FATE

3. Floating Papers

BROOKE

"Now remember, don't show anyone how nervous you are and don't talk to the creepy emo kids", Blake says as the car comes to a stop in the school's parking lot.

"Noted", I say dryly.

He takes a deep breath before turning to face me. It's his first day of work and he really put in a lot of effort to look his best before we left the apartment this morning. His dark blonde hair is combed backwards and he is clean shaven. He also has a black suit on, complemented with a black tie I helped him knot.

He opens his mouth to say something but stops abruptly and I know why.

I was not prepared for a change of environment and changing schools is much worse. My brother Blake and I used to live in Seattle until he got a job here in Boston. Seattle was better, it was where I grew up with my parents and Blake. The moment we arrived in Boston a week ago, it felt odd and Blake knew it.

A new city meant a new life.

"I'll pick you up after school", Blake says as I take off the seatbelt and grab my bag from the back seat.

"Okay, I'll see you later", I open the door and get out.

"I love you, be careful", he says before I close the door.

"Love you too", I say, forcing a smile at him before closing the door.

I walk quickly towards the school, gaining glances from a couple of students along the way. Their faces do not seem friendly and I wonder if it's that obvious that I'm the new kid. I look down shyly at my red sneakers and fasten my footsteps towards the door, leading inside the building.

I hit something or someone and before I know it, there are floating papers in the air.

"Watch it!", A sharp female voice says.

"I'm so sorry", I cringe, bending down to help her pack her things. I glance at one of the sheets, it's part of a written essay. Standing to hand the scattered pile of papers to her, i squirm at the piercing stare she's giving me.

Her eyes are grey. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with grey eyes before. She could be wearing contacts though. Her long hair is dyed purple at the tips. Her jaw clenches. She looks scary- beautiful but still scary, like she's about to kill me.

"I'm so sorry", I say again, avoiding her gaze.

She grabs the stack of papers from me angrily, "fucking watch where you're going next time!", She snaps before walking away.

My eyes follow her until she's out of sight before I take a deep breath. I haven't even spent up to an hour in this place and I'm already making people angry.

A faint chuckle comes from behind me.

I turn around to see a pretty brunette staring at me. She leans against the wall, her arms crossed across her shirt as she studies me.

"I said I was sorry", I say softly and she laughs.

"Don't think too much about it. Hailee is like that", she says, "I'm Carmen and I'm pretty sure you're new"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yep"

I sigh as we walk into the busy hallway together.

"So, what's your name?", Carmen asks.

"Brooke", i stare at the tiles.

"Cool", she turns to say hi to a chubby kid next to his locker before staring back at me, "where are you from?"

"Seattle"

"That's nice. I went there one summer, nice place"

"Yeah, it is", I mutter dryly.

The number of people Carmen waves at as we walk through the hallways tells me she must have a lot of friends. She seems easy going and she has a nice smile.

We stop next to the lockers, "so classes are about to start. Do you have your schedule?"

"Yes actually", I trail as I take off my bag and search inside for the class schedule Blake printed out for me. I find it, taking it out and closing my bag, before staring at it.

"English", I say, still staring at it.

"Same here", she grins, "come on, I'll show you"

We talk briefly as we work through the hallway. Carmen is seventeen, has lived in Boston all her life and loves to read books especially fantasy novels which is why she volunteers at the school library. She seems pretty normal and a normal friend is definitely what I need so I'm grateful. After all, if not for Carmen, it would be hard to maneuver through the maze of hallways in Fenway high.

We walk into a noisy classroom. Something flies past my ear and I flinch, but my shoulders relax when I realize it's just a paper plane. The teacher isn't in the class yet. Carmen sits on the second row, gesturing for me to sit right behind her which I do. Then I look around at everyone else.

Nobody really notices me as they're all engaged in conversations of their own. For a moment, I'm glad about my invisibility. The smell is familiar, just like it was in my old school- a mix of perfumes and sweat.

"You'll be fine Brooke, just relax. It's high school, what's the worst that could happen?", I whisper to myself.

Carmen turns back and studies me with a confused expression on her face. "What are you doing?"

"Encouraging myself", I say pouting, "it's just something I always do"

She chuckles, "okay weirdo", she says as she turns her back to me again.

The classroom door opens and I hope it's the teacher because the noise is really getting to me but it's not. It's the scary girl from earlier, with a worn frown on her face as her stormy eyes roam the classroom in disgust. Carmen had said her name was Hailee.

A boy is behind her, his lips pursed as he looks around. His eyes land on me and his eyebrows crease as he studies me with a serious expression on his face. I can't help but think about a Japanese mythical creature I read about called a Satori, that can read people's minds. It reads them aloud, until the people go insane. To stop a Satori, you'd need to empty your mind.

I shift uncomfortably in the chair. I would die of embarrassment if the boy was a Satori because his gaze makes me feel warm and I'm not used to maintaining eye contact for this long. I gulp nervously and he smirks victoriously before looking away.

Both him and the scary girl walk towards two empty desks, casually taking their seats. A couple of people watch them but they don't seem to notice, as though they are only aware of each other. She places her head on the desk in front of her tiredly and he smiles at her current state.

"You know Jonah Locke?", Carmen asks, pulling my attention to her.

"Who?"

"Him", she says cocking her head towards my staring contest opponent.

"No", I shake my head.

"Then why did he look at you like that?", She asks in a sly tone.

"I don't know", I shrug, "I was looking at the girl actually", I lie and hope she doesn't see through it.

She doesn't.

She laughs, "yeah, Hailee. She's his girlfriend"

"That's nice"

Carmen smirks at me and I glance at the door. The teacher works in at that exact moment and the class subdues into decorum. My ears couldn't be more pleased. I take a deep breath.

Hopefully, this goes well.