New Yorks Finest

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴏ

Recap:

Just as I dropped into my seat, the classroom door swung open with a bang. A woman with sharp eyes and a clipboard stormed in, her heels tapping a quick rhythm on the scratched-up floor. "Alright, listen up," she snapped, scanning the room like a hawk, "anybody rollin' in late's gettin' detention. And yeah, Luca, don't think I don't see you. New or not we play by my rules in here."

Some snickers bounced around the room, but I straightened up. New city. New rules. Time to show I wasn't just another face in the crowd,

or at least give it my best shot.

Luca

Giving it my "Best shot" was clearly easier said than done. 

"Luca and Caroline, you'll be sharing a table."

I look across the room to see a caramel skinned curly head girl. She looked to be about 5'7 with tattoos peeking out of the bottom on the Ralph Lauren sweats set she had on. Her smile was warm and laced with the metal and pink of her braces that adorned her teeth.

We both had a seat and I nervously rapped my fingers along the old wooden deck

"You new right?" She asked. I can't blame her for easily picking me out for being new around here, I didn't really fit into the image of someone who lived in the city before.  I simply nodded and laid my head on my backpack. I heard a lighthearted chuckle boom from her chest as she shifted in her seat once again.

"You're cute. Nice to meet you...Lucas?"

"Just Luca. Luca Scott. Nice to meet you too Caroline"

I scanned the room, and my attention was drawn to Elias who had been sat next to a stunning brown-skinned girl but he wore an expression of an untold story of annoyance with just her presence. I questioned it, but in the same breath paid it no extra mind. My main focus was making sure I got through this day without many hiccups 

I turned my attention back to the front. Everyone settled in their pairs, leaving only Mrs. Navario standing at the front of the room, clipboard in hand and a look that said she was already over it. 

Elias

I was at my peak of being annoyed and it's not even 10 A.M.

I don't know what vendetta the universe has out against me, but now I have to share my time and table with the last person in this room who I'd ever want to speak to.

"Eliiiiii damn I knew today was gon' be good. Got my lashes done and I'm next to bae? Universe love me."

La'Tonya.

Even the way she dragged out my name grated and annoyed the fuck out of me. I side eye the woman sat to the left of me as she moved in closer, her long nails dragging  across the tattoos that decorated my arm. The same nails that used to send chills down my spine in the best way now only made me all the more pissed off. 

People like La'Tonya, they only see the outside the tattoos, the height, the confidence. They don't see how tired I am. How much I wish someone would actually ask how I'm doing and mean it.

Unfortunately it is my fault, it's not like we don't have a past of our own. We had history. One night, sophomore year. That one night I was bored, reckless, maybe even lonely. And she's clung to that moment ever since like it meant something more. But it didn't. At least not to me. Not then, not now, not...ever.