Chapter 09

ZION

Flinging my school bag over my shoulder, I entered the school building for another daunting day at the miserable place. Just like yesterday, everybody stopped what they were doing to stare at me with their undying attention. I refrained from the urge to roll my eyes. It was as if they had never seen a teenage boy before.

Alina was already at her locker when I arrived at the mine, a blonde girl kneeling against the lockers next to her and laughing. The girl was shorter than Alina and much curvier. She had deep blue eyes and plump pink lips to match. Her hair was cropped short, to her shoulders and wavy which matched her outfit of black high waist jeans and a black tube top. A leather jacket and boots finished her look.

I took my time walking to my locker as I shifted my gaze to Alina who was having an animated conversation with her friend. Her hands moved everywhere, almost hitting a poor boy who was walking by. Giving him a sheepish grin, she apologized before continuing her conversation. The one noticeable thing about her was the frown that never left her face as she spoke.

My eyes trailed down her body for a quick second. There wasn't much to look at because she hid her slender frame under a baggy navy blue hoodie and black skinny jeans. Chuck Taylor All-Stars covered her feet and they looked either brand new or well-taken care of because there wasn't a scuff mark on them. Her dark hair was tied on top of her head in a messy bun.

Peeling my eyes off her figure, I reached my locker. I turned the knob to insert my locker code but once I was done the locker never opened. After about three attempts, I grew frustrated and muttered under my breath, "What the shit?"

Alina slotted herself in as she attempted to open my locker. When she punched the metal surface with her small fist I flinched. One because I didn't expect that and two because I expected her to have busted knuckles after how hard she punched it. However, her hands were fine, and my locker miraculously creaked open.

"The school's old new kid. Old building, old lockers. It just takes a little finesse to open them up," she declared before shifting her attention back to her friend and locker. Her AP math book was already in hand since that was our first period.

I pulled out all my necessary books before closing my locker and watching Alina's friend bid her farewell to head to her own class. At least I assumed that was the reason she left her friend. Alina began strolling down the hall in the direction of class and I followed behind.

We were the only two students in class since there were at best ten more minutes before the first bell. Scratch that, we were the only two people in the class, the orange headed teacher wasn't even behind her desk yet. I had half a mind to leave the room and return later especially since I was more known to arrive late than to arrive early but I wanted to talk to the girl. I needed to talk to the girl and maybe a change of behavior was something I needed to.

Alina took a seat at the back of the class and I followed her, taking the seat beside hers. There was a scowl on her face, her furrowed brows creating deep frown lines on her forehead as she took out her phone and began texting rapidly. Her thumbs moved as if they were on fire, vigorously typing.

Clearing my throat, I knelt back in my seat, linking my hands behind my head and stretching my legs –crossing them at my ankles. Closing my eyes, I voiced, "Thank you, Hart," I heard something fall and if it was her phone then I sure hoped it fell on her desk and not crashed to the floor.

"What?" Her little voice squeaked and I could practically feel her eyes on me. By her tone, I could deduce that she was nervous and I couldn't help the smug smirk that tugged at the corner of my lip.

Without opening my eyes or shifting from my relaxed position, I repeated, "Thank you, Hart," then I furthered, "You know, for helping me with my locker and all that," my eyes fluttered open and I turned my head ever so slightly to meet her startled grey eyes, "Just one question though, how did you know the code to my locker?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, easily masking her emotions and giving me that snarky attitude, "Because, before it became your locker, it was mine. I asked for a locker switch because I was tired of playing a boxing match with the stupid thing. Even Muhammad Ali would have lost the fight against the all-mighty intolerable locker." Her last words were mumbled more for her own ears than for mine but I couldn't help smile as I heard them.

She was dramatic, I'd give her that much.

I hummed in response, removing my hands from behind my head so I could fold my arms across my chest and look at her, "So, who was the blonde with you?" My expression turned slightly bored. It wasn't as if I didn't care to know the information...actually I didn't care, I just wanted to keep the conversation going.

She glared at me, her grey eyes turning cold. I was certain she could see right to my soul with those eyes, "Her name's Sophia and you better keep your crummy paws off her because she's taken," her warning only made me chuckle. I had to admit, she looked adorable when she got all worked up.

"Relax, angel face, I don't want to get with every girl in the school," Shooting her a wink, I watched her roll her beautiful eyes in annoyance.

"Could've fooled me," she scoffed, "You know just because you drove me home yesterday it doesn't mean we're all of a sudden best buds. I'd appreciate if you called me by my name and not the corny crap you call other girls because you can't remember their names." Her eyes narrowed in on me in suspicion.

Shrugging a shoulder, "I didn't think it did since you remained quiet the entire drive. You only spoke when giving me directions. If you were going to be a mute the entire time, why did you take up my offer?" I ran a hand through my curly hair which needed a cut. The black denim jacket I wore irritated me but I refused to remove it, not wanting anyone seeing the new tattoos that adorned my body.

"Firstly, you were being a pest by following me. I have a feeling that you would have followed me all the way home because of the limited brains you have in that head of yours. Secondly, there was going to be a storm and I would have gone home with Max if he hadn't already left," A look flashed in her eyes but I couldn't understand it.

"Max?"

"The boy I was with yesterday in the cafeteria," she muttered softly, opening her math book and placing the pencil that laid inside behind her ear.

"Oh yes," I nodded, "you still haven't thanked me for saving you. You would have landed on your ass or maybe even your face if it weren't for me," Mrs. Gilbert, the orange-haired math teacher, decided to grace us with her presence at that moment. I retrieved my book from my backpack, placing it onto the table as I twirled a pen between my fingers.

Alina's jaw tightened and I could hear her gritting her teeth. The sound of it made me cringe, "Thank you," she sneered as other students began filing in.

The boy I now knew as Max and the girl, Sophia, walked in hand in hand. Max whispered something in Sophia's ear that had her giggling and almost made me gag. I had to deal with the lovey-dovey shit at home from my parents –which I've grown accustomed to –but to deal with it in school too. It was simply too much to handle.

Sophia gave Alina a questioning glance, raising her brows to which Alina just waved a hand. The blonde girl understood the gesture and took her seat in front of Alina whereas that Max guy took a seat in front of me.

"Hey there, you look a little pale. Are you feeling alright?" Sophia quizzed with a sweet smile and a harmonious voice. She seemed sweet and had a better sense of style than her friend so I didn't understand what she saw in Max who wore a white polo golfer and coffee color cuffed pants. On his feet was a pair of Adidas superstars.

Giving her a thumbs up, I mumbled, "No complaints here."

"Traitor!" Alina called, kicking the back of her friend's seat, "you're treading on very thin ice Sof."

Sophia held her hands up, "Just being civil. I'm what I'd like to call a mutual party here. So basically, I'm not picking sides," her mischievous smile spoke volumes. I might not have known the girl but even I could tell that she had something up her sleeve.

"You don't even know this fool," Alina defended as she removed the pencil from behind her ear to point at her friend, "and suddenly you aren't picking sides. You should be on my side just because you know me better than him."

"I don't need to know him," Sophia gleamed, shooting me a playful wink to which her boyfriend just chuckled at. I was surprised he didn't find it offensive or disrespectful, "I know that he's cute and with a face like that who wouldn't want to get to know him."

I loved how they spoke about me as if I wasn't in the room.

"I wouldn't want to get to know him," Alina proclaimed whilst giving me the dirtiest side glance she could muster.

"You're a special case." Was all Sophia said as she grabbed Alina's pencil that was being pointed in her face and turned around.

That was when Max decided to finally speak, "Sorry mate, they sometimes forget that the definition of gossiping is talking behind a person back."

I quickly took note of his English accent before replying to him, "No worries, I prefer to hear what Angel face over here has to say about me in person rather than hearing it from someone else."

She grimaced, "It's Alina, not Lina or Hart or Angel face, just Alina." Her low voice sounded deadly and rough. A sound similar to a growl vibrating in her chest as she glared at me with her enchanting eyes.

If she thought she could scare me, she was in for something else. There was nothing in this realm that I couldn't handle and if she only knew that. The demons I had locked away in my closet were more terrifying than her little dagger filled glare.

"Whatever you say," I paused as Mrs. Gilbert began speaking. Lowering my voice to a mere whisper I quickly continued with a smug expression plastered onto my face, "Angel Face."