Walking into the canteen, all eyes swivel my way. Fuck my life. I keep my gaze adverted. Heading straight to the fruit, I grab a bowl and then some juice and walk to the furthest table that is empty.
Before I can take a bite, someone sits directly in front of me. I look up to see the cocky smile of Sinclair. Then his friends join.
“This is Lawrence.” He points to the blonde with the bangs. “This is Roman.” He points to the hulk of a guy, who just grunts and tucks into his massive pile of food. “We will escort you to your first class of the day.”
“I didn’t ask for an escort.” I bluntly say. “And I would like to eat in peace before my shitty day starts and before your bitch starts on me for even daring to talk to you.” I say, pointing over his shoulder.
He turns, looking to where I am pointing. His jaw tenses, I can see him grinding his teeth. “She isn’t my bitch.” He grinds out, turning back to me.
I snort, he raises a brow. “Yeah, sure. You might want to inform her of that. I mean, you did fuck her last night, right?” I laugh when he splutters and chokes on his water.
Lawrence laughs, Roman grunts, but I can see the smirk on his face.
“Yeah, I’m not stupid. I saw her leave your room.” I stand, gathering my things. “If you’re the type of person to fuck a girl and leave her crying, then I don’t want to know you.” I flick my long hair over my shoulder, giving him my best fuck off stare. “I better not get shit from her for you talking to me.”
I walk away from his glare, and Lawrence’s laugh that follows me out of the canteen.
I grab a granola bar out of my bag, eating it on the way to my first class of the day. I’m the first one to arrive, which is fine by me. I startle when the door opens and a guy walks in. He isn’t in uniform, but he can’t be my teacher, he looks far too young not much older than me. He looks my way, giving me a smile.
“You must be Everly.” His deep timber voice rattles me, sending heat to my…. Shit get your head out of the gutter, he’s your fucking teacher.
“Er, yeah.” Smooth.
He chuckles. “I read over your assignments from your other school. You are very talented. I look forward to reading the ones I set you.”
What he doesn’t know is that I have already done them.
“I want to attend a writing school in New York. That’s where I should be now, but my dad had a different plan for me.” I say bitterly.
“He’s not a fan of your writing?”
“He’s not a fan of anything.”
“Neither was my father.” He murmurs.
I don’t think he meant to say it loud enough for me to hear. He blushes, it’s cute.
“I’m Kellan, I don’t go by Mr Smith, makes me sound old.” He chuckles.
“You don’t seem that much older than I am.”
“I graduated early, went to college, got my diploma. Got a job here last year after I got my master’s degree.” He is about to say something else, but the door open’s and students pour in. He winks, before turning back to the board and writing the assignment on it.
I barely pay attention to what he is saying, I’m too busy watching him and his enthusiasm with the text we are studying. Jane Eyre. A classic English novel, yet boring in my opinion.
His blues eyes land on me a few times and I receive a few glares from the girls that are swooning and drooling over him. His red hair is stylishly gelled back and up close I see his freckles speckled across his nose and cheeks.
“Everly, would you like to tell me what your opinions are on the character Jane?”
I startle out of my thoughts, I hide my face with my hair, knowing my face is red like a tomato.
“She is a strong character, even though she lives with her relatives who torment and abuse her, she is still defiant. She controls her life with honesty. She has no say in where she is sent to, but when there, she tries to control what is happening in her life through her words.”
Kellan smiles. My heart thuds in my chest. Damn I have a crush on my teacher.
He carries on with the rest of the lesson, setting homework to which everyone groans.
“I would like you all to write a short piece on your thoughts about the novel as a whole, and no cheating, I will know.” He dismisses us just as the bell signals.
“Everly, a word please.” Kellan says, just as I’m about to leave.
Again, I get death stares, what is it with this school.
“Are you ok? Are any of the students bothering you?” he frowns towards the door.
“No, not yet anyway. Though my room did get trashed yesterday, guess it was a welcome present or hazing.”
His frown deepens. “If you have any trouble, you come to me.” I nod as I stare into his eyes, I swear I lean forward. He clears his throat, rubbing his neck.
“Right, so, I have a club on Wednesdays that focusses on writing your own work without judgment. I can send you an email with the details if you are interested.”
“Yeah, I would love that. I did a similar thing at my old school. One of my poems got published.”
“I know, I have the copy of the book its in.”
I gulp at the intense stare he is giving me. I back away, bumping into the table. I curse under my breath.
“I’ll, er, wait for the, er, details then.” I stammer.
I practically run from the class, when I look back, I meet his eyes again. Shit, I just want to go back, jump into his arms and kiss the fuck out of him. I close the door, before I do just that.
Chapter three
Sinclair
Why can’t I get her out of my head? It’s driving me mad. She doesn’t act like the other girls here or look like them. She is untouchable and that bothers me.
For the last week, I have tried to engage her in conversation, only to be knocked back. Lawrence finds it hilarious; Roman thinks its karma for being a dick to girls in the first place.
My first plan to isolate her has worked. No one has made a move to talk to her. I watch her from the other side of the canteen, she is once again writing. Maybe I can use that, get that notebook and see what she is writing. But I doubt it’s a diary, she doesn’t strike me as the type to write in one.
She glances up and catches my eyes. She scowls, putting her things away and leaving her food once again untouched. I watch her long frame leave through the door, her long hair flowing behind her in a dark waterfall.
“You’re drooling again mate.” Lawrence laughs, nudging me with his elbow. I grunt, pushing him away.