Chapter Eleven

After our usual morning Class, each group set out to work on their project. Liam and Damien were no where in sight. I had the fifty bucks given to our group by Mister Donald but there was nothing I could do with it. I felt sick.

They really do hate me.

I searched every corner of the school. Damien was at the roof, alone. He looked a little sad, he had some pebbles in his hands he was tickling. I knew how much he should not want to see me. I ruined his image in school, to make matters worse, I almost kill liam because of those pictures. I wished I understood how bad he felt. I heard he used to be good friends with Liam before i joined the school. I ruined everything. I can't apologise to them when all they do is avoid me like a plague. I didn't find Liam, I didn't wish to either. A part of me still blames him for posting that picture in the first place. He's mad at me, I am also! I really felt guilty when he fell down those steps. I spent two weeks of my life in guilts that I even wrote him a letter but...

Things just can't be normal. Ever.

I went back to my hostel, disinfected my self and slumped in my bed. If i had known that Andra was in the room, I wouldn't have screamed so loud. She didn't hear, or maybe she did but she was on my bed the next minute. I convinced myself that my facial expressions had made her curious.

"Are you okay Paige?"She looked concerned. The truth is I've never had someone who cared if I was okay or not in a long time. She reminded me of my mum, Annabelle Kam, the stunning reporter, best mother ever. She was all I lived for, until six. She left after a fight with my dad. I never saw her again after that day. Jude says she died in a plane crash. 

"You don't look Okay. What's wrong?"

Touched by her words I wiped off the tears on my face.

"Andra, shouldn't you be in class now?"

She frowned. "Got kicked out of physics class."

She's a science student. Hmm...

"Why?"

"You don't wanna know."She hissed. "What happened to you?"

I've only spent a day in her room and she's become so clingy. I wasn't bothered though but I had a feeling I won't stand her clinginess for too long.

"It's... Not your..."I bit my lips, not wanting to sound harsh. "It's nothing."

She groaned. "It's something. I noticed last night. You had trouble sleeping."She paused. "You cry a lot though. Gush! I didn't want to bother you so I just got that lavender candle lit so you'll catch some sleep. You did sleep afterwards but your dreams... You get scary sometimes. You were screaming, probably."

I was awed, also dumbstruck. Andra... So weird and sweet. But I don't know who the hell she is.

"You should not think about your troubles all the time. My grandma once told me that. Thinking about them would only cause more troubles. I know some memories comes by itself... But in all we just have to live, don't we?"

"Sure."I nodded.

"Friends?"She extended her hand for a shake.

I hesitated.

"Please don't reject me. I've had a lot of rejections today."

"Is there a cctv in this room?"I had to ask.

"No... Why should there be? Why..."

I took her hands. "Friends!"

"And thanks for helping me sleep. I hope you ain't gonna be disturbed by it's scent."

She laughed. "You think I'm allergic to everything huh? "

I just smiled. 

"Why did you get kicked out...?"

"Then you'll tell me why you screamed so loud when you walked in."

Did she hear?

"Did you hear my scream?"

She shook her head. "I felt it. Vibration."

Interesting.

"You go first then."

She giggled. "The physics teacher has always been a jerk. I fail that subject all the time. You know why?"She paused. "I do not get a thing from his class. He barely faces us while teaching and I can't hear. I've always kept quiet. Accepting my damn fate but today I decided to speak up. I told him that he should face us. That's all I said and he got pissed. He kicked me out. And you know what he said?"She sighed. ""Don't you ever step your foot in my class again, dumb head!""

She was so cute, gesticulating.

"That's...not nice."I murmured. "You need physics as a science student."

"I know right? I've always wanted to be a medical doctor like my Dad but every single day, I see that dream fade away. I'm not only deaf, I'm dumb and sick. Low immunity, I'm risking my life by being in school. And nothing seems encouraging."

I sighed heavily and she noticed.

"Do you feel pity for me? Huh?"

I didn't know what to say. 

"I hate pity. It's...fake. Tell me, do you..."

"No!"I interrupted. "I think you are... smart...enough. You are living and who knows? ...Your life might not be perfect byt... I tell you, it's always like that. "

She nodded. "What about you? What freaked the hell out of you earlier?"

"Long story"I snorted. "I almost killed somehow last month. A classmate. "

I saw the expression on her face then added. "I swear, it wasn't intentional. I was just being..."

"Impulsive. I understand "She interrupted me.

"The school hates me. I guess that's one of the reasons they placed me in your room. "

"It really might be a punishment. But I'm not that bad, am I?"She questioned.

"I think you are the best. "

She smiled. Then,I continued.

"There's a group project. I don't wanna fail literature. But my group members..."I paused. "None of them would want to be with me! It's so impossible."

"Let me guess. You were given the worst team member, the classmate you hurt?"

I nodded. "I say you're smart!"

She smiled. "and another I also have hurt in some way. He's the class President, Damien Smi..."

"Oh my!"She exclaimed, "Did you say Damien Smith. The Top student?"

"You know him?"

"I've heard a lot about him. How did you hurt him."

"Long story..."I groaned.

"You really want to pass huh?"

I nodded.

"You should go talk to either of them."She paused. "I don't know what must have happened between you guys but I really think silence wouldn't solve the problem. Go talk to them."

"I... I can't"I cried 

"You can. Paige, go talk to them now."

"Now?"

"Yeah. Hurry!"