Chapter 2 I won!

"Rrrriiiinnngggg!!!" the bell rung signaling the end of the class. Only One class left before lunch.

You can survive it Rose.

I rushed out of the class, hanging my bag on my shoulder. I reached my locker and switched my economics books with history. History.

My consciousness can betray me anytime. I can already feel my eyes drooping. Who the hell has history early in the morning? I practically dragged my legs to the second floor, holding on the railing as if I would pass out if I don't. Violet had already left for chemistry. I exhaled when I reached the second last stair, and lost my balance and tripped on the last stair. Clumsy Rose.

My toe hurts like anything now. This led to me walking to the class, slower than a tortoise. After several sunlit days, I finally reached my class. It had already started, so when I stepped into the room, all the heads whipped toward me. Yeah, your one and only Rose, I thought.

"Care to explain your delay?" Ms. Hart asked. She is one of those people who aren't bothered or care about me being from a Mafia family. Not that I want to be treated differently. Deciding whether or not I should embarrass myself in front of the class about me tripping on a staircase, I can't think of any other excuse and tell the truth.

"I hurt my toes, when tripped on the staircase." I said in a low voice, praying nobody heard me. But ha! Rose Crimson you just embarrassed yourself in front of the whole classroom. Snickers of laughter were heard across the room. Not pressing any further, she sighed and said "Find yourself a seat then."

I muttered an apology and started scanning the classroom for a vacant seat. Usually I sit with Sophie, but it seems like she betrayed me, and sat with Will.

Okay, I have to find about that later.

Then my eyes zeroed on a vacant seat along with a person, whose face was hiding behind his hoodie. I don't think I have seen him here earlier. Not finding any other seat, I walked myself towards it.

I flopped on the chair and dropped my books on the table, without asking the Hoodie-covered-face, may I have this seat?

The class has already resumed. But 5 minutes later I was distracted by continuous tapping of a pen on the desk by my very exposed partner. Note the sarcasm.

"Can you please stop that?" I asked in an irritated tone. But he neither answered nor stopped. "Can't you hear, I asked you to stop." I tried asking again. But still nothing. Idiot.

One war from 18th century, two threats from consciousness about completely shutting down and 2048 taps of pen on the desk later, the bell rung signaling recess. Not wanting to spend one more second beside the anonymous person, I started hurrying and packing all my stuff.

I was surprised to see the person beside me, was as excited as me about leaving the class. He had already beat me, and was one step ahead from me.

Okay so he wants a race.

I increased my pace and started taking long steps. I passed him and reached the door before him. Doing a mental dance on my victory, I flipped my hair past my shoulder.

God, I feel like a stupid. He doesn't even know we were racing.

I increased my pace of walking when I heard my stomach grumbling. Food. This what happens when you snooze your alarm four times in the morning and skip breakfast.

On entering the cafeteria, my eyes searched for Violet. She was sitting on our usual table in the center, with our friends. I grabbed a hamburger and fries and walked myself towards the table.

"Hey Rose." Violet said, shifting a bit to make space for me. I sat down with my food and saw Sophie and Will murmuring lowly. Sophie was chuckling over something and Will was grinning like an idiot. They haven't yet noticed me. Sophie and Will, seriously. I elbowed Violet, and nodded towards them. She gave a smirk and shrugged.

I cleared my throat. "Hey, Sophie." With a teasing tone, and a knowing smirk plastered on each of our faces, except Sophie and Will, whose faces were stained red. I still dont know how can someone blush. Like I never see my cheeks flushed.

Because you dont have a reason to blush. My very witty conscience echoed.

"Umm, ... hey Rose." She replied, with a low voice. Then Violet repeated my tone and said, "Hey, Will."

"H-hey, everyone." And with this the entire table busted with laughter. Munching my food, my eyes fell on Julie. We were good friends once upon a time. Time changes, people change. On further going, they zeroed on that person. My anonymous partner, today in history.

"Um, Guys?" I called bending a bit inwards so they all can hear without me shouting. My gaze was still lingering upon Mr. X.

"What is it?" Violet asked me, raising her eyebrow and following my gaze towards his direction.

"Why are you staring at Justin, Rose, may I ask?" Cameron who was sitting beside Will, asked. Well, accused, with a mixture of shock and smirk.

"Oh my god, Cam! I wasn't staring at Justin. I was asking, do you guys recognize who that person is, behind Justin." I whisper-yelled, not wanting to be the center of attraction in a high school cafeteria. "That black hoodie?" Violet asked, with an unsure voice.

"Yeah, you guys know him?" I asked, wondering who would have applied in mid-session? Who am I to judge though.

Then a train of no, nah and nope came.

I nodded. "I guess he is new here."

***

So, if lots of questions, looks and finding out that Mr. X is in my calculus AP too, is considered as a good day, then hey! My day went amazing in school.

After I returned from school, I dropped my bag, changed into something comfortable, and turned on the T.V. I decided to run through the news first, since I didn't catch up with any in past 2 days. Surprise? Well you have to go through it when you are a part of it sometimes. First comes politics. Who cares? Aha! Then comes me and my family and Verino, in their den.

It is something else watching yourself in the T.V. Sometimes you get to know about things, you didnt know about yourself. 21st century Media.

Just then my phone rang. It was an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"5 pm. 64D, Key Point Plaza. If you want this silly brother of yours back. And I know you are smart enough, to not involve police in our matters."