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And remember it was written; to love another person is to see the face of God.

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Chapter Three

N  O  E  L

I FOLLOW THE moving crowd of students in uniforms hoping that they are heading to the cafeteria. I didn’t even know they wore uniforms in this school, mum never told me anything. How much did it cost her to get me into this private hell? Anyway so far so good the last hours in school have been bearable. As soon as I enter the cafeteria bustling with students I see a girl waving at me to come over.

I pretend like I did not see her and I go over to lunch lady.

I did not even know the girl, she sat next to me in my first class today, she welcomed me and she seemed friendly but I'm really not in the mood to make friends. I quietly take a lunch consisting of salads, an Apple and a bottle of water.

I choose a sit that's withdrawn and next to the door, I hear her call my name then I quickly put on my earpiece. As I removed the earpiece, a crumpled piece of paper falls out of my pocket. I pick up the paper remembering it. It was the same girl that threw it to me during English class, it said;

‘Hottie lookin at you.’

I had turn to see the person but it's either she was pulling my legs or the person turned away quickly.

I aim for the trash can and throw the paper into it. I can't wait for school to be over. I just want to go home and continue unpacking my stuffs. I miss California, I miss home and a very tiny minuscule almost nonexistent ignorable part of me misses my school.

I had friends there, Jackson and Nicole. I also had enemies, Karen. Until I left I never got to know why Karen just hated me, our rivalry went way back to kindergarten. We'll bicker and push down each other’s lunch box. The fights grew more serious and longer as we grew older. We even started fighting about boys. Jack and Nick also fought with me and protected me. I was also a bit serious about school. I was not a nerd or an over devoted student but at least I cared, I did my homework and I allowed people tutor me in difficult subjects.

But everything changed two years ago. After my father died of cancer, I practically died too. I withdrew from my friends and became a loner, I allowed Karen to push me around until she got tired and left me to go disturb someone else. I stopped caring about school all together.

I mean what's the point, my dad was a very intelligent man, he studied in Harvard, he worked so hard every day, he had a lot of friends. But where was he now, lying in a box cemented under the ground, alone. I'll die too one day and I don't want to leave people crying and wailing like my mum and I did after dad left us.

I finish up my lunch before the bell went off and I hurried out of the cafeteria to my locker. I relaxed on it and brought out my phone switching on my subway surf and continuing my game.

"Take that fatty man with the dog," I say engrossed in my game, my hands swiping on the screen from time to time to help me switch lanes or jump. The bell goes off and I start hearing footsteps and chatter in the Hallway.

I'm about to reach a new high score, so I don't pay attention to anything except my phone. I don't even move out of my locker. I feel a tap my shoulder and I just shrug it off. The tap continues and my name is even called, that’s when I lose my concentration and slam my face into a fast moving train. I cuss internally then look up to glare at the person who caused me to lose a new high score.

"Wohoo. Easy there," the girl who I recognize as the girl from this morning and from the cafeteria.

I sigh rubbing my hand over my face, "I'm sorry."

"No problem, I just wanted to say hi. We had English and Math classes together this morning remember?" I nodded. “I was waving at you at the cafeteria but you didn't see me. I'm Nadine."

I take her stretched hand in mine, "I'm Noel," I say trying to be nice.

"That's a really pretty name. I'm envious." She says, she seemed to be filled with energy.

"Your name's pretty too," I say as I start moving, hoping to go to my next class.

"What class do you have now?" She asks walking with me.

"Chemistry."

"Aw I don't have that same class. Well I'll see you later. I hope we can become good friends." She says hugging me slightly.

"Same," I say to her then wave back as she goes the opposite direction. How do people hug people they barely know and just met that day? I know I can't, it seemed strange.

I entered the class and it’s filled with students, I start searching for a seat to sit on.

"Hey are you Opal?" A boy asked me, I shake my head at him. “oh sorry I'm searching for the girl who's assigned to seat with me."

"Ah seats have been assigned," I say to myself. I wait for the teacher to come in and soon a man who introduces himself as Mr. Tanner walks in. I tell him my predicament.

He brings out a list and his eyes scan through. "Mr. Altamira?" He calls looking forward, my eyes follow him and they land on a table surrounded by three people, everybody was seating in twos only that seat had three people. One boy looks up so I'm guessing he is the Altamira. "Get your butt off, you are finally getting your own partner."

"It’s Christmas," the dark haired boy from my first class says again, causing me to roll my eyes and others to murmur confused.

"Miss, please go seat in there with Aaron,” the teacher says pointing the seat that the Altamira boy moved his stool to. I nod and go. "Class tomorrow we will rearrange ourselves again alphabetically."

I hear the whole class groan and protest as I take my seat, I'm guessing it’s all my fault that they are going to have to get rearranged all over again.

"No it isn't," a voice says and I look up to see my seat mate looking at me. I'm a bit taken back not only because he is looking at me but also because the boy is damn fine with captivating blue eyes.

His skin is flawless, his dark brown hair looking so nice and ruffled in a way fitting the word perfect. His face is angled in all the right places, with his nude pink lips. His arms are resting on the table and I can see his bicep bulging through the long sleeves of his shirt. Everything finished off with the sultry blue eyes. He is handsome.

"Excuse you?" I managed to ask after tearing my eyes away from him and his body before my staring turns creepy.

He smirks and I just know I've been caught staring, "No, it isn't all your fault that we're changing, that girl over there is a new student too."

"Oh I spoke out loud" I realized.

"Yes you did," he said his eyes sparkling in amusement.

I smile, "and I did again." We both chuckle lowly.

"I'm Aaron Altamira," he says.

"Noel Atkins," I say, I feel more free talking to this guy, like it’s not forced or anything.

"I know, you were in my English class, I wanted to tell you welcome to our school." He say being very friendly.

"Thank you, so far your school has been treating me nicely." I say bringing out my jotting note.

"But you still miss your Californian school," he deduced and I look at him wondering how he knew that. "You don't look so comfortable."

I nod, "Yes, but hopefully in a week’s time I'll be," I doubt that, I really don't like school in general. Wanting to change topics I asked, "So since you're an Altamira, how did you get stuck in the back seat? Isn't it Alphabetical?"

"He skipped my name," he blunted out, and I couldn't help the laughter that escaped my lips.

*

"If they get you with that gold you're dead man, run!" I say to my phone screen aiding the man in the game to run faster. I am currently playing temple run as I walked home occasionally looking up to see the way.

I have just ended my first day in Corner view, it went smoothly, I only talked to three student today, Nadine -that I managed to avoid throughout the remaining periods after Chemistry, Aaron -that I had small talk with during chemistry until Mr. Tanner told us to shut our yappers and one boy I do not know, I hit him with a ball and I had to apologize.

I put my phone into my bag as I search for my keys, when I find it, I enter into my new home, I still need to get used to it. It’s still a bit foreign to me. I see my mum seated on the sofa, papers scattered all over the table, she's so into what's she's doing that she doesn't notice my presence.

I walk over and pick up a paper; it’s a news paper advertisement of available job opportunity. "Any luck?"

She gasps as the sound of my voice, "You're back. You scared me."

I sit down beside her, giving her a side hug. She returns it leaning into me. "I'm so tired. How was your first day at school?"

I shrug, "ok," she looks at me, "it went fine mum, not like California but I'll get used to the difference soon." She nods understanding me. "So, what's all this?"

"Bills to settle and I'm looking for a job and no, no I haven't found that job meant for me. It’s like the universe is against me or something," she complains.

"The universe isn't against us, we'll survive, just...just a little more patience." I say trying to encourage her. She looked tired and she had bags under her eye.

"You don't fully understand. Since I graduated from school I haven't worked a single day in my life, my dad was rich and when I married your father, I continued my princess life. Now...now I'm just...lost." She says then turns to smile weakly at me. Her hand goes up to my face and wipe tears I didn't know escaped my eyes.

I hug her again, she was the one baring the pain and I'm the one crying my eyes out. "We'll find ourselves mum, soon enough." She pats my head reassuringly. "Should I find a job?"

She pulls me away from her, "what?"

"A job, I can look for a job as a waitress, or a delivery girl or even open a babysitting site." I say.

"Uh, no way.” She shakes her head. “No way Noel, end of discussion."

"Mum, I'm no more a princess. It’s time to face reality. We need money, I can help with that."

"Yes yes,” she cups my face, "face reality by focusing on your school work, surviving, being a healthy, happy, sociable girl like your mates, have friends, party. Be like before."

I stand up abruptly, "I can't be like before mom because everything has changed, and I did to." I angrily make my way over to the kitchen and sit on the counter to cool off. I hate being angry, it’s too much stress, especially if the anger is directed at my mother.

I shouldn't get mad at her; she just wants the best for me. Getting mad at her would just compound her worries and she already has enough as it is. I pick up my Oreos pack and a carton of yoghurt. I head back to the living room. "Mom?" She looks up at me. "I'll try."

She smiles gratefully at me. "Thank you Noel, I love you."

"I love you too. Good luck with your job search and hurry up, I want to set up my play station." I smile as I make my way upstairs to my room.

I plan on eating my Oreos in peace as I play 'Mortal Combat' on my laptop. I and Scorpio have a score to settle.

I trade my jeans for comfortable shorts and as soon as I make myself comfortable on my bed, the annoying sound of really loud music doesn't let me be comfortable. I try to ignore it but it’s just really loud. Maybe they don't know that they have new neighbors now.

I open my window and the sound is coming directly from the room next to mine. I stomp downstairs, grab a mopping stick, and come back up. I climb unto my window sill, ignoring the probability of me falling down unto my death.

I hit the window really hard with the long stick. After hitting multiple times, the window finally opens suddenly mid another hit, I didn't get to stop quickly and I watch in horror as the stick hits the unsuspecting boy that opens the window and he falls to the ground with a thud.

I gasp, my hand going to my mouth.

I've just killed somebody.

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