Unedited

Anna's PoV

I meet Alice in the bus. She's one year junior to me but we both love books, so we bond over that. I catch up on all the new fantasy series I had been missing, and she has to hear summaries of Austen novels because I love Pride and Prejudice.

I go up to my classroom and greet my teacher, and as usual, she smiles back at me. I look for an empty bench and move towards it when I finally locate one. As we have two-seater benches, everyone is sitting in pairs. My guess is I will be stuck alone the entire year.

I am not exactly looking forward to it but considering the fact that I keep any social interaction to minimum, it won't be much of a surprise. I like to talk; I don't despise people (contrary to rumours), but I have made unsuccessful attempts in the past so I won't be going there again. Most of my classmates think of me as a teachers' pet who is proud, overconfident and a show off. Earlier, it used to hurt when I heard these things about me...but I have learnt to ignore it.

Soon, all the benches are filled except mine and Bethany's. Bethany's parents have requested the authorities to let her sit alone because she suffers from fits occasionally. I slightly panic when I don't see the extra benches. Great, the school decided to keep the number of benches exactly half of the students + Bethany, this year. That means I would have to deal with a bench partner. I inwardly groan, not wanting to share the extra space.

Maybe I am making a fuss about nothing. Maybe there are only these many students in the class. I don't think someone would be late on the first day....the day where you choose your bench partners. I somehow assure myself that no one else will enter the class today. Soon, my suspicion grows stronger when the morning assembly starts...and finishes too. 

Okay Anna, so far so good.

Our teacher addresses the class, "Good morning class. I welcome you all to another wonderful beginning in our lives. I hope you have a great year ahead. Now let's take your attendance."

She continues," Aaron...present; Anna...present; Ashton...present;Brian...present; Davis...I think he is absent..."

A voice comes from outside the classroom ," Actually ma'am , I am quite present , just a little late."

"Davis, just so you know I don't like late comers . I am excusing you today just because it's your first day. Come in and I hope you will be on time tomorrow."

"Yes ma'am . Thank you."

I can't look away from him. I have had a crush on Davis since the time he joined this school. He did try to talk to me once or twice but I guess he caught wind of the rumours soon. And I am not the only one staring,all the girls of the class are staring.

I can't blame them...he is handsome. He is a part of the popular 'cool' group.He has got a cute voice and a bright smile.... My train of thoughts is interrupted when I realise that there are no extra benches.Davis looks for an empty seat and I am dreading it. No no no...he starts walking towards me.

"Anna, right? May I sit here?" His voice brings me out of my thoughts.

I can only nod my head at him, unable to speak anything. How can I refuse? It's not like he has any bench remaining for him. I wonder why his friends didn't save him a seat.

What have I gotten myself into? I am sure any girl would like to trade places with me...but I act all clumsy and weird around crushes. I really don't want to embarrass myself and neither do I need any disturbance in my studies. Calm down, Anna. Focus ahead for now.

Davis's PoV

It is just like the movies. I reach just as ma'am called out my name.

I promise her I won't be late again and start looking for those extra benches...which apparently are not in the class.

This is the demerit of being late on the first day. I can see my friends giving me sympathetic glances and I throw them a reassuring look that says I will be fine. 

Then I realise I will not be fine...because there is only one empty seat except the one beside Bethany. I try to keep calm and move towards her bench. She looks at me with those big eyes of hers...she is really pretty but it's her eyes that steal the show for me. 

I wanted to befriend her when I first joined this school a few years ago but she was very distant and from everything I heard from others she doesn't like to mingle with us. Perhaps we are not good enough for her, I mentally shrug it off.

"Anna, right? May I sit here?" Of course I know her name...yet I reconfirm. I hope she says yes otherwise I will end up making a fool of myself in front of the class.

She just nods her head and I smile at her. She really doesn't like to talk, huh?

This day is going to be interesting. I have to spend a year as the bench partner of miss icy-pricy, that's what they call her in the entire school. She has always been at the top of the class and has also excelled in extracurricular activities. Basically, she is an all rounder, I understand why she would be proud. In fact, she has every right to be proud, because she works very hard to achieve her goals.

My friends described her as mean, snobbish and a teachers' pet. I haven't seen her being mean and snobbish but then again, I don't know her at all, I am fairly new to the school. I have seen her help the not so bright students, maybe she does it to get into the good books of teachers. I have seen her working for the teachers though. I really don't understand how someone can willingly do all this.

To top it off she's a prefect too, and if I am not wrong, she will be promoted to vice captain this year. Anyways, I need to get through my day...and not look at my bench partner, as gorgeous as her eyes may be. 

My friends glance at me with an emotion that seems like pity, and it makes me a bit angry. There are worse things than sitting with Anna. I dismiss their concerns with a disapproving look. 

Author's Note:

This is a short chapter, but a filler was needed, the story gets interesting the next chapter onwards. 

Thank you for reading!

Shrishti Shubha,

(IG: read_writing_food_)