Our Red String Of Fate

Broken

*Marzia's POV*

I'm walking down the hallway, my skirt flowing around my legs as I make my way to my next class. My two closest friends are trailing behind me, talking about something they saw on TV the night before. Someone probably wore the wrong kind of shoes to a celebrity event or something. I mean, I like clothes as much as the next person, but it starts getting boring after a while. I love my friends and I'm happy to talk about the things they like. I just wish there was something else in my life. Something interesting. Something that wasn't pastel pink, for once.

It's like people have this idea of who I have to be, just because of what I look like. Like I can't possibly be anything more than the pretty girl with cute clothes. My friends start laughing, so I'm quick to force a laugh, too.

I keep my eyes focused forward as we reach our first class of the day; French. I hate French. It's definitely the worst class I've ever taken. Nothing makes sense and honestly, it doesn't even sound that good either. The teacher is also one of the least entertaining people I have ever met, making it difficult to focus on the dull monotone things he attempts to teach the class. I don't know why everyone else I know likes the class so much. Italian, that's a good language to learn. If only I could take Italian instead of this.

I sit down in my usual seat at the front of the class and brace myself for what will surely be another hour and a half of pretending to be interested when I'm actually not. At least I've got practice.

It's not like I don't do it all the time.

"So, today we're going to start working on the term project. As you'll probably remember from last class, it's a project on France. Each couple will have to choose a subject to focus on, whether it's landscapes, fashion, history, I don't care." The teacher announces, and even he looks bored with his poor explanation. I hear a few muffled laughs from behind me and sit up straighter, anxiety coursing through me. I know they probably aren't laughing at me, but I can't stop worrying. Does my hair look weird? My clothes? "And now I'll be choosing the pairs."

I bite my nails nervously as he starts going through the list of everyone in the class. I can just barely make out my friend's protests when she gets paired up with some random guy, but I don't pay any attention to her. I can't. Were they laughing at me? Did they somehow see through my facade?

"Bisognin." I hear the teacher say and I immediately look at him. He looks annoyed. Have I spaced out for that long? "If you'd be kind enough to take your seat next to your partner." It's then I realize that everyone has been moving around and my friends aren't sitting next to me anymore. I quickly get up and then look at the teacher again.

"Ahm, sorry sir, but could you tell me who my partner is?" If he looked annoyed before, now he looks like the sight of me makes him want to lash out in anger. I feel everyone in the room looking at me and tears well up in my eyes as I debate just leaving the class. I can't cry. Not in front this many people.

God, I wish I could just disappear.

I suddenly feel a light, unsure touch on my arm and I turn around, trying my hardest not to let tears spill. There's a boy in front of me, and he pulls back his hand as soon as I look at him. His gaze is filled with uncertainty and he's stuffed his hands into the pockets of his sweater, almost as if he's attempting to hide how they're shaking. Or maybe it's me shaking, I'm not sure.

"I-I'm your partner." He admits sheepishly, looking at the ground so I can't see his eyes. I recognize him from some of my classes, but I have never talked to him so I don't know his name. I wish I did, then we wouldn't be in this awkward situation.

"Oh." I mutter, unable to find any words in my vocabulary. "Okay."

He looks up and our eyes lock for a moment before he quickly averts his gaze and turns around. I am left to follow him as he maneuvers his way across the rows of tables into a pair of seats right at the back of the class. I'm not surprised I haven't really noticed him before, I never sit at the back.