chapter 2 Lucy

After following the instructions of the guy I met outside, I finally found my classroom. Everyone went silent as I entered. All the other students stared at me, as if they had never seen a girl before — maybe it was because I was new.

All the desks were occupied except one. The problem was, a guy was sleeping at the desk right next to it. All my classmates sat with their desk mates, so it looked like this guy was going to be mine. Besides, I didn’t have any other choice; he was the only one sitting alone.

For a moment, everyone stared at me, then went back to their own world. I walked toward the empty desk, preparing to wake my new desk mate, introduce myself, and let him know we’d be sharing a seat. I placed my bag on the desk and reached toward him, almost touching his shoulder.

Then a calm voice spoke from another desk. “You shouldn’t wake him.”

“Umm… by the way, I’m the new transfer student,” I said, hesitating.

The girl smiled. “Nice to meet you, transfer student. I’m Clara. And you?”

She teased me, saying transfer student as if it were my name. I laughed lightly, feeling the need to assert myself. “Nice to meet you too, Clara. My name is Lucy.”

Pointing toward the sleeping boy, I asked, “Who is he?”

Clara hesitated for a moment. “You can sit with him… but be careful. He’s not like the other boys here. His name is James Harward.”

After that conversation, Clara and I became friends, and I sat next to James. Throughout the entire class, I didn’t have the courage to wake him, and the teachers didn’t notice us sitting at the back.

Finally, the school day was almost over, yet James was still asleep. Everyone else had left. I was about to leave too, but I felt a pang of pity. I decided to wake him up. Clara had warned me, but I reminded myself he was my classmate.

I gently shook his shoulder. Slowly, he sat upright and opened his eyes. The afternoon sunlight hit his face, casting a soft glow over his long eyelashes, dark brown eyes, silky black hair, and fair skin.

“What do you want?” he shouted, as if waking him up were a crime.

“It’s getting dark… you should go home,” I said cautiously.

He muttered, “Shit.” Then he took out his phone, called someone, and said, “Why aren’t you here yet? Class already ended.” After hanging up, he glanced at me, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. Our eyes met, and he asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m new here… and I’m your new desk mate,” I replied.

“Just say your name already,” he interrupted.

I felt my irritation rise. “Let me finish my sentence first!” I snapped, frustrated. His attitude was already getting on my nerves, and I didn’t want my first day to be ruined. But by his second reply, my patience snapped. “Bye!” I said, walking toward the door, leaving him dumbfounded.

At the school gate, my dad wasn’t there yet. I took out my phone and called him. He answered immediately.

“When will you be here?” I asked.

“I’m on my way, Lucy. Got caught in traffic — a bit late. Wait there,” he replied.

I hung up and waited. After a few minutes, a sleek black car approached the gate. I thought to myself, I wish that was my car. The car stopped right in front of me, and I suddenly realized James was standing right behind me. I hadn’t sensed his presence at all. Please don’t let him have heard what I just said, I thought.

“I can give you a ride if you like my car that much,” he said.

Oh God. He heard me.

“You have to admit, you are a silly girl,” he added.

Hearing that, my awkwardness disappeared and anger took its place. “I don’t need your ride, and I’m not a silly girl. Don’t call me that!” I snapped.

He shrugged. “Whatever you want. Bye, silly girl,” he said, waving as he left.

Soon after, my dad’s car arrived, and we drove home. Throughout the ride, I couldn’t stop thinking about James — he was incredibly irritating, but at the same time… mesmerizing. If he had behaved politely, I wouldn’t have been rude. Yet here he was, daring to call me a “silly girl.”

When we arrived home, it was already evening. I took a quick shower, and my mom called me for dinner. We had a quiet meal together — just the four of us: my mom, dad, little brother, and me.

“How was your day, dear?” my mom asked.

“It was good,” I replied, and then I told them about my irritating new desk mate.

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