After I injured my knee at cheer camp this summer, my doctor told me that I needed surgery and I would have to quit the squad. This news was delivered much to my mother's dissapointment, she looked at me as if I had done it on purpose. You would think she would be worried sick about the fact that I needed surgery to repair a torn ACL, but she just saw it as another flaw. She was more worried that it would effect my popularity, and my chances of being recognized by an ivy league school. You see, my parents want the picture perfect all american family, and I ruined part of that when I ruined my knee.
"Ms. Withers, come get your schedule." Mrs. Krane's voice calls out to me, interrupting my thoughts.
I get up slowly, trying to remember to keep my weight balanced. The doctor had said that if I keep favoring my uninjured leg then the injured one will never regain strength. As I walk to the front of the room, I can feel the eyes of all my peers on me.
Jeesh, I'm getting way too self conscious
"Thank you." I say distractedly, as I study the sheet of paper.
I have two study periods, and that simply is not gonna fly, not when my parents are pushing me academically now more than ever. My mom constantly keeps reminding me that with out the squad I was lacking in extra curricular activities. I'm going to have to go to the guidance department and try to fill one of them with an elective class.
Just as I am starting to hobble back to my desk, the bell rings and everyone gets up. I try to maneuver around the dispersing people to get my messenger bag. I push past one of the goth girls named Lily recieving a hiss in response, when a strong arm hand lands on my shoulder.
"Here you go Val!" Connor O'reilly smiles down at me, as he hands me my bag.
Connor is the captain of the football team, and yes he looks exactly like what you would picture; blond hair, blue eyes, overly tan skin, and a boyish smile. He is the town's golden boy, and my parents have been pushing me for years to date him. Don't get me wrong, Connor is quite handsome, but he has this slimy quality about him.
"Uh, thanks." I say awkwardly as I try to take my bag from his giant hand. His touch lingers far too long.
"Let me walk you to your first class." He says as he flashes me his award winning smile.
"Actually I'm headed to the guidance office."
"Then I'll walk you there."
"NO-" I blurt, and then feel my cheeks heat up at my rudeness. "I mean, no thank you, really I don't want you to be late for class."
"Alright Val, well see ya around." He smiles at me again, but it never seems to reach his eyes.
On the way to guidance I run over a mental list of all the elective courses that are offered at my school. I want a class that's easy, but sounds good enough to satisfy my parents. As I am pondering all of this I slam into something, or rather someone very solid.
"Omph." The air rushes from my lungs, as I try to keep my balance.
"Christ, watch where you're going!" A husky voice growls at me.
I gaze up through a sheath of blonde hair that has fallen into my face from the force of the collision. I am just about to tell the person off for being such an asshole when it was clearly an accident that I bumped into them, until I realize who it is. My eyes are met with the dark glare of Slade Sawyer.
Slade Sawyer, is-is- ugh! Just picture the biggest stoner, loser, pierced up, piece of crap jerk at your school. Well that's him. His father owns the funeral home in town, and they actually live there. For some reason this seems to make him think that he is special or something, because he always acts like everyone is an annoyance to him. The only people I have ever seen him hang with, are the weird goth kids, or the trouble makers.
I wasn't about to waste my time saying anything to him, because honestly even if I called him out on being an asshole, he would probably just take it as a compliment. So I step around him, pushing my hair out of my face as I bite my lip to keep from telling him to shove it, and continue on to guidance.
After spending the wastong all of first period, which thankfully was one of the study periods, I decided on photography class to fill my other free slot. It sounded easy enough, take some pictures, suck up to the teacher, and get a nice easy A.
*oOoOo*
At luch I sit with Allison, who is the captain of the cheer squad, and the rest of the girls. Even though I can't cheer anymore they still seem to accept me as part of their group. Thank god for that, because honestly I couldn't imagine wandering around the cafeteria like some loser looking for a place to sit. I keep picturing myself having to sit with Lily Wilde, the crazy goth chick who is in my homeroom. I would never live that down.
"Earth to Valerie!?" Allison's perky voice chimes in, cutting through my ridiculous thoughts.
"Huh?"
"I heard Connor O'reilly still has a thing for you. He said even though you can't physically be his cheerleader this year, he would still love for you to be at the games to show your support."
"Oh." I say lamely, feeling my face heat. I was captain of the squad until this year, which meant Connor had always wanted me as his cheerleader, and usually he wanted me as more than that too.
Yuck. I shiver involuntarily.
"What's wrong with you?!" Allison says shaking her head as she bites into a piece of celery. "You should feel privelaged that the captain of the football team likes you."
I groan and roll my eyes, because this is a constant argument that Allison and I have. "You can have him." I shrug.
"You know I would." She answers smugly, and then sighs. "But he's so stuck on you."
I ignore the remainder of my sandwich. I have no appetite after talk of Connor, so instead I listen to the girls talk about a crazy routine they are doing, and the new uniforms for this year, and now I'm feeling down right miserable.
Just as the lunch period is coming to an end I look around the cafeteria for a moment, trying to figure out just where I should fit in now that I'm not on the squad. Then I spot Slade talking to Lily at a table in the corner. It looks as though they are having an intimate conversation, and I can't help but wonder if they are together, like dating. As I'm contemplating this Slade looks up and his eyes meet with mine, I try to quickly avert my gaze, but I'm too late.
He smirks crookedly and flips me off.
Ugh, great
"Jeez what'd ya do to piss him off?" Allison snorts beside me.
I just shrug, and stand up slowly. This day can not be over any sooner.
*oOoOo*
It's finally last period, I just have to get through this photography class and then I can go home and lock myself in my room. I decided to go to my locker and get everything I need to take home, so I can leave right after class, so when I finally walk into the photography room the bell is already ringing.
"Nice of you to join us." The teacher, a man in his mid-thirties says sarcastically.
"Uh- sorry." I mumble.
"Please take a seat." He gestures to the only available seat in the room.
I limp to the empty chair, and I'm so consumed by how sore my leg is, and how horribly long this day has been that I almost don't even realize who I'm going to be seated next to.
I want to protest, but this teacher doesn't seem to be warming up to me just yet, so I sit down with a huff next to Slade the grim reaper. I steal a peek at him from the corner of my eye as the teacher introduces himself to the class.
"My name is Mr. Ventrella." The teacher drones on, as I continue peeking at Slade.
He starts leaning in closer to me, making me extremely nervous. Just what the hell was he doing?Right when I'm about toturnand tell him to back off he smiles at me, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly higher than the other, and I can't help but gasp as he continues to stare at me with his dark eyes.
"Boo." He whispers, causing me to jump.
"Miss?" Mr. Ventrella' s voice interruptsour odd little exchange.
"Huh?"
"What's your name?"
"Oh, sorry sir, it's Valerie- Valerie Withers."
"Well Valerie Valerie Withers, why don't you pay attention huh?"
I just swallow the snarky response I want to blurt, and nod at him. This teacher seems like a no nonsense type of guy.
"So like I was saying." He continues, still staring at me. "I hope you guys chose your seats wisely, because you are sitting next to your partner for every project in this class."
What! No, he has to be kidding
I want to scream and rip my hair out, but I sit and freak out in silence. I guess Slade is not the suffer in silence type, because his hand shoots up in the air so fast I swear he almost dislocates his shoulder.
"Yes-" Mr. Ventrella says, waiting for Slade to introduce himself before speaking.
"My name is Slade Sawyer sir, is there anyway- I can't work with her." He says the word her, as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Well, you're gonna have to learn how to work with her.
"Ugh." He groans, rubbing his hands over his face roughly
"Trust me, I'm not thrilled either." I say, rolling my eyes at how obnoxiously immature he is being.
He looks at me now, and blinks slow and hard, as if he can just close his eyes and wish me away.
I wish I could go away too.
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