Chapter 3

HADAZA

"Why don't you talk!" He shoved me onto the lockers. "Do it for me or I will hurt you!" BUT YOUR ALREADY HURTING ME!

"N-NO!" I exclaimed to the rough boy. It was lunch and it was just me and him in the deserted hallway. He kept forcing me to do his assignment for his physics class. I DON'T EVEN DO PHYSICS AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM!

Just when I thought he was gonna burst from my constant refusing. He had tightened his grip on my shirt. "Listen to me...!"

"Leave her alone Cody." Someone interrupted.

"Why don't you leave us alone Thorn?"

"Let go of her right now." Thorn commanded as he glared at him.

"You know what...whatever. I can get someone smarter to do it." Cody finally let go of me and I let out a breath of relief. He nudged Thorn in the shoulder still exchanging glares as he walked away.

"Are you okay? He didn't hurt you did he?" He asked with sincerity in his voice. He placed his hand on my arm, which caught me by surprise.

I stared down at it then up at him.

"Oh sorry." Thorn quickly removed his hand.

"Yeah I'm fine." I tugged on my backpack.

"I was actually looking for you so I figured you'd be at the library."

"Why?" I asked.

"Why are you always alone?" He ignored my question just like yesterday.

"I-I like being alone." I lied and looked away from him in embarrassment. He almost looked sorry for me. He could obviously see through my lie.

"Your lying which means you don't have friends. But Stutter today that's gonna change."  WAIT! Did he just call me 'Stutter'?

"Excuse me?"

"Yep, today you're going to make new friends. Starting with me. From now on we're officially friends." My eyes widened. He couldn't just make a decision like that. It takes time to be friends with someone.

Thorn grabbed my hand. Why is he still touching me? Even though it was gentle.

Once we made it to the cafeteria, we approached a table where two guys and one girl were seated.

"Guys I want you to meet someone." He announced once all his friends looked up. "This is Hadaza." Everyone just looked at me as if I were new. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't know me. No one does.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Angelo." A boy with glasses thicker than Thorn's said. He had dirty blond hair and blue eyes.

"That's Flora and Brett." Angelo pointed to the girl and boy on the opposite side of him.

"Hi." I shyly said looking at my tightly gripped sketch book. Everyone was silent as if expecting me to say more. I felt myself heating up from everyone's stares.

"You can sit down if you want." The dark haired, light skinned girl said. I quickly realised Thorn had already sat down and I was just standing there. I cleared my throat and went to sit opposite him.

"Hadaza aren't you in my Business class?" Brett asked. I took some time to recognise him and remember.

"Yeah, I am." I answered. Everything went silent again. This was so awkward. I bet it wasn't like this until I came.

"How come I hardly see you around?" Thorn finally broke the silence. I didn't really want to answer this question, it was embarrassing. They would all probably think I was weird. Instead of saying anything to the curious green eyed boy, I shrugged.

Just then the sound of the bell saved me from the tension. Thorn said I would have new friends and I don't actually know how that feels like.

It was now after school and I was currently unlocking my bicycle. The wheel was stuck around the chains and I was trying to get them off. It was really frustrating.

"Need some help?" I turned to find Thorn starring down at me.

"Yeah." He leaned over to my bike and started untangling the chains. I couldn't help but stare at him.

"There you go."

"Thanks."

"No problem." We stood there just staring at each other. I wandered what he was thinking.

"Uhm..." I cleared my throat. "I have to go."

"Right. I...I will see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah." I grabbed the handles of my bike and placed my leg over the seat. "I'll see you tomorrow Thorn."

"Bye." He said just before I gave him a smile and rode off.

A few minutes after I was still ridding home I heard someone call me. I looked back to find Thorn AGAIN! Why was he always around? He finally caught up with me on his bicycle.

"Why are you following me?" He looked at me as if I were crazy.

"Who said I was following you? My house is in this direction."

"Oh." I suddenly felt stupid. I took the time to admire his bike. It almost looked like mine. It was kinda of a vintage bicycle and so was mine. Although mine had a metal basket it front, his didn't. It was a baby blue colour and mine was a rusty yellow.

"Your bike, it looks just like mine." I said.

"Yeah I guess it does." He smiled at me.

"You like vintage bikes?" I asked.

"Yeah, I like the rusty worn out look they have."

"Me too. I think that more people should appreciate old beauty like this." I smiled admiring my bike.

"Yeah, they should." He agreed. "Hey do you want to get some ice cream or something?" He suddenly asks.

I looked around and realised I was so close to home and should probably head back. "Uhm...my house is just around the corner I should probably head back." I really wanted to go with him but I didn't want to worry my mom.

"Oh come on its not that far, its just ice cream. We would be back in no time, plus we have bikes it wouldn't take that long." Thorns eyes had a spark of hope in them and they were kind of hypnotising. I quickly checked my watch and realised it was still quite early until my mom would be back.

"Okay." I confirm.

"Alright then let's go." He quickly started ridding faster in front of me. "Keep up Stutter. You want make it back in time right?" He said as his voice became futher away.

"Wait for me!" I pedaled faster behind him, trying to catch up.