Rushing through the hallways , I was already late for my class when an announcement made my steps halter .
''Melody Rose please report to office immediately , thank you. All other students please continue to their classes. ''
Melody Rose... it sounds familiar ?
yeah, because .. its you stupid.
Office is on whole different side of this building, completely opposite to where I'm ' supposed ' to go . Well ,at least now I will have a legitimate reason to be late . I started power walking to where the office is , I would have jogged or even run to the office but I did not because one , floor might be wet on some places , I had seen it being mopped just moments ago , and second , I was in no hurry to get there what so ever . I reached the place shortly afterwards , seeing that the hallways were not hogged by students , and the secretary motioned for me to continue to Principals' office . I nodded and went to knock on the door of his office .
" Come in " , Mr. Smith spoke from other end .
I turned the knob and slipped in , closing the door behind me in the process . Mr. Smith was sat on his usual leather chair behind the mahogany table ,typical principal but that is not what grabbed my attention . There was guy sitting opposite to Mr.Smith with his back to me . His hair was raven black in colour and so was his attire , i.e. , his whole outfit was filled with black pieces , which told me that he is one of those bad boys . Oh God , I do not wish to tutor some stupid boy , I have far better things to do and the last time I tried something like this .. I don't even want to remember that time . I was going to speak up in protest to Mr. Smith but decided against as my assumption may or may not be true .
" Ms. Rose , meet Mr. Malik ....." , the stranger turned his head look back , at me and I felt like I was looking at a model . This guy , Mr. Malik , gave me an endearing smile to which I replied with an awkward smile of mine ........ I was dazzled by his smile .
" ... he is new here , so I would like you to give him a tour of school and help him with his schedule "
I was so absorbed in this strangers' beauty , that for a moment , I forgot Mr. Smith was also here , in the same room with me and this guy .
" Uh .. sure sir " , I spoke up once I had somewhat recovered from my daze .
" Oh ... and Mr. Malik , meet Ms. Rose , the prodigy of mine , an perfect A student "
I have never felt more embarrassed in my life . I blushed at his words , it is true , I am a good student but that does not mean Mr.Smith could go around , yelling it through a loudspeaker . I do not like it when someone praises me like this , especially in front of fellow students , now he must think that I am a dork , which I am but still , what a great first impression ! Mr. Malik , he gave me a smirk at Mr . Smiths' comment and I could not help but blush more , thanks Mr. Smith !
" I think both of you should get going now ... " , Mr. Smith spoke as other two people in this room , i.e. me and Mr. Malik were stuck in our positions like statues . I gripped the door knob , turned it and stepped outside but left the door ajar so that Mr . Malik could come out too . Mr . Malik . goddamn it , can't just Mr.Smith tell me his first name , Mr. Smith have this annoying habit of always calling everyone with their last names , I am telling you , this man have a seriously weird obsession with them , it is not healthy !
This guy came out of Mr.Smiths' office shortly afterwards and we started walking beside each other in silence .
" So ........" , I started saying , the silence that was following us was not awkward but it was not pleasant either .
" Hey listen , it was nice to meet you and all but I don't need your help " , he said , his voice was smooth but his tone and words were rude , very rude. Before I can object or even say anything for that matter , he was out of my sight . I shrugged , whatever , his type of boys are always rude jerks and of course he will run from a nerd. I was not hurt by his actions or words but I have a habit of finishing what I started , so I could not bring my self to attend my current class , instead I went to sit in library , I will just finish the book I am reading these days , I haven't been able to read it for quite some time now.
* * *
" Hey , where were you in the 3rd period ? " , my best friend asks , sitting down next to me on our table . Right now , we were in cafeteria and it was recess period , at least for me. I shrugged in response , it does not really matter where I was or what I was doing .
" You know there is this hot new guy in our 3rd period " , my best friend said . I nodded for her to continue , I could have used words but I kept my silence , you see I am the quiet one and she is , quite disturbingly , the bubbly one , she is a cheerleader and I am a proud nerd . People don't understand our friendship and quite frankly , neither do we but sometimes you just have to enjoy rather than understanding a thing . Wow , I went deep there ... uh .. I remember Mr. Malik , the new jerk addition to already jerk filled school , wonderful !
" Who , Malik ? " , I questioned her , there can be another hot new guy in the school , who probably might not be as big of a jerk as Mr.Malik is . Uh ...wishful thinking darling .
" Yeah , how did you know ? " , she asks me , suspiciously eyeing me up and down as if I am carrying out a Mars mission from the school basement . I shrugged and replied ,
" Mr.Smith asked me to show him around school " .
" But you were not there with him ? " , she asks , a little confused now .
" He said he does not need my help , so .. " , before I can continue , she interrupted me .
" So you just let him leave , just like this " , she said , with a shocked expression on his face .
" Yeah... " , I said , now a little confused , where is she getting to ?
" Are you stupid , why would you do that " , she said . I do not know how to respond to this , I am really really confused right now , so I just made an twisted expression-ed face with awkward smile on my face .
" What I am trying to say is that you could have introduced me to him " , she explained to me upon clearly seeing confusion on my face while doing a little nod and hand movements people always seem to do while explaining . I snorted at her words .
" Yeah right , I don't even know his first name and you expect me to introduce him to you " , I said while shaking my head a little .
" What do you mean ? " , she asked , being the confused one now .
" Mr.Smith . " , and that is all I needed to say .
" Ah , Mr. Smith " , she said , now understanding my point .
" Yup " , I replied popping the 'p' in the end and nodding my head .
" I am telling you , he should see a doctor or something " , I nodded my head at her comment and continued eating my food .
" Tell me about it " , I would have been fine even if he only gave me the first letter of his name , but no , him and his obsessions.
" Hey , what did she actually taught today anyway ? " , I questioned her , inner dork coming after realizing that I had missed a class .
" She was talking something about integration or something like this .... " , I nodded for her to continue and also because I understood what she was saying .
" I can't be so sure though , no one was actually paying attention to Ms.Soto , girls were drooling over this new guy and the boys were trying to decode the secret behind his hotness " , she said with a dreamy look in her eyes . I looked at her with an incredulous look , okay , I get this guy was pretty good looking but drooling and trying to decode the secret of his hotness , I think that is taking it over the top . I sigh , students of my school are so stupid , I am wondering what kind of day this , Mr. I'm so hot ,girl drool over me-Malik , had been enduring till now , the thought is so funny , I almost laugh at that .
" Why are you sighing Rosie .. ? " , my best friend , Kendra , I know-what a exquisite name , asked me with a eyebrow raised . I kept my mouth shut because I know it is a trick question and I would end up digging a hole for me , if I answer it .
" Do not tell me that you don't find him hot " , she said rather than asking with a disbelieving look on her face . I gave her guilty smile with an shrug , I mean he is not all that hot , this school seriously have dimwits as students and secondly if I admitted that I do think he is hot then I will never hear end of it , believe my words .
" Oh my God ! " , she exclaimed and I did something that I had been doing on repeat today , I shrugged .
" Are you feeling okay ? " , she asked , knocking me on my head , checking if I was okay while looking at me like I had decided to become friends with mojo-jojo in the process . I swatted her hand away ,
" Hey , keep them to yourself okay , I am fine , I am definitely more fine than anybody else in this school "
" Yeah , like not thinking that a hottie is a hottie is good for you , you have issues my dear friend " , she said , while picking her bag and standing up . Her words were sarcasm dipped but I can sense a little bit of concern there . We had this talk so many times now that I can easily count it , words multiplied by 1 million only , yes , we do have done this talk for this many times . I know she is concerned because of my lack of interest in boys , but hey , it is not my fault , I blame Justin Bieber and literature why my standards for boys and romance is so high . Most boys these days want only one thing , I know that not all boys are douche bags hence the word most but still , I have seen enough of their dramas to make my lack of faith in them justified .
" Hey there " , Jack said settling down beside me and giving me a kiss on cheek . He is my best friend , just so you know , we do not have anything going on , as the whole bloody school believes , as if .
" How was the practice ? " , I ask while taking a bite of my sandwich .
" Meh , we did not do anything for sometime because coach was not in the mood and then suddenly bam , we have to run till the end of period " , he answers me and slams his hand flat on table for the emphasis on last part . I nod in understanding and no words leave my mouth for an audible answer but I know he does not mind that .
" So I guess she already left " , he said , talking about Kendra now .
" Yeah , she had , I always wonder how you guys do this stuff ? " , I answered and mused over their working capabilities . You see , Jack is quarter-back in football and Kendra is second-in-command cheerleader . Jacks' practice takes up first half of my recess and Kendra takes off on second half , my other lovelies have classes at this time , I know - our schedule sucks but at least I am not sitting alone like a loser that I am .
" Look who is talking " , sarcasm is dripping word by word from Jacks' mouth and I wonder why .
" What ? " , I ask , my friends never seem to be short on words to confuse my little brain .
" You are like .. I don't know , trophy-student of this school , I don't even know how you pull off half of your tasks " , he says explaining.
" Not really .." , I defend myself in a meek attempt .
" Uh-Ah , I know you better than that baby girl " , he says , shaking his head at me in disapproval of saying what I had just said . He may be telling the truth but let me tell you one thing , he is exaggerating it to the top . I know I do a lot of work for school but that does not mean they are forcing me into it, I do those tasks because first , I like doing them and second , a little extra credit does not hurt anyone .
" Fine , whatever " , I huff , it is not like we haven't had this conversation enough times in the last two years .
" Aw , don't be a wuss , I was joking " , he says making a pouty face and just like this I forgive him , damn these people , they know all my weaknesses .
" O.k. " , I say , not wanting to make a big fuss out of this . The thing is , they are always demeaning themselves , no they do not have any insecurities because of me , like cm-on , you cannot be insecure because of me , even if you try as hard as to climb mount Everest but they are always praising me and my work like I have won gold in Olympics or something , they make it look like I am doing all the work int he world , in being a nerd , but they do not know how big it is that they are football and cheer-leading teams . I know , I have seen the lingering looks people give them , I have seen the longing in their eyes to be in my place but I am lucky enough to have these superstars of my high-school as my best friends . We finish eating our lunch in silence and part ways after saying our good byes .
* * *
Right now , I am running late for my English class and all I can do is run till I reach the classroom ,since I cam feel that the second bell is going to ring soon . Just as I enter the classroom , the second bell rings and I am glad that Kendra takes me running every Sunday morning . I start making my way towards my usual seat only to stop dead in my tracks . Sitting beside my seat is none other than Mr. I'm so hot ,girl drool over me-Malik , I am used to sit alone , all on my own in this class . This is because of two reasons , one , this class is assigned with partners and as you could have guessed , I did not have one , so I sit alone . I do not need a partner , since you know , I am a dork and all , also before the arrival of new student today , this class had odd number of students , thus Mr. Loredo decided that I am a brilliant student and could suffice on my own . I was more than happy because of this decision , I'm not a loner or something but I love this subject way too much to sit and entertain some person for my and that persons' well being . Couldn't this boy find any other seat , there are plenty of empty seats in this class .. not , okay whatever , it is not like he is going to ask your hand in marriage or anything Mel , so relax .
" Hi " , I say to him as I sit down . His reply is a short nod and then he continues staring out the window , which is what he was doing before my arrival . I sit and concentrate on the lesson Mr. Loredo is teaching . He is just telling us about different technical words present in our precious English language , after all English is second most spoken language in the world as of right now , I know this little fact because of my love being a total nerd. The class bell will ring after 45 minute what some people call torture and sadly this time , it includes me , I mean , technical terms really , I thought Mr. Loredo could do better than this . Bell is about to ring in 5 minutes to announce end of the day and everyone had started packing their stuff , Mr. Loredo finishes his lecture 10 minutes before the bell rings , yes , we all love him dearly .
" So .. class , there is this project I wanted to tell you about ... " , everyone starts groaning as the word 'project' leaves his mouth , even me , we want to get out of this place , is this too much to ask Mr. Loredo !
" Hush , as I was saying , there is project I will assign you soon and it will be a partner project " , he looks at me at the word ' partner' , then at
Mr. Malik beside me and smiles . I don't want to work with him , oh hell no , he will just probably make me do all the work and then would ask to put his name in the end , I am much better alone .
" I will tell you more about this project when the time comes , so for now , leave . " , Mr . Loredo says and in the end , you can just sense how he is, also desperate to leave this place , who could blame him though , poor guy has to come in school before the school starts for students , it is pitiful really , he is such a nice teacher . When the bell rings ,everyone is hurling towards the poor door and usual I wait before the storm is subsided . Once that happens , I glance at this new face in school , only to see he is peacefully watching out the window and with that I'm out of this place .