to walk with them. “So how does this car of yours handle?”
It wasn’t until I’d reached the hub that I realised I’d left my bag in class.
Elliot and Richard were still chatting to me about something or other. Being honest I’d stopped listening, but somehow managed to keep the conversation flowing. It was as if one part of my mind switched to autopilot, whilst the other went exploring. My focus was on Gabriella. Where is she? I wondered. Why does she keep missing lessons?