Innocence - Chapter 6

The next morning went in the same fashion as the day before. Gloria woke me up, ran my bath, and I went to pick out my clothes.

Only this time, I stayed in the bathroom an extra half an hour. I was looking at myself through the mirror, wondering why I was here. Why did I let my mom get tricked by dad? I

knew why he wanted her here. Publicity or he was lonely. Naomi obviously left him. He didn’t love my mom.

I stared at my long brown hair drip onto the floor. My dull grey eyes had huge circles underneath them from sleeping on an uncomfortable armchair. I could look worse.

After I fixed my hair I went to have breakfast. Luckily my mom and Nathan weren’t there so I ate my feast in peace.

When I was done I took my book bag from my room and got in the limo that was waiting for me outside.

When I arrived at school I went straight to my first hour class. I was very excited to see Aden. He made me some how comfortable, even though I didn’t know anything about him.

When I got into the room, the four boys were already there, whispering in a circle. There was one seat in the middle of all of them. I hoped it was for me.

“Hey!” said Aden looking at me.

“Hi.” I said shyly. I had no idea that he was going to notice me.

“Candace!” yelled Trevor. He patted the seat in the middle of the group and said, “Come sit.”

I walked to the empty seat and swore I saw something change in all of there eyes. They seem to get darker and darker as I came near. Ryan and Clark seemed not too happy to see me.

Aden looked undecided.

When I sat down I noticed that everyone shyed away from me. They moved father away from me, going to the edge of their seats. They tried to be secretive about it, but I noticed. Trevor seemed to read the expression on my face and said, “How was your first day of school?"

“Boring.” I said. I was a little upset by the behavior of the other boys.

“Don’t mind them.” Trevor said, “They just don’t like girls.”

I didn’t believe him, but I didn’t say anything. Trevor turned around to face the front of the class. Mrs. Rathbone was starting her lecture. I turned to look at Aden and found him staring at me.

He smiled when I met his gaze and turned to look to the front as well.

Weren’t his eyes bright green yesterday? Today they looked way darker. I brushed it off by saying to myself, you are just tired. The whole class went by in a flash. All I could think about was Aden.

I could smell him.

He smelt like something I could never describe. It smelt amazing. I just wanted to lean into him and inhale. Every so often I saw in the corner of my eye, Aden starring at me, but when I looked at him, he was looking straight ahead.

The bell rang and I immediately sprang to my feet. Clark and Ryan were already half way past the room when I looked up.

Trevor and Aden waited for me. I got my book bag and walked along with them to History. Trevor was on my left, Aden on my right. Aden again was father away from me then necessary. I watched the floor as we walked. I was so confused at how these boys acted around me.

We went to the usual spot in the back, and again, Clark and Ryan didn’t look happy to see me. What was their problem? I smiled at them as I passed them.

They just scowled.

Trevor murmured something under his breath, but I didn’t know what he was saying. He was talking to fast.

Mr. Orwitz started his class early, so we didn’t get to talk. Again I zoned out, thinking of Aden.

He was so beautiful sitting there all relaxed. His pale skin stretched across his muscular body. His bronze hair ruffled like he just got out of bed. His face, mesmerizing.

Aden looked at me from the corner of his eye. I blushed scarlet; he saw me staring. I quickly turned my head away from him.

I noticed that Clark and Ryan were again on the edges of their seats. Why did they do that? I noticed it was only when I was around.

How could they be so rude to me? We just met. They both looked frozen in time. Not even moving a muscle. They looked like white statues.

The bell rang ten minutes later. Everyone left the class as soon as they could, except Aden.

He stayed behind to walk with me to Biology. I looked to see him standing over me. “Are you ready?” he asked, pleasantly.

I nodded and got up from my seat.

He backed away from me as I did. I searched is face for a reason, but he was apathetic.

When we got out of the classroom he said, “Sorry about my brother, Trev. He can be really annoying if you aren’t use to it.” He half smiled at me.

“He’s your brother?” I asked, surprised. They were so different from each other.

“Yeah, so are Ryan and Clark.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, no one really knows.”

“Then my lips are sealed.” I said, pretending to zip up my mouth.

He smiled at my humor.

“So do you guys live around here?” I asked.

“Not really. We live in the country. Not far from your house, actually” While speaking he was staring at the ground. I really didn’t get this guy. Why was he so shy one minute, then totally insane the next? He was pretty complex.

I was staring straight ahead and didn’t see the book bag in the middle of the floor. I tripped and fell, spilling my books everywhere. I stood up to compose myself, and bent down to pick up my books.

Aden did the same thing at the same time. We came inches away from each other until Aden stood abruptly back up.

I looked in his eyes from the floor and noticed that they had turned completely black. I blinked and they were back to their normal, medium green.

I really was tired.

I searched his face and he looked scared.

“I’m…sorry…” he said barely moving his lips, “I didn’t mean…to…”

“It’s fine.” I said. I was so confused.

What was he sorry for? He stood quite a ways from me. He was looking at the ground breathing slowly. I gathered my stuff and we headed into the biology room.

Aden was already in his seat before I could blink. I swore he was behind me.

I went and sat down next to him. He didn’t say anything to me the whole hour. He just starred at the front chalk board hardly breathing.

The bell rang and this time, he didn’t wait for me. He rushed out of the class like he was going to be sick, maybe he was.

I went to the table I sat at yesterday.

Right away I found myself surrounded by Tatyana, Maryana, and Jamie.

“So today, I like went up to this guy and I said hi and he said what? Then I said what is your problem, and then he said you! I told him that he was really rude and he walked away. He was such a jerk. He has problems.” Jamie said as she was sitting down. Jamie looked at me and said, “So how was your day?”

I looked and Maryana and she started to laugh.

So did I.

Tatyana just glared at Jamie.

When I was done laughing I said, “It was okay.”

“I hate people at this school. Everyone is so mean to each other.” Jamie was looking at Tatyana when she said this.

“Only to you!” retorted Tatyana.

“What is your problem?” asked Jamie, looking confused.

“You! Go away!” yelled Tatyana, “You are just jealous!”

“Of what?” Jamie said, still confused.

“You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me!” Tatyana got up and stormed off.

Jamie was right behind her.

”What?” I asked, half laughing.

“She is a little crabby today.” stated Maryana, “Everyday, actually…”

I saw how serious she was and started to laugh. Maryana started to laugh with me.

When I was finished laughing, I asked, “So that is your sister?”

“Yes.”

“You both are complete opposites.”

“I know.” She sighed.

“So what do you guys like to do around here?”

“Well we go shopping a lot. We usually go during the weekend. We are going this weekend if you would like to come.”

“That would be great!” I said, getting excited already.

“We are going Sunday afternoon.”

The whole lunch time, Maryana and I talked about school, family, and shopping. She said that Tatyana always had a temper, but not to get offended by it.

I studied Maryana as she sat there eating her food. She was so shy that I could barely get a word out of her the first day I saw her. She was finally opening up.

Her long brown hair came to the middle of her back. She had amazing eyes. They were just like Mike’s; bright blue, only a little darker.

I was mesmerized by them, thinking only of Mike.

The bell rang to go to third hour. I put my book bag over my shoulder and walked with Maryana to Health. She was staring at the ground, not looking at anything or anyone around her.

“Maryana?” I said.

“Hmmm?” she said looking um from the ground.

“Are you always this quiet?”

“No.” She wasn’t smiling. “I was just thinking.”

“So…what else do you like to do for fun?” I asked, trying to engage her.

“Read--and write, but mostly read.”

“Me too. I have a ton of books…so if you would like to come over some time to look through them...”

“That would be great!” she exclaimed.

“After school?” I said, “My driver will pick us up.”

“Okay.” I could finally see some emotion in her face. I was pleased to see it was excitement.

“I’ll meet you by the cafeteria.” I said right before we sat down.

My next classes went by so slow.

I was very excited to go home today. I actually had a friend.

I had two different feelings about this.

One was excitement. I was no longer alone. I also felt frustrated. I didn’t want to like it here. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be with Mike.

When the final bell rang I ran out of the classroom. I didn’t even think about Aden. I thought I heard him calling for me, but I knew I must have been hallucinating.

When I got to the cafeteria Maryana was already waiting for me.

“Hey, you ready to go?” she asked when I got there.

“Yeah, let’s go.” I answered.

We got in the limo and Maryana gasped. “Are you a queen or something?”

I didn’t laugh. “No, my dad has this.”

“This so cool!” Maryana exclaimed.

The whole limo ride consisted of Maryana flipping through the channels on the TV, trying to find a funny show to watch.

I learned a few things about her. One, she was really smart. She was the top of the whole junior class. Two, she was really funny. As soon as I got her to open up, she would make me laugh constatly. It was really fun to be with her. And the final thing, her parents had passed away last year.

I had never seen this side of her before. She seemed to be more comfortable. Maybe it was the school that made her uncomfortable.

We got to my house and I showed her around. I only showed her the rooms I had been in which was the kitchen, dining room, and upstairs.

She was amazed by the whole thing. I wasn’t surprised. Everyone at school almost fainted when they saw a limo. I didn’t care for the whole thing. It didn’t seem like home.

The room I showed her was my library.

“Oh, my gosh!” she exclaimed. She gazed around the spacious room with her mouth wide open.

“I know.” I said. I was happy to see that Maryana was happy.

“Can I look around?” She asked.

“Of course. You can borrow some if you want.”

“Thanks!”

We spent almost the whole day up there, going through the books.

Maryana left at about 9:30 with her arms full of books.

Charles drove her home.

After she left I took a long bath and went to bed after a long and wonderful day.



Thursday and Friday went by like breeze.

Aden warmed up to me and walked with me to my classes. The only time he didn’t was when Maryana and Tatyana were with me.

Trevor was around me all the time. It didn’t bother me much; Mike was the same so I was use to it.

Nothing special happened besides another out burst from Tatyana. Saturday was another story….