Chapter 8

Anna's POV 

A few hours later, it was time for lunch and I was starving. I went to the cafeteria, got my lunch and sat at an empty table. I had an AP Chemistry assignment due immediately after lunch break and I hadn't even taken a look at it! 

I brought out my notebook and began to do the assignment as I ate my lunch. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn't notice someone had sat down at the table until I finished. Don't blame me, I just love Chemistry. 

The person happened to be Mr. Rude from my first day. What's his name? Colton? 

Unfortunately, I didn't know that I was staring and he took it as something else. He thought I was checking him out.

"I didn't know I'm this drool worthy", he joked. 

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."

"Then why were you staring at me?" he teased. 

"Because I was trying to figure out what in the world you're doing here, like, at this table", I said with a serious expression on my face. 

"I want to stay here", he replied.

I groaned. "I thought you're a senior."

"Yes, I'm a  senior. Does that mean I can't hang out with people I like?" he replied.

I shrugged. "It's not to see a popular senior sitting with an unpopular junior."

"You're not unpopular, kid," he said, "you've been putting people in their places since you came here. That's the biggest news here now."

"Yeah, but I'm kinda lonely here", I said sadly. 

"You're not lonely, kid. You have me", he said, munching his chips. 

"Wow, that really touched my heart", I said sarcastically.

He ignored my statement. "The reason most of them are avoiding you is because of Kimberly. She's the most popular junior. Apparently, she can't believe you're the girl we've all been waiting for", he explained. 

I guessed Kimberly must be Miss. Bitchness I met this morning. "Then screw her," I said, "I don't care."

"I like your guts Annabelle," he said, smiling, "anyway, she's ordered all your potential friends to stay away from you because you're an 'impostor'-"

My laughter cut him off.

 Wow. So that girl was serious about her accusation.

"Allow me finish before you kill me with your savage laughter", he said with a smirk. 

I so wanted to smack his head but waited for him to finish talking. 

"Now, as I was saying," he continued as he munched those chips that never seemed to finish, "Kimberly thought that you would be as glamorous and fake as she is, but received the shock of her life when you failed to prove that. She still thinks that you're an impostor and ordered everyone to stay away from you-"

"Wait," I said when what he said sunk into my brain. 

"What? I thought I told you not to interrupt me", he whined, irritation lacing his voice. 

"You called her fake. How-"

"You think I'm as blind as everyone else?" he cut me off. 

"..."

"I can see through her glamour. It's all fake. I just don't know why no one else has noticed. Anyway, I'm just glad she told everyone to stay away from you. It means that you won't have fake friends."

"Oh, thank you", I said.

"No problem", he replied before finally finishing those chips.

"But how come you suddenly care about me?" I asked. 

He naturally shouldn't care whether my friends are fake or not since he practically didn't know me.  He shouldn't even give a shit about me.

He shrugged. "I don't know. I just care."

"Okay", I replied. I would manage that answer. 

Then the bell signaling the end of recess sounded. It was actually the warning bell. I always mixed it up with the main bell because in my school in Pakistan, there was only one bell. 

Colton and I got up and made our way  towards the door of the cafeteria where we would go our separate ways. 

"I have a question for you", I said when we got to the door.  

"You can ask after school. I'll come get you from your class", he replied. 

"Okay. Later then", I said. 

I went for my AP Chemistry class. Thank goodness I was able to finish that assignment on time. If you're wondering how I've been making my way around without Brooke, it's because I got a map of the school from the secretary. 

I got to my class and took a seat in the middle row. I think I got a liking for that position and my seat was always by the window. 

Middle rows are like middle children, they're mostly ignored. That way, I didn't have to get the undue attention I would get from sitting in the front or back rows. 

I settled down and brought out my books to prepare for the lesson. I love Chemistry but I had never taken AP Chemistry in Pakistan because there was no such thing. Choosing it when I got here was just the spur of the moment.

The teacher came in. One look at her and I regretted coming to this class. 

She was short and had no figure. That is, she was so straight that she didn't even have hips. Her shoulder length hair was dyed bright red. She had quite a pretty face with large eyes, a small nose and red lips. Her facial beauty came more from the structure of her bones than any padding of flesh. When I looked into her grey eyes, I saw nothing but evil and I shuddered. She reminded me of the insanity we left in Pakistan. When I looked at my teacher, I saw her.

As she taught us, I couldn't concentrate. I unconsciously touched the scar under my left wrist and almost cried out. It still hurt after so many years. 

"May I be excused ma'am?" I asked as I raised my hand. I just couldn't stay in the classroom anymore.

The woman, Mrs. Ryan, sneered at me and I cowered. "And why do you want to leave before the end of the class?"

"I-I need to go to the bathroom", I answered. 

"No", she replied and faced the board.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. A few minutes later, a girl raised her hand. 

"Yes?" Mrs. Ryan asked. 

"I need to use the bathroom, ma'am", she said. 

"You're excused", Mrs. Ryan responded. 

What?! 

"That's unfair!" someone screamed from the back. 

"Who said that?! Come forward", Mrs. Ryan ordered. 

The girl came forward with her chin. My advocate turned  out to be Brooke! 

"You can't be unfair to Annabelle. She asked for permission first", she told our teacher. 

The woman snorted. "I will run my class the way I choose and there is nothing you can do about it."

Her face as she said that scared me. By now, I was having flashbacks from those days she used to come to our house. They were terrible. I didn't know that I was crying until I felt someone wrap her arm around me. 

"Annabelle", she called me. 

I didn't respond and I couldn't see her face because my eyes were closed. I was scared that if I opened them, I would see my arch enemy again. My breathing became heavy as more tears rolled down my cheeks. 

Finally, I passed out.