Chapter X

The final lesson ended and I packed my things into my bag.

I could feel people's eyes on me and I shrank into myself slightly.

I hated being watched.

I made my way down the endless corridors filled with students all pushing each other to try to leave faster.

It won't make much difference if they leave now or in five minutes, why bother shoving everyone out the way?

I followed along the crowd slightly behind everyone.

It was still packed here, but it was slightly better.

Once i got out, I started walking the familiar streets back to the apartment.

I've lived here for about three years now but it still felt weird to call it 'home'.

Unless he was there, nowhere would feel like home.

My hand reached up to the slightly warm metal around my neck, the feel of it bringing me back to reality.

As I walked, the surroundings grew more dull and the people walking around lessened.

The sounds of the cars and of talking, all the signs of a bustling city, dwindled away.

The further in I went, the worse the placed looked.

Dilapidated buildings, cracked paving slabs, pots holes and people standing on street corners and in alleys clearly high.

Everyone sane would avoid this place.

I, on the other hand, lived here.

The next day I walked the reverse route back to school.

It was starting to get colder so I had put on my coat, zipping it up all the way to my chin.

The cold didn't really bother me much, I just enjoyed the feeling of being wrapped up in something warm.

I attended my first class as usual, the frequent staring from yesterday had lessened somewhat which was nice.

It was still awkward, though.

In the lesson before lunch, I had to sit next to the new kid again.

Why did he have to look so much like him?

"Today, we will be working in pairs." The teacher said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I have already decided who is working with who."

There was a collective groan from the class.

"You shall work with whoever is next to you."

...

Whoever is next to you...

The person next to me was...

I raised my hand but the teacher quickly called out "you can't change who you work with."

...

I lowered my hand.

Why me?

Why did the universe hate me so much?