Azura

The novel I was reading was quite interesting, so I decided to check it out from the library. I go to the front desk, and I am waiting for the librarian to look away from her computer screen. After waiting for almost 3 minutes, I’m starting to feel like she’s ignoring me on purpose. Now that I think about it, everyone has been ignoring me and keeping their distance ever since this morning. But, now is when I’m experiencing the dislike towards me so directly.

I really wish this day would end. I have no friends, so what’s the point in even being here.

After finally getting the book checked out, I check my schedule to see what my next class is, Physics. Walking into the classroom, no one is there yet.

Perfect!

I sit at a desk near the window and begin to read the book I got from the library. Eventually, students started to crowd into class, and of course, everyone avoided me like the plague. I could feel someone barring holes into my head, and I had a feeling I knew who it was, but I chose to ignore her because I was upset that she ditched me for the whole day without a clue as to why. I’m so exhausted, I wish I could just escape from the world. With that thought, I subtly turn my hearing aids off, acting as if I’m scratching my ear.

I’m not ashamed of the fact that I’m partially deaf, it’d just become a huge pain to have people asking questions about how and why I became deaf.

It’s been about 5 minutes and the teacher still hasn’t come, and the stares are sort of getting to me now. People have no shame, at least try to hide them.

I could feel the floor beneath me vibrating, so I went to go and check my phone. Finding my phone in my bag, I checked the caller ID to see it was Max calling me. I turned my aids back on and when I answered I heard his voice, “Hey, we’re having mashed potatoes and chicken tonight. Oh, wait, your vegetarian. Um we could make something with vegetables or fish, whichever one you're in the mood for. Just called to let you know, Love you.” he rambled on. I smiled to myself, that sounded like a horribly put voicemail. I could just imagine how sincerely concerned his expression was whenever he remembered something he had to take into account for preparations.

The teacher finally walks in, students disperse from their cliques to their respective seats, and the lesson begins almost immediately.

Thank god he didn’t make me introduce myself.

After the lesson was over, we had about 10 minutes until freedom, so I took out my book and continued reading it. That was until a pair of perfectly manicured hands slammed onto my desk. Looking up, I see a very beautiful girl, her brunette hair was in a half up and half down style, her copper brown eyes were fierce and wide, lips full and pink. I discreetly turn my hearing aids up again so that I can hear what the only girl who has spoken to me beside Jazzmine, has to say.

“HI! I’m Julie. Julie Moore. Just wanted to welcome you to Lunar High, with a traditional Lunar welcome.” She said with a bright smile and a chipper voice.

I reach for a pen and paper from my bag, when I feel two hands snake their way behind my head and slam it down on the desk.

Hard.

“Julie!” I hear a girl screech in the distance. She sounded shocked that this Julie girl did this to me.

I started seeing black dots flood my vision, when Julie came close to my ear and whispered, “Cresents aren’t welcome here.” Julie is suddenly out of my point of view and replaced by Jazzmine continuously asking me if I was alright. As I stand up, everyone slowly and silently watches my every move. Nothing new, nothing they haven’t been doing already all day. I grab my bag and walk over to a now struggling Julie who is being held down by two boys. Looking at her, I wobble a little.

“Hey you should sit down. Your head is bleeding.” A girl tells me; her arms extended, probably to catch me if I fall.

Still looking at Julie, I sign ‘sorry’ making a fist with my hand and rotating it in a circle over my chest. As I turn around, someone grabs my wrist. I turned around to see one of the boys that was holding Julie, “You’re injured. You should go to the nurse.” he suggests with concerned eyes. I smile at him and shake my head. With that I walk out of the classroom, while everyone is left utterly speechless.

In the hall, I pull out my phone and dial Max’s number. He’ll know something is wrong if I call him, since I usually just text him.

As I am looking down at my phone, I bumped into something hard.

A wall, maybe?

Looking up, I see a boy, staring down at me with wide eyes. He’s a complete giant compared to my 5’2” height.

Too bad I can’t stay to admire his features, I can feel myself losing the will to stand any longer, so I walk around Mr. Giant to get one step closer to the exit. I hope Max is already waiting for me.

Exiting the build, I look around and unfortunately, Max is nowhere in sight. I hear the sound of people running coming from behind me, only to see the main entrance doors fling open to reveal Jazzmine and those I’m assuming are her friends.

Jazzmine is in the middle, with her brother Alex to her immediate left, Lily next to Alex and Cameron to her immediate right with Mr. Giant next to him.

Did Jazzmine talk about someone like him this morning? I can’t remember, my head is throbbing too much to think any further.

“Hey, Azura! Hold on a second!” Jazzmine yells from the top of the staircase. That’s when she was interrupted by the screeching tires of Max’s Jeep truck. Seeing him here brings my anxiety down so much. I see him hop out of the driver’s seat, and to put it nicely, he was angry. He looked like he was ready to take on a grizzly bear and its children if he had to. Taking long and infuriated strides, he makes his way towards me, but glaring at Jazzmine and her friends at the top of the stairs.

When he reaches me, he cups my face gently, and stops glaring at the ones on the stairs to examine me with concerned eyes, asking me if I was okay. When he sees my forehead, he pulls me into a close hug, where my head is against his chest. I could feel his body tense up, which meant he was angry again. He lets go of me and hands me a napkin, “Azura, go wait in the car.” he says in the most threatening tone ever. I knew it wasn’t directed towards me because he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at Cam, Alex, and Mr. Giant; more like glaring at them. I turn to head to the car when someone yells, “WAIT!” I turn around to notice everyone is staring at Mr. Giant. “Come back tomorrow!” he yells. I look at him like he grew a third head. Before my imagination went wild he pleaded again, “PLEASE!” I nod my head one good time, slow and confused. When I nodded he looked relieved, I saw his body release a breath he was holding in. I got into the car, and started looking in the mirror while trying my best to clean my injury with the napkin Max gave me and some water that was in the car. Max is probably going to blow a fuse, but right now, I just want to rest.