1-|The collision

This is a first draft of this book. It hasn't been properly editad or prufrid yet so expect typos. Though I'll try to keep them to the minimum♡

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0 1

The collision

I HATED Colorado. It was mainly because the people here made me feel weird. You couldn't walk down the street without receiving stares from those around. They made me feel like they recognized me, and I didn't want to be recognized. 

I had my black hoodie and a pair of blue jeans on. The outfit coupled with the two shirts in my backpack were the only items of clothing I owned. All the money I earned from the jobs I did were spent mostly on food, hotel room payment and survival in. I didn't have spare money to purchase a second-hand outfit from any of the local stores. Besides, in Colorado, you never knew who was gonna pop up at the store and go, 

“hey! I know you from somewhere, don't I?”

I, like most teenagers my age, didn't like my school either. Nevertheless, it was the place I was currently trudging to. Being in my senior year, I didn't really have a choice. It was either this or take to the streets. Option two wasn't a bad idea though. I mean, Steve Jobs, anyone?

My head was bent down, the top of my hoodie cap covering my eyes from being seen. My hands were tucked safely into the pockets of my hoodie as I marched through the front gates of Stanley Georgeson High: a place where gossip flew about like oxygen and the little ones struggled to survive.

Immediately I passed through the front gates, the chatter around me increased. The usual. 

From the corner of my eye, I spotted a group of cheerleaders giggling at something on one of the girls' phones. From the other corner, the football team was seated at one of the lounge tables on the 'popular field', and they were laughing. 

As I passed another group of girls, I heard them whispering. Then one of the girls broke off from the group and proceeded to whisper into yet another girl's ear. The process continued, whispers flying around to everyone's ears except mine. It was at this point that determined I was the cause of the sudden laughter.

I hiked my bag higher on my shoulder and pulled my hoodie further down to shield myself. Gaze roaming the environment, I noticed that even though they seemed like they were laughing at me, they weren't actually looking in my direction. A subtle relieved sigh left my lips. I was probably just being paranoid again.

I trudged up the stairs leading to the front doors of Stanley with both speed and caution. Speed because I wanted to get out of the popular territory. Fast. Caution because I didn't want to draw any attention.

Once I was in the safe haven of the halls, the chatter died down into an almost comfortable silence. I straightened my back the slightest bit and walked ffaster, only halting when the bell went off for my first class. I cursed under my breath, breaking into a sprint. People shrieked and squealed as I ran through the almost crowded halls, pushing through them. A flurry of "sorry"s and "'scuse me"s filled the atmosphere behind me.

My heart pounded with each footstep I took, each sharp turn I encountered. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and stared at the screen.

Thirty seconds till it struck eight and I was officially late for my first class of the year. Shite.

Twenty-five.

This was the exact reason why I'd woken up earlier than normal and gotten ready. For me, lateness was a sign of a failing student. It was what my aunt Gertha had drilled into my skull while I was still living with her.

I slammed Into someone. Two people, actually. The effect caused me to fall back, hitting the floor with my butt and letting out an "oomph" sound as the collision occurred. My heart was still throbbing. My gaze snapped to my phone, which lay a few inches from me sporting a wicked cracked screen. 

Well, there goes my non-existent social life.

"Are you okay?"

I looked up, to the people I'd bumped into. Their figures loomed over mine like shadows, silhouetted by the florescent light bulb above them. I squinted, making my way up and ignoring the hand offered by the stranger with a grunt from the base of my throat. 

I hurried to my shambled phone and snatched it up, reminiscing in what was left of my two-year old screen.

"Did your screen crack?"

Only now did I recognize his voice, thick and heavy with concern. Like I was struck by lightning, I whipped my attention around and came face to face with Reece Warner. Awestruck, I took a step back, away from him, surveying the girl he was with. His girlfriend, Lydia Arway. 

I blinked and swallowed, clutching my broken phone to my chest like he was going to hurt it. Or worse, hurt me. Lydia arched a brow at me, crossing her arms over her chest and studying my retreating form from behind Reece. 

“I'm fine,” I coughed out. Reece's eyebrows furrowed, like he was going to ask if I was sure about that. I wasn't.

Maybe I was overreacting, but it was justified. After all, he and his girlfriend, along with their group of other friends, were popular. Nothing like I was: Negligible.

I liked my invisibility. 

So, for the love of that invisibility, I spun around on my heel, ignoring the concerned glint in Reece's green eyes, and hurried away. My heart was in my stomach, legs almost tripping over each other as I hurried away. 

I couldn't help but notice that I wasn't bumping into anyone this time.

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