Chapter 3

The month goes by at a snail pace.

School, training, homework, sleep, and repeat.

There’s not a moment that’s not consumed by one of those four things well there’s a fifth Rosa. I see at her training, classes, in the cafeteria, basically everywhere. I try to build up the confidence to talk to her but every time I do she’s always with those two girls from my first day. Which I have since learnt are called Abigail and Zoey. Zoey has a sweet French accent that’s nothing like her style with her hair a pixie-like black curls, with an olive complexion, and multiple piercings.

Seriously does this school have eyes?

Whereas Abigail sticks out in a completely different way she’s got wavy ginger hair with freckles that are probably in the thousands, much like mine, and piercing green eyes that seem to be reeling all the boys in.

All three of them have this effortless radiance; a radiance that I have yet to reach without a filter.

Even Cassie, whom I sit with at lunch everyday, she maybe isn’t what a some would say is conventionally pretty but still has this beautiful look with her dyed hair complementing her light complexion. Though getting to know her over the last four weeks she would probably deny. She’s always joking around and showing me some meme about books we both like.

Speaking of the devil, “Want the good news or the bad news first?” Cassandra asks, gliding into the seat across from me.

“Seriously that’s what you start with not a ‘hey’ or ‘How was your morning classes?”

She just shrugs.

“Fine, hit me with the bad news first.”

“Just overheard Matt get excited because he believes that we’ve got a pop quiz in math.”

I grumble.

“You’ve got be kidding me. Tell me this is another of your twisted jokes.”

“Nope, completely true.” Laughing as she delivers the blow.

I want to cry. Cassie wasn’t being dramatic like I had hoped when she said Ms Sullivan enjoys sucking the life out of students. It’s only Wednesday and I have about 8 double-sided pages of homework to do. Double sided?!?

“What’s the good news then?” It has to be the greatest news in the world if anything is going to reclaim this day.

“Aurelia Bennet posted on Insta, like 10 minutes ago, that she’s releasing another book and it comes out this Christmas.”

Now that is the greatest news in the world! She writes these really funny teen romances and I’ve been obsessed since I was 12; I’ve read all her books twice. Some say they’re young or whatever but they’re just blind to the art that Bennet creates.

I practically squeal “Oh my god!”

“And that isn’t even the best news.”

What could be any better than that? I look at her to explain.

“She’s doing a book signing a couple weeks after it releases.”

If it’s possible I squeal even louder. I get a couple of weird looks from the other students in the cafeteria but I can die from public embarrassment later. Since I read her first book I have wanted to meet her and get her autograph in person, now it’s finally going to happen.

“I’m so excited!” I say, stating the obvious.

“I can see.” she replies chuckling.

I stick out my tongue. 

“How impolite. You are a young lady, what would your mother say?” chuckling once more.

“That you deserved it.”  I stuff the last of my sandwich into my mouth.

“I shall let gremlin off on this occasion.”

“Says you, the giant at the top of the beanstalk.”

The bell rings, signalling five minutes until classes start.

“The bell saves you. Only this time, Lock.”

*

I was exhausted before getting to swimming now I think I’m dying.

It’s clear Coach Farmer decided to pick evil along with Ms Sullivan today. It turns out Cassie and Matt were right, we did have a pop quiz. It was awful, it was if she decided to only put everything I didn’t know on there.

I’m trying to take at guess at what got as I pack up my stuff on the bench.

When Rosa says something. I hear my name surely she can’t be talking to me.

“Yeah?” Every ounce of my body trying to act casual.

“You look really good in that swimsuit.”

Did she just say I look good? This day is becoming a rollercoaster.

“Uh…thanks.” I manage to squeak out. 

She then leans in more casually than I ever could, I feel her breath against my neck. My body goes stiff. My heart is pounding so hard I’m sure she can hear it. When she says for only me to hear “Some would even say hot.”

She pulls away as the other girls file into the locker room leaving me dumbfounded. I quickly gather my things and make a dash for the door, as I get into the car mum asks if I’m okay I mumble something in reply. I try and do so some homework, read, anything but mind just keeps wondering back to her.