My lesson on love

I walked into the lunch room with Luke in front of me, giving me a grand tour of the school, in his own way. I walked behind him and stared open mouthed at the single grey building. It looked like a gym on a much smaller scale. There were windows high, on the roof and stainless steal doors stood at almost every inch of the ground. I saw a stairway leading up to a second story and I raised my head to see a silver metal banister with bodies pressed up against it. I looked back ahead of me trying to keep my eye on Luke while disappearing in the sea of bodies. I felt someone touch my hand and I gave a little jump from fright, retracting my hand. I heard a chuckle from beside me and I turned to see Jake standing there, a smug look on his face. His light blue eyes seemed to capture everything around, as if burning it into memory. I calmed down as soon as I looked into his face and the noise and people around me seemed to slow down.
“You scared me.” I said letting my body relax.

Jake chuckled and walked closer towards me. “I shouldn’t scare you.” He said running a finger along my cheek.

I felt my body freeze, I couldn’t move any part of my body but a smile seemed to find itself planted on my face. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my excited nerves.

“Ahhh…I better…ahhh….find Luke.” I stammered trying to find the words in my now empty head.

I saw a smile creep over Jakes face and that smile started to scare me, I couldn’t understand how it could but it did. He took my hand in his and laced our fingers together, walking me through the sea of bodies, but now they seemed calm, as if there is no wind and the water is flat, the moment when all is calm, all is beautiful and everything can be taken in at once, the sun and shore looks like one big picture, a snapshot in time. I felt like that as Jake weaved me through the bodies, it was as if the sea was parting for us, the water rushing around us leaving ripples just like the bodies were shuffling this way and that to let us through before sucking back into their usual state. It felt like hours that I was walking thorough an endless wave of more and more bodies, no heat radiated as it should have, everything felt still, calm, like the sea in pictures I have seen. I have never actually been to the beach or the ocean, but I yearn to go.

Finally we reach the end of the sea and I see Luke running up to me.

“Kayla. You ok? One minute you were behind me the next you were gone.” He panted.

I gave him a smile and opened my mouth to speak but no words came out of my mouth. I turned to look at my side and saw no one there, I turned and looked around me but only the sound of voices and the clatter of plates and bags filled the air. I saw no sea of bodies, just tables filled with people. I turned back to Luke and opened my mouth once again. Finally words came out of my mouth.

“I’m fine.” I breathed. “I just got lost, that’s all.”

Luke nodded his head and wrapped his arm round my shoulder pulling me closer to him and I blushed, I had never been this close to a guy before, only my father and he was never even this close, he thought it was inappropriate. I closed my eyes and took another deep breath, I smelled citrus leaves, orange and lemon, I looked up at Luke and saw him looking down at me.

“I’m glad your ok.” He said giving me a squeeze making my shoulders bunch up closer to my neck. I smiled back at Luke appreciating the hug he gave me.

He led me over to a bright plastic blue table with metal legged chairs and black plastic seats. At the table sat two girls and another three boys including Jake. Luke led me over to a chair and he sat down next to me, I felt so self conscious, I just wanted to go to the tree that I had found at recess, it was so comforting and it felt so right to be there. I sat staring at my hands hoping no one would notice anything.

“So. You’re the new girl?” Someone said.

I looked up from my hands and looked at a girl with short chocolate brown hair and big brown eyes, her skin was olive and I cocked my head to the side trying to figure out where she was from.

“I’m Italian but my name is Melanie.” She said with a smile on her face.

I smiled back at her. “Kayla.” I said trying to sound strong.

She nodded her head. “This is Threasa, she’s my cousin but she don’t talk a lot.” Melanie said pointing to the girl next to her, I looked where she was pointing and saw a girl with long brown almost black hair covering her face, she kept her head down, never revealing her eyes.

I moved my eyes away from Threasa and looked around the table, I saw a guy with blonde shaggy hair, rugged features and baby green eyes. He smiled at me and I saw his dazzling white teeth.

“Toby.” He said in a deep Irish accent, it sent shivers down my spine.

“Kayla.” I replied my voice crackly and dry all of a sudden.

“I know, you just told Melanie. Don’t call her Mel by the way, she hates it and I mean really hates it.” Toby whispered to me giving me one of his smiles.

I nodded my head at him, trying to hide a small blush coming over my face. Melanie hit Toby on the arm playful.

“Don’t break the girl.” Melanie said rolling her eyes.

I turned my attention to the other guy who was sitting there with a book in front of him.

“Christian.” The guy said not even looking up from his book.

I was a bit taken back by this all and I looked down at my hands again.

“Don’t mind Christian, he can be a dick sometimes. Christian be nice to the new girl, she is probably terrified and you’re not helping. Sometimes I think you’re just like Jake.” Melanie said shaking her head.

Jake didn’t even move with the mention of his name. Christian sighed and looked up from his book, he had reddish brown blonde hair and was cut short, while his glasses sat on his nose. He gave me a fake smile and turned back to Melanie.

“Can I tune you all out again, I’m trying to read about the new V24 engines.” He said to Melanie.

Melanie nodded her head and Christian turned back to his book. I sighed with relief that the introductions were finally over. I looked around the table once more and a smile came over my face, these were my new friends. My first friends. I turned to look at Jake and he wasn’t staring into the distance anymore, but he was staring at me, with a smirk on his face as if he knew something that I didn’t know. I turned my gaze away from him but I could still feel his light blue eyes boring into me, that wiped the smile off my face.

I shot up out of the chair faster than you could imagine.

“I…I have to go.” I muttered leaving them all in awe.

I walked as fast as I could towards the glass doors, dying to be out of the room filled with the sounds of voices and the clatter of plates. It started to rise and I began to panic, I put my hands over my ears trying to drown out the noise but it just intensified, I wanted out, I ran as fast as I could towards the doors to the outside world, I needed to be in the fresh air, away from Jake. I saw the door move slowly closer and I heard footsteps behind me, which only made me run faster. I finally burst through the doors and took a deep gulp of air, collapsing on the ground in a fit of gasps. I closed my eyes trying to calm down my nerves. I opened my eyes to see the horrified expression of the blonde girl I saw this morning when I accidentally ran into her.

“Watch it freak.” She said in disgust.

“I…I....I’m sorry.” I said quickly getting up and backing away.

“You should be freak.” She said a smirk on her face. “It looked like you’d seen yourself in the mirror, cause you really are ugly.” She continued backing me up against a wall.

“Piss off Brittany.” I heard someone call. I turned my head to see Luke in the doorway and I breathed a sigh of relief. Luke was my savior. The girl in front of me, Brittany instantly changed, she went from being mean and nasty to…to…nice.

“I’m sorry Luke, I was just helping the new girl.” She said innocently.

I kept my eyes locked on Luke. He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah and I’m the king of England. We all know you’re a bitch Brittany, don’t try and acting any different.”

I watched Brittany turn a bright red, I thought she was about to explode instead she stamped her foot and stormed off about six girls following her tail and all where blonde. Luke instantly came running up to me and I fell down the wall trying to gather myself together.

“Are you ok?” He asked coming down to my level.

“Yeah. I’m fine.” I replied keeping my head down.

I heard him sigh and I looked up just in time to see sadness flit through his dark blue eyes. I tried to give him my best smile and I held out my hand for him to grab. Thankfully he did grab it, letting a tingling sensation run up my arm, I pulled myself onto my feet and Luke stood up as well, our hands still holding each other.
“I wanna show you something.” I said looking out at the natural beauty of the school.

I started walking with Luke in tow, I turned left and right following deeper into the dense trees of the school ground, I made another left and walked up through the centre pushing leaves and branches out of my way, one hand still wrapped around Luke’s hand. I never wanted to let it go. I stopped in front of the tree I found earlier, I ran up to its trunk and tried to wrap my arms around it, I didn’t even get half way round. The trees trunk twisted around and some branches twirled into one another. I let go of Luke’s hand and started climbing the tree.

“What are you doing?” He asked from the ground.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Climbing.” I replied.

I looked down to see Luke shake his head and hear a chuckle erupt from his lips. I climbed as high as I could and sat on a sturdy branch, swinging my legs back and forth.

“Your crazy you know.” Luke shouted from the ground.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I probably am, but I don’t let it stop me.” I yelled back. “Come join me in the tree.” I flung my arms into the air and screamed at the top of my lungs. I lay down on the branch and let my long brown hair melt into the tree branch. I heard the rustling of leaves and of scampering. I looked over the edge of the branch and saw Luke climbing the tree with such charm and elegance that I became insanely jealous.

“How do you do that?” I asked once he sat down on a branch opposite me.

“Do what?” He asked.

“Climb the tree so fast and so easily.” I said.

He put his leg up on the branch. “Pants.” He said pointing to his navy blue pants.

I started blushing, I had completely forgotten that I was wearing a skirt with no bike shorts underneath. Luke burst into fits of laughter. “I didn’t look, I swear.” Luke said holding up both hands. I burst into fits of laughter with him, sometimes when your embarrassed the best thing to do is to laugh.

The bell rang and we only faintly heard it. Luckily I had good hearing and I heard it.

“The bell went, we need to go back.” I said starting to climb out of the tree.

“What have you got next?” Luke asked eyeing me.

I shrugged my shoulders. “This is my first day remember.” I said.

Luke laughed. “You have had a very good first day.”

I continued to climb out of the tree. “We should get to class.” I repeated.

“Why don’t we stay here and talk some more?” He said laying back against the tree.

I looked at him as if he was crazy. “My dad will kill me if I do that.” I stated.

He shrugged his shoulders. “So will mine, but I want to stay here.” He said.

I started laughing and I was still laughing when I was at the bottom of the tree. I waited for Luke to come down and finally he did. “Have fun Willow.” He said.

I looked at him with one eyebrow raised. “Willow?” I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Every tree needs a name. We can change it later if you want.”

“But Willow?” I repeated.

“Shut up.” He said pushing me to the side in a playful manner.

I burst into a fit of giggles. I had to take a lot of deep breaths to calm down.

“Ok, now we really need to get off to class.” I said.

I grabbed his hand and a tingling sensation went up my arm again. We walked back to school, through the beautiful scenery of the nature. We admired the trees and flowers even once a caterpillar eating a leaf.

I reached my locker with the help of Luke. He pulled out my diary from the metal locker and checked my timetable. I checked my timetable and the infamous science stared back at me.

“What have you got?” Luke said beside me.

“Science.” I replied pulling out my science workbook.

Luke nodded his head. “What room?”

I scrutinized my timetable. “Room 23A.” I said.

Luke pointed to the door next to my locker and I started laughing. He just raised an eyebrow at me, which only made me laugh even harder.

“I think you have Melanie or Toby in your class, I’m not sure.” Luke said after I had clamed down. I nodded my head and clutched my books to my chest, squashing my pencil case.

“I have PE now.” Luke said. I scrunched my eyebrows up, I didn’t understand what he was saying. “Sport.” He said. I nodded my head and I felt the heat rising in my cheeks as they turned red. Luke gave a little laugh. “I’ll see you later Kayla. Have fun in science.” Luke said turning and walking away.

I watched him run away, to his class, I sighed and continued to stare at where he last left. I heard a laugh beside me and I turned to look into the green eyes of Toby.

“Quit staring at where Luke was.” He said in his Irish accent. I looked down and I felt my cheeks turn bright red. Keeping myself silent, I heard more laughing. “Your secret’s safe with me, never told a secret about anyone.” He said leaning against the lockers near the door. “What have you got now?”

“Science.” I said keeping myself still.

Toby instantly stood up. “Means your with me and you get to be stuck with Mrs. Tanner.”

“Who?” I asked giving him a quizzical look.

“My, our science teacher. Just be careful with her though, you wanna be on her good side and then you can get away with anything.” He said, his Irish accent sent shivers down my spine.

The door opened and an old woman with graying brown hair and thick rimmed glasses hanging at the end of her nose opened the door for us. We filed in one by one and took our seats. I sat next to Toby, I didn’t know where else to go.

“Good morning class.” Mrs. Tanner said shuffling back up to the front of the room. “Today we are going to be looking at…”

Toby nudged me and I turned my full attention towards him. “Hi Toby.” I said in a calming voice.

“Hi Kayla. Why did you decide to come to school, you only have like two years left?” Toby said.

I sighed. “I hated staying home all the time, I wanted to go out, see the world but my parents wouldn’t let me. Finally on Saturday my parents caved and let me come to school.” I said.

“Saturday?” Toby asked one eyebrow raised.

I nodded my head. “Yep Saturday.”

Toby shook his head and I could see a smirk playing on his lips. “How di…”

“Toby.” Mrs. Tanner said. “What two elements are used to make table salt?”

“Ahh…” Toby scratched the back of his head and I started to panic, I knew I could save him from this.

“Sodium and Chlorine, NaCl also known as Sodium chloride.” I said, turning my attention to the teacher.

“Very good…” Mrs. Tanner started.

“Kayla. Kayla Remington.” I said placing my hands on the desk.

“Oh yes. Very good Kayla.” Mrs. Tanner said readjusting her glasses on the tip of her nose.

Toby nudged me again and I turned towards him. “Thanks.” He whispered.

“Don’t worry bout it, I like Chemistry.” I stated. Toby just looked at me with wide eyes and I couldn’t help but have a little giggle, keeping it under my breath. “I’ve got a question to ask you Toby.” I said turning my eyes down to my hands.

“Shoot.” Toby said in his Irish accent that I absolutely adore.

“Why did you guys all be nice to me?” I asked sneaking a glance towards Toby who’s face seemed as if it was slapped with a fish.

“Your new. Our group are usually the ones who take in the new kids, take them in like an injured bird and once they get settled we let them free, into the wild of the school.” I nodded my head. “But personally I think it’s cause you were stuck sitting next to Jake. Luke usually is the one who does it but I donno, something must have been wrong. Or maybe it was just fate, for you to meet us and for us to become friends, we are all strangely different. Me, well you have obviously guessed I’m Irish, Melanie is Italian, because she told you, Christian is from America, the twins, Jake and Luke are from England, I actually never told my parents that, they would murder me or them, they hate the British. You are the first Aussie that we have had in our group. Well true born Australian, we all came here besides Melanie, she is classified as Australian but her nationality is Italian and she goes there most holidays. But her cousin Thearesa, she came here from Italy last holidays, she is a strange one, she never speaks.” Toby sighed. “Christian is an amazing mechanic, he may look like a nerd but he could fix your car in less than a day, he has almost every tool and part at his place, more then you could find at a mechanic, probably more cars as well. He is a shocker. I can’t tell you much about the Twins, they don’t really talk about themselves much, Jake just disconnects himself from everyone, I have no idea what his tale is while Luke, he just avoids all topics on family. I don’t understand it. They have been here for about 4 years, came in about year 7.” I nodded my head trying to hear Toby’s words but getting lost in his Irish accent. “Me, I came here about 3 years ago, so after the twins, in about year 8. So I’m just out of classification of a newbie. You are the newest. It was easy to make friends here though. Everyone is so nice. Except Brittany, she has had a thing for Luke since he came, it gets annoying at times but it is funny to watch, letting her make a complete fool of herself.”

I started laughing at his words, trying to keep my voice down. Mrs. Tanner turned sharply round eyeing each of us before turning her attention back to the board.

I heard the bell go for the end of class and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was sick of Mrs. Tanner already.

“What have you got next?” Toby asked in his Irish accent while we gathered up our books.

I pulled out my timetable from between the pages of my diary and scanned to the bottom of Monday. “History.” I said quickly.

“Ahhh…” Toby looked up to the sky deep in thought.

“Luke is in that class and so is Christian. Oh and be aware of Brittany, she is in that class as well.” Toby said looking at me.

“I’ll be careful.” I said smiling to myself.

I picked up my books and began walking out of the room and towards my locker so I could grab the rest of my books.

“Hey.” A voice said.

I turned and looked up at a very sweaty Luke standing next to my locker.

A smile instantly spread across my face. “Hey.”

“Can I walk you to your next class, whatever that may be.” Luke asked.

I gave a little chuckle. “According to my sources you have History next, with me.”

I saw his face light up instantly but it dropped back down almost as quickly. “Cool.”

I opened my locker, with the help of Luke and put in my books getting out the next books I needed. I shut my locker just as quickly and I heard a slam as the metal hit metal instantly locking it.

“I heard that you are from England.” I said clutching the books to my chest.

Luke gave a laugh and started walking. “Now where did you hear that?”

“Toby told me. He told me a lot today in Science, after I saved him.” I said proudly.

“What do you mean you saved him?” Luke asked raising one eyebrow.

“I answered one of the questions for him so he didn’t get in trouble.” I said shrugging my shoulders. “It was only Chemistry, nothing hard.”

I literally saw Luke’s jaw hit the floor. “Nothing hard. Chemistry is nearly impossible and I have never in my life seen Toby stumble on an answer. What did you do to Toby?” Luke joked.

“Nothing, I swear. He just faltered and I answered.” I said while trying not to laugh.

We laughed and joked all the way to History class. I had never felt safer in my life. I was in a new place, with new people and yet with Luke, I felt almost as safe as being in bed with the covers over my head and soft toys surrounding me.

Luke opened the door of the history class and I walked in. The walls were filled with different posters of famous people in history, Shakespeare, Marie Antoinette, Leonardo DaVinci, Tsar Nicholas and his entire family, just to name a few. I could feel my mouth drop to the floor and I turned to see Luke laughing at me.

“What’s so funny?” I asked closing my mouth.

“Your face before, it was a face of complete and utile shock. It was funny.” Luke said trying to stop his laughter.

I got pushed to the side as the blonde hair, blue eyed girl came in, Luke said her name was Brittany and Toby said that Brittany has a crush on Luke. I looked up to her direction and I watched her flick her layered blonde hair and turn to glare at me. I stood closer to Luke hoping to feel safe and secure as I had only two minutes ago.

“Come on.” Luke said taking my hand in his and leading me off to the back of the classroom.

My arm tingled and I felt that giddy feeling come over me. Luke found two seats at the back of the classroom and we sat down, Luke continued holding my hand in his. I didn’t want him to let go, ever. I watched Brittany strut over to where Luke and I were a smirk on her face.

“Hi Luke. Can you come help me with my work?” Brittany said acting all innocent.

Luke turned to face me, annoyance on his face. “Sorry Brittany, I’m showing around Kayla.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Awww…but you’ve shown her round now, can you come and help me?” Brittany said again putting on a pout.

I rolled my eyes at her attempt to win over Luke. Only she couldn’t see it wasn’t working.

“Sorry Brittany, Kayla is new and I need to be a friend to her.” Luke said turning again towards me before turning back to Brittany.

I could see her temper rising, it looked like she was about to burst. “LOOK WHAT SHE DID TO ME?” Brittany screamed thrusting her hand into Luke’s face.

“What did she do to you?” Luke sighed removing the hand from his face.

Brittany pointed to a tiny little dint in her finger nail. “She broke my nail.” Brittany cried.

Luke sighed and shook his head. “No one will notice it is not a big deal.”

“These nails cost a fortune.” Brittany said holding up her nails for all to see. I sighed and put my head on the desk fed up with Brittany already. “What’s wrong freak.” Brittany spat at me. I looked up towards her, I saw her glaring down at me and I felt all bit of confidence drain out of me. I sighed and looked back down at the desk. Brittany laughed. “Can you even speak freak or are like those retarded kids that can’t talk.”

I felt anger boil inside me and I took a deep breath trying to calm myself down but Brittany only laughed more at me. “Retarded freak. Luke, why you hanging out with a retarded freak?”

Something inside me snapped and I couldn’t control it any longer. “I am not a freak nor am I retarded. I have every right to be here, as does you and I will be friends with whoever I wish, none of this concerns you, Brittany.” I spat at her.

A look of horror crossed her face and she turned around and stomped away. I felt pressure on my hand and I looked down to find that Luke was still holding my hand, he had never let go. I looked up at him a blush coming across my face. He leaned into me and I went an even deeper read.

“That was very brave of you.” Luke whispered in my ear.

I nearly fainted right there, I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself down again. I looked up to the rest of the class and I saw their stares all on me. It was looks of horror, surprise and shock, I gave them a lopsided smile and the class burst into cheers and claps. I could hear whistling and I turned to look at Luke who was grinning from ear to ear, I started laughing at it all and Luke leaned into me again.

“No one has ever stood up to Brittany before, besides me.” He whispered in my ear.

I felt another blush come over my face and everyone just cheered, I looked up to see Brittany with tears in her eyes, I watched her run out of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. I felt a pang of guilt in my chest and I wished I hadn’t done what I had just done.