The only exception // Levi Jones

8

- abi -

Today is not a better day.

I was woken up by my neighbour Mrs. Grimshaw banging on the front door at 6:55 and asking where my parents were. I told her they were out of town for a couple of days, which she believed, being a 79 year old grandma.

It's 7:55 when I  manage to get her back to her house so I  can get ready for school. I decide to make an effort today, by actually bothering with my makeup and what not. I put on a wrinkly all time low shirt of Calum's that manged to fit me. I pair it with my usual black ripped skinnies and a red and black flannel.

 I  head to the bathroom and rumble through my makeup bag, which has remained untouched until like last week for quite a while.

I  pull out some pale foundation and rub some onto my face, making my already pale skin, even whiter. I  put some concealer on under my eyes to hide the dark rings that surround my almond shaped eyes.

I  put on a thick wing of black eyeliner and a thick layer of mascara onto my naturally curly lashes. To finsh it off, I rub some deep red lipstick onto my plump lips.

I run downstairs and grab an apple from the overflowing fruit bowl on the kitchen counter, before rushing to the door, pulling on my grey converse and my worn out denim jacket, and shutting the front door behind me, making sure to lock it.

My hair blows around in the strong wind and my scruffy converse catch on the cracks in the pavement, making me stumble every so often.

I look up to see the school in my sight, meaning I  don't have long until my freedom is ripped from me by the evil wrath that is my education.

I  only have another 6 months left of school left anyway,  I  guess I'll have to think positively.

I step through the gates and keep my head down as I walk into the busy corridor, full of other students rushing to get to class on time. I guess I'll be late.

I  look at my phone to check the time, 08:58. I sigh as I shove my phone back in the pocked of my faded denim jacket, I'm supposed to be in registration for 08:50 so lessons can start at 09:00 sharp, but I don't usually make it for regi anyway, nothing new.

I have a bit of a reputation for not turning up for school and being late for class, so it's no surprise to the teacher or students when I saunter through the door to the English room at 09:13 after getting my books from my locker and going to the bathroom to get myself psychologically ready for the day.

I take my seat near the back of the classroom and place my book on the scruffy desk in front of me. I don't really listen, I just focus on how to apologies to Levi about the other day.

I'll try and find him at lunch and if I  don't see him then, I'll try after school.

Our English teacher handed us all a book called ' Lord of the flies' before pacing her way back to the front of the classroom. "Okay class, I want you all to start reading this book for the remainder of the lesson and then finsh it at home. You have one week, we will discuss the book when you've all read it. Get started now." She says before sitting down at her desk and typing furiously on her old computer.

The bell rings, meaning the end of the class, meaning that everyone stands up at once and races to get out of the door. But I  don't see the point in rushing, I mean, we still have another class before first break, so why bother?

I walk out the door and make my way to my locker to put away my English book and to get out the right books for my next class.

- time skipping to lunch -

I  step out into the warm air with my lunch, consisting of a smoked salmon filled bagel and a bottle of col water. I  scan the area for any signs of Levi, and as soon as I spot his curly brown hair, I begin to wander over in his direction.

As I get closer, I  realise he is facing away from me and laughing with what I'm guessing are some of his friends. I feel slightly uncomfortable with talking to him in front of them, so I  decide to just talk to him later.

So for the moment, I  take a seat under a tree to shelter myself from the blazing sun.

I cross my legs and pick up my bagel with both hands, I take a small bite from it before placing it down on my lap and leaning my head back into the tree trunk, letting my eyes close for a minute or two.

I suddenly feel the small amount of sun shining down on me, go away and I  open my eyes to see why it's gone. But I soon regret it, because the person standing in front of me is Levi himself.

He crouched down to meet me at eye level. I squint my eyes due to the sun so I can see him properly.

"Hey" he says.

"Hey" I reply shortly, avoiding eye contact.

"Did you think about what I said?" He asks me with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Oh right, not really, sorry, I didn't get much sleep." I say, trying to think of a good excuse and trying hard not to cringe and how awful my solution was.

"It's fine." He smiles softly, tugging at the ends of the sleeves of his shirt lightly.

"Can we talk? Later?" I ask him nervously, not feeling like this is the best time or place to have this conversation.

" Sure, I'll drop by after school okay?"

" See you later then" I smile as he stands up and leaves me to soak up the sun and enjoy the lunch break before going back to class.

I'm really not ready for this talk.