Saving Everest

5.

- You can't change what is meant to be. Everyone will have that one moment, that defines their whole existence...it's fated.                                                          

Beverly

"Vote Nami Lynn for senior class president." She absentmindedly handed me a flyer and a lollipop.

There wasn't much minority in this school, but Nami Lynn was among that small bit. Being Black and Asian, didn't stop her from climbing up the social ladder. Her minority didn't get in the way of the things she wanted. She was president of almost all the clubs and her grades were impeccable. Nami Lynn is just one of those people that seemed like she had her life together.

I watched as she threw a lollipop at Nash's head. "Vote for me, bitch."

Nash rubbed at his head as Cara shot a glare at Nami.

"You look tense. You should masturbate with a knife sometime, I bet that will loosen you up, darling," Nami smiled sweetly at Cara's horrified expression before walking away.

I chuckled and slipped the lollipop and flyer into my bag.

I'm going to vote for her. It's not like she isn't going to win. She has won for the past three years.

I gathered my belongings from my lockers with a smile. I was seemingly in a good mood for no reason at all.

Maybe because lunch was next period.

"Whoa, is that who I think it is?" I heard someone say bringing my attention to the end of the hall.

Grey hoodie.

Everest.

But instead of the bronze hair sticking from out of the top, the hair was black. Did he dye his hair? His head was covered as he put his bag into his locker.

"Hey, Everest," Martha Summers, one of the cheerleaders from Cara's entourage said as she swayed her hips toward Everest and threw him a flirty smile.

He turned and she gasped. "What's next? Black nail polish?"

I couldn't see from the angle I was standing, but other people stood around with a look of surprise on their faces.

Cara's eyes practically bulged from out of her head and even Nash looked surprised.

I actually really wanted to see what they were seeing, but the lunch bell rang and I'm really hungry.

After waiting in line for about two minutes, I heard Nami's voice as she joined the end of the line.

"...And he stuck his middle finger up, and asked her if black would be a cute color on that nail," she laughed along with her best friend Tiffany.

Tiffany's laugh rang through the line. "That was so funny, her face turned like six shades of red. I never knew Everest could be capable of being rude towards someone."

"Are you guys talking about Everest? Am I the only one who thinks his new bad-boy image is hot?" another female voice joined the conversation.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Everest sticking up his middle finger was such a taboo thought.

Everest being a badboy? An even stranger thought.

I grabbed my water and made my way into my spot. When I opened the door to my spot, I instantly smiled at how the sunlight was barely peeking through the large windows. it was a beautiful autumn day and I couldn't help but smile.

I sat at my usual table and pulled out my brown paper bag before something happened that I would never forget.

"Are you lost?" the voice was dangerously husky, and I almost fell from out of my chair. No one ever comes to the library on the east wing. So, randomly hearing a deep voice from a badly lighted library, is enough to make me crap myself.

I dropped my sandwich and began to hurry to the door before I saw Everest come out from behind the bookshelf.

I stilled and zoned in on his face. He looked confused as I stared at his newly ebony hair. I brought my eyes down to the circles in his ear and I inwardly winced. Whatever they are, they look painful.

He looked so different.

I felt a slight itch in my throat, as smoke filled my nose. I glanced down at the smoking object in Everest's hands.

Since when did he start smoking?

"Hello?" he asked slightly annoyed and warily. He brought the smoking object to his lips and puffed. It was slightly beautiful, the image I mean, not the potential risk of lung cancer.

"Smoking isn't good for you," I blurted, and I mentally slapped myself.

He stared at me weirdly for a second, before chuckling. "Neither is trying to kill yourself, but that didn't stop me either."

He brought it back up to his mouth and the smoke whizzed around him. His strong jawline flexed, as the smoke floated in patterns before disappearing.

"Are you lost?" I asked.

"Huh?" He squinted his eyes towards me, and his mouth gaped slightly open in a sideways fashion.

"You asked me if I was lost, but I've always been here. I'm not the lost one, you are."

He glanced down at the ground before looking back up at me. His piercing eyes met mine and made my skin crawl slightly, before he chuckled a humorless laugh.

"I guess I am the lost one."

And in that moment, I realized I was talking to someone. Not only someone but Everest, the most popular guy in school. Everest the boy who tried to kill himself, the boy with the sad eyes.

I noticed the crinkles in between his eyebrows and I wanted to do something about it.

"My name is Beverly and we are going to be good friends." I walked closer towards him and held my hand out. My heart thumped in my ears, as I waited for him to respond.

He stared down at my hand before gripping into the handshake. "My name is Everest and there is no chance in hell."

This is going to be a little harder than thought.