AllFreeNovel
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It has been a long weekend of nothing. I sneaked out yesterday morning to try and find somewhere to dance but there’s nothing in the immediate area that’s private.
Thankfully they didn’t notice. Nor did they force us all to go to church in the morning. They said I needed my rest and I was happy to let them think that.
I hitch my bag up my shoulder and check my hair twist in the mirror in the hall. This place is so bright and perfect, a contrast to my heart and soul.
We walk to his SUV and I watch him spin his keys around his thick forefinger.
“Can you drive?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I was never allowed to learn.”
“We could change that. I could teach you.”
I open the door and climb into the seat just as he does the same. We both buckle in and he checks his mirror before pulling out of the long driveway and onto the quiet road.
“What do you think? Do you want to learn how to drive?”
Lifting a shoulder, I look the other way and moisten my lips. “It’d be cool I guess.”
“Just cool?”
I shrug again and pull on the sleeves of my blazer.
“I make you uncomfortable, don’t I?”
“Sorta,” I reply honestly and his face falls. “Well… not like you did. I just… I feel bad I guess.”
“Feel bad?”
“About everything I did.”
He taps his thumbs on the steering wheel. “Don’t ever apologize for defending yourself. As much as that fucking hurt, I was proud that you didn’t hesitate. You saw danger and you dealt with it.”
“Is that your military background talking?”
“Absolutely.”
We share a smile and I decide he’s actually alright. For now anyway. I’m not the best judge of character, especially not when it comes to men. It’s the ones who sing their love for you the loudest that usually hurt you the most.
We don’t speak for the rest of the journey, not until he drops me at school and asks, “Want me to come in with you?”
I give him an incredulous look. “Absolutely not.”
He chuckles and gives me a wink. “Have a good day. You have my number if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” I mutter and climb from the car.
School is heaving, all kids are heading towards the many different buildings and I don’t know where to go. Well, I do, I have to report to the front office, but then I don’t have a clue. I should have paid attention during the tour but I never learn.
I’m not scared of new situations and new places, but I don’t like entering a room after everybody is already in their seats. It’s awkward.
“Miss Oaks,” Principal Jefferson declares after I enter the office. “How are you? Excited for your first day?”
I shake my head.
“You’ll be fine, you’ll see. I’ve partnered you up with Misha Wheatley. She’s going to escort you to each of your classes today.” He motions to a beautiful brunette standing in the corner with a friendly smile on her face.
I move to her and shake the hand she offers. Very formal.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mallory.”
“Scandal,” I correct, unwilling to let go of the name my friends gave me in place of the name that represents a past I want to forget.
“Right, sorry,” Mr. Jefferson apologizes, giving me a funny grin. “I forgot.”
“Scandal is a cool name,” Misha comments and hands me my schedule for the following weeks. “We’ve got calculus first period with Miss Alden. She’s super nice.”
“Have a good day, Scandal,” Jefferson calls after us as I’m led away by this girl I’ve never met.
As soon as we enter the school hall, I have to duck as a football is thrown above our heads and almost hits me in the face. I don’t know if it was done on purpose or not but Misha hurries me along.
“So I heard you’re staying with the Oakses over on Butternut Avenue? Are they relatives or something?”
I shake my head. “They’re my foster blocks.”
“Foster blocks?”
“It’s something my friends and I used to say.” I don’t elaborate further. “What’s it like here? Are the people nice?”
“Usually, it’s not like high schools that you see on TV. It’s actually okay, I enjoy it anyway.”
“There’s no popularity group or bullying?”
“Oh, I didn’t say that,” she utters, her freckled nose crinkling with a cringe. “There’s a hierarchy in every school and ours isn’t great. They’ll leave you alone so long as you leave them alone. They don’t just go around stealing money and picking on somebody because they think they’re ugly. But they’re not your typical group of people.”
“Meaning they’re not just like all the football players or cheer squad?”
“Exactly. They’re a diverse mix from all groups. Most have been friends for years. The ruling two have to be Carter Denzell and Presley Myers. Major assholes, but you didn’t hear that from me.”
