Chapter 3 Levi

• The first bell rings and I hurry to get my shirt over my head and pull the material down over my belly. I step into my jeans and I go to war with them as I struggle to pull them over my curves. When I win I button and pull up the zipper before stepping in front of one of the mirrors. The first thing I see is the light brown freckles that litter my nose and spread gently across my cheeks. The bags under my eyes are impossible to notice but my lips are light pink and plump. Disgusted with my appearance, I huff and throw my hair up in a messy bun and turn from my reflection.
• I grab my backpack and rush to class. When I get to my hallway, I take a deep breath to calm myself and pull my shoulders back. No one knows about my home situation and I’ve worked hard to ensure no one finds out about it. Kids are rushing to class while others are taking their time. When I get to my class, the door is still open and I sigh in relief as I walk in. Most of my classmates are seated but my teacher isn’t here yet. The first person I notice is Levi in the back corner. He looks annoyingly beautiful as he sits in his seat like a king on a throne. His eyes meet mine and I hold his gaze as I make my way to my seat.
• I sit down and put my head on the cool tabletop. My body is warm from the hot shower and the cold against my skin is relaxing. His eyes bore into my back as I try to catch my breath as the hair on the back of my neck stands. Levi Rodarte and I have known each other since we were in diapers. We used to be really close growing up. Our moms were good friends and we’d often go to the park and have picnics together. They did everything together from holidays to birthdays. It all felt like a lifetime ago.
• A few years after Greg, I started to put distance between us and we eventually grew apart. My mom did the same and stopped spending time with his mom Linda. By the time we went to middle school we stopped hanging out together and eventually stopped talking to each other. We’ve been in the same class for four years now and we don’t hang out or talk. I turn to the empty seat to my right.
• Elizabeth Moor. I met her in middle school. We weren’t friends at first. Our friendship started off with us hating each other. We became friends soon after and we’ve been attached at the hip ever since. I look up at the clock on the wall and check the time. She’s late today. I wonder if I should go out and look for her. I’m exhausted from running and rushing to make it to class on time. I groan as I think about how it’s going to be like when I get home.
• Liz is my best friend and we are polar opposites. She’s outgoing and miss popular while I’m more reserved and prefer to stay away from people. Liz drags me to parties but I go along to make sure she’s safe and no one slips anything into her drink. She’s seen the bruises but she doesn’t ask questions or pester me about them. She understands and while I don’t know what her home life is like, I know it isn’t good. The classroom door is thrust open and it slams against the wall. Heads turn and I can’t help but smile. Think of the devil and she shall appear.
• She has a pixie cut and her hair is half purple half black. Bright blue eyes dart around the room. She’s wearing a cute denim jumper over a black turtle neck. A paw necklace hangs from her neck and she’s wearing white converse. Liz bounces through the door and plops down beside me. She pulls out a mirror and some makeup before she grabs a tube of lipstick and starts applying some to her lips.
• “Morning, Liz,” I greeted.
• “Morning! I had zero time to get ready this morning. Seeing as Mr. Serious isn’t here yet, I have a few minutes to freshen up. Speaking of misters…. Mister Obsessed with you is giving you fuck me eyes and I’m getting major stalker vibes,” she coos. I catch myself smiling. I grab her eyeliner and throw it at her. By Mister Obsessed, she means Levi.
• “Hey!” She squeals when it hits her in the chest.
• “He is NOT obsessed with me and he’s not giving me whatever eyes you think he’s giving me,” I groan, rolling my eyes.
• Liz looks over her shoulder and peers at him. I watch as she squirms in her seat and moans a little. I laugh as she fans her face. Liz faces forward and leans toward me. I shake my head at her.
• “I’d let him give me whatever he wants to give me…,” she whispers and turns back to sneak a peek at him. “Oh my gosh, he smirked! I think he heard us. I think he’s given me goosebumps, look at my hand! He’d be creepy if he wasn’t so hot,” she whisper-yells.
• “Whatever that means,” I laughed.
• I fight the urge to break my neck to look back at him. I already saw him when I walked in and as I recall the memory, he definitely looked hot. He’s grown since we were younger. He towers over me and everyone else in the class. He has to duck his head when he walks through doors and he’s been on varsity since we were freshman. We may not be friends anymore but I’m not blind. Levi is hot.