Chapter 2:

All classes in all grade levels always start at eight and you are considered late if you were to show up 30 minutes later, a daring contrast in L'Pierre which always starts at 7:20.

The whole school displays it's newly polished hallways with the official school colors, yellow and blue scheme all over the campus since it has been a long practiced tradition here in Flintwood for students to help in the renovation of the facilities every summer to promote community-based activities. Or maybe the city just wanna ease up and save money from hiring proper paint men. Teenagers may do a shitty paintjob but at least it will be faster since everybody would want to go home early. Save time, save money. A win-win for the city mayor.

The main hallway is flooded with students buzzing around, looking at each other's schedules, showing off new clothes brought in the summer or just idly wasting time secretly vaping on corners.

I make my way through the crowd and to my locker, 489, opening it to put in books I don't need for my first class. It is always a pleasure setting everything up every first day of the class. Everything is so new and shiny even the floor is squeaky clean. Of course everything goes reset except for one thing.

"Hey Bloody Mary.,"

Reputation.

I take a deep breath then close my locker and look over my shoulder to identify the culprit. A bunch of freshmen looking like a pack of hyenas are hanging out by their own lockers across the hallway, snickering at me.

A blonde guy winks at me then nods at my bag, "Got a bible in there Bloody Mary. I'm guessing a few verses for us would be enough to save our woe souls., "

Wow, are they kidding me?

The hyenas laugh in unison before proceeding with their business, sniffing other people's butt for a pathetic excuse to have inflated egos. I shake my head at humanity before starting my walk to my first class.

"Hey Naomi., " Andrew Porter walks with me as he balances a handful of books on his arm, the other his backpack slinging on one shoulder.

"Hey yourself, Porter. You on Miss Blanche's class too?, "

He shows a smile too wide for his face it made him look like a chipmunk, "Yeah. Social Science. Glad having the same schedule as you have. ,"

His a member of the publication club, the same club I'm in.

I check my phone, "Oh wait., " then howl out an 'awww' of disappointment, "Sorry Porter. I must have read my sched wrong. Miss Blanche's my 2nd period. I should be in English now., "

Mr. Smiley then suddenly turns all frowny from my stunt, "You really like leading me on don't you? But it's a pleasure being played by you., "

I let out a guilty laugh, "Hey it was an honest mistake. Don't take me out on it., "

We pass by my classroom and I bid him adieu. Entering the familiar room, I choose a sit in the second row, my usual place, so I can listen to the teacher better. I am the first one in the room. I have always been an early bird and have never had a late record in my entire school life because I believe that next to drugs as the most addictive things in the universe is being late. Once you started it, there's no turning. Only cure is your father's belt.

Just in time, someone else enters the room and I almost drop my bag to the floor.

Elijah made his way to the back portion and I look away so things won't get awkward considering it is still only the two of us here. I sit down then face forward, too rigid for my liking so I plug in my earphones and listen to some music, the international anti-awkward move.

The lead vocalist of a soft metal band is in the middle of singing his heart out to turtledoves taking away his girlfriend when Elijah sits down next to me and mumbles a few words, pantomined from the music.

I take off the left side ,"Uhhh, what?, "

"You came here with Addy, right?, " Wow, his voice is just drop dead sexy.

I give him a knowing but doubtful look, "To school yeah. Why?, "

He seems to have second thoughts before plunging in to his intentions, "I kinda wanna ask if she said anything about us., "

I raise an eyebrow signaling I'm still a bit lost and he lets out a frustrated sigh before gesturing, "You know, if she was angry or something. Maybe even gave you a hint about us., "

The nerve of this guy, "I don't know. I'm legit not suppose to be talking about that., " I tuck back a hair that fell from my face, "Well, I can let you on a thing she said., "

But then I stop short. Dude, he's gotta put a great effort if he want's to show her he regrets whatever he has done.

I smile bittersweet, "But nah. Can't do that to Addy. You guys should talk rather than you asking me about it., "

That feels rightly done.

But of course I can be a busybody at times too. It's a girl thing, "On second thought, she was kind of disappointed on you actually in the communication aspect. That one is agreeable to all females so no offense if I side on her. But more or less, I guess that is the only issue you guys are having that she let me on. Hope that helps., "

He stares at me for a moment, feeling pinned by those gorgeous eyes. Time stops and I feel myself blushing with his stare, suddenly concious of my messy bun. Stupid me, I must look like a warlord right now.

I am about to ask if he needs anything else when other people arrive and he seems to snap out of his own thoughts, "Yeah thanks., "

I'm about to answer back when he transfers to his seat and the teacher enters. Class goes on as usual and before I know it, I had gone through 3 periods of classes already and it's lunch. I was kind of in a trance, rethinking if I said anything to Elijah that could have caused the way he acted earlier but came up blank. Or maybe I have said anything that Adrianna might not like but I'm guessing she won't mind. I'm just paranoid. It is kind of dumb anyway. People tend to overthink the most trivial things then ignore the things that truly matters like for instance, lunch.

I love lunch. I get to eat of course but most importantly, I meet up with the most amazing person in the world.

Samantha Howerr hugs me without a moment passed, "Gosh, I missed you Naomi., "

We take a break from the hugging game before people starts thinking we're dykes, "Back at ya, Howerr.," I open my lunch and see chicken. Nice.

"How's summer camp?, "

She flips back her wavy black hair since it seems like it won't allow her to eat, the prods at a lonely piece of lettuce on the corner of her salad plate, "I told you already on the phone Naomi. Same as always., "

Geez, she's grumpy, "I thought you said it was fantastic. I was expecting some wild summer sex happened between you and one of the summer boys you always fancy., "

She scrunchies her nose and is about to retort something back when her phone tings a notification. As if in collaboration, my phone also buzzes and I double tap the screen to show a video message sent anonymously on Friendzy, a kind of social media platform developed by someone here in Flintwood. Now it's being used by anyone.

I open the message and instantly grimace at what I saw.

Samantha almost hollers, " Naomi, are you seeing this?, "

I back it out then turn down my phone on the table, "Yeah. I bet we are seeing the same thing., "

She laughs, "Lol. Another scandal from L'Pierre, the second one for this year. I'm guessing they'll release a part three for this., "

I regret seeing that. Like who even sends these shits? And why do you have to record sex? That's just dumb. It's enough this generation records everything we do.

Samantha is still watching the video and so does everyone else in the cafeteria seeing their heads bowed down to their phones like their in a prayer meeting. Bad comparison Naomi.

She whistles, "I can't see the faces of the couple. They just record their gunks doing the action, it's kinda boring actually., "

"I don't know Sam. Just turn it off already, it's killing my vibe., "

But she just continues to watch since it was a 5 minute long clip of disgusting humping. She's right though, their heads were cut off from the frame hiding their identity. The only thing identifiable is what seems to be a white twisted loomband bracelet the girl is wearing.

Samantha just won't rest, "I can't seem to determine who they are. All I know is this came from L'Pierre., "

"Sam! Cut it off already. You guys are disgusting., "

She turns off her phone then laugh it off, "Okay, okay. Just calm the fuck down. I'll start calling you Virgin Mary instead of Bloody already. You'll grow old single at that state., "

Although that got me thinking of the people in those scandals. Do they think it's worth it risking these things just to become a legend? I don't think so.

I am still thinking about it in class when a phone rings, disrupting the discussion.

"No phones during class. Give me that., " Miss Davidson demands as the poor girl reaches inside her bag when in almost perfect unison, everyone's phone buzzes and rings.

Others try to silence their's off but a few brave souls manages a peak as to what was sent.

"No phones! I said no phones! Everybody's will be confiscated!, " But nobody is listening to Miss Davidson since all eyes are glued to their screens.

Curiosity also gets the better of me as I open my own gadget and sees another video message. I tap and the second part of the alleged scandal plays, intensified than the last one since the couple is almost at their climax.

The classroom clatters. There are others who haven't recieved the message, asking their friends to air drop it to them. But amidst the moving bodies, Adrianna seems to be the one most affected. She looks up, her one pretty face is ruined by a frown.

Her student council president instinct kicks in as she stands up then adresses Miss Davidson, "Everybody sit down and pay attention to the teacher in front. I'll be raising this issue to the office., "

With that she walks out the room.

I in turn volunteer for the sake of a stunned Miss Davidson in front to read the snippet of a book she required us to finish last year. I don't know what's going on in L'Pierre, but they are not definitely standing up to the role of a Christian School.

A great disappointment.

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