Chapter 5

My alarm went off and I slightly jolted out of sleep. I turned it off and sat up in bed and tried to remember why I'd set an alarm. Then it hit me as hard as a slap to the face. Monday. Ugh. Why so soon? I removed the sheets from my body and groggily walked over to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and got dressed in a pair of black jeans and light knit gray sweater with some black pumps. I took out my hair from the piggytails and tried my best to comb it but my hair was in knots. By the time I was done, I could have sworn the pulsating of my scalp was visible to onlookers. Once satisfied with my look, I took my bag from my bed and walked out of my room. "Morning Mum." I greeted as I opened the fridge, taking out some orange juice and milk. "Morning. Ready for school?" "No. Not really. I don't think anyone is ever ready for school." I replied to which she just shook her head and busied herself with her breakfast. I took a bowl and poured some cereal and milk in it and quickly had my breakfast then washed it down with a cup of orange juice. "We better get going. I have some things I need to take care of concerning work." I got up from the chair with my book bag slung over my right shoulder and followed Mum outside. The site of Mum's car reminded me of yesterday's incident. "Where have you been Lyra?" "I'm sorry I took long Mum. Its just that there were a lot of people at the store and it got late by the time I got back." "Why didn't you pick up when I called you?" "I left my phone on the dresser. I'm really sorry." I didn't mention what had happened with the car on purpose. She was already angry at me for being late. There was no need for me to give her anymore reason to be more upset than she aready was. I snapped out of my recollection when I saw Owen zoom right past us in his dark blue Jeep. "Lyra." "Coming." I got in the car and fastened my seatbelt. I really didn't feel like going to school but I knew that there was no way Mum would let me skip school. Even if I did today, there would always be tomorrow and the day after that. It was roughly ten minutes later when we reached the school. It looked just like my former school with red brick blocks. Lakeview High was written just above the block that was near the parking lot. "Do you want me to come with you?" Mum asked but I just shook my head in response. "Ok then. Call me if you need anything," "I will." "Love you." "Love you too." I reluctantly got out of the car and walked into the building with both straps of my bag over my shoulders. I went over to the office and was given a schedule among other things by the secretary. I walked towards my first class --which happened to be maths-- with trepidation. I didn't know how everyone would treat me on my first day at school. I walked into the class and was more than happy to find that only a few people were in. I stood by the door, eyes sweeping over the room in search of a good seat but then everyone stopped talking and stared at me. I quickly sat on a seat that was near a window and spent most of my time staring out of it. I heard someone clear their throat from beside me. When I turned my head, I saw a girl with chestnut hair put in a high ponytail sporting a white summer dress that reached mid-thigh. She smiled at me warmly and sat in the vacant seat that was next to me. "Hey. You must be the new girl, my name's Katherine but you can call me Kate," she said enthusiastically whilst shaking my hand. Her smile was really infectious because not even a minute later I was smiling back at her. "Lyra," I replied and just as she was about to say something, a man wearing a light blue button up shirt that hugged his upper body, not too tightly but just enough to show that he worked out, with black slacks walked in and layed his bag on the teacher's table then faced us. "Ok class. Settle down." He voiced and I swear I could hear girls giggling. He took a file and started conducting a roll call. When he called out my name, he looked up at me and so did everyone else. I responded with a 'present' trying hard to act as casual as I could with all the eyes that fell on me. Classes went by quicker than I thought and before I knew it, it was lunch. I received a few glances as I made my way to my locker. Just as I was transferring some books from the locker to my bag, Kate leaned against the locker next to mine. "Wanna join me for lunch?" She asked, still wearing a smile on her face. "Uh...sure," I closed the locker and followed her to the cafeteria. "Aren't you feeling hot?" I looked at her and shook my head no, "I'm good." When we walked in the cafeteria, Kate and I headed over to the line that consisted of only seven people. I took my lunch tray and trailed slightly behind Kate who was busy talking about the things she'd like to do before the end of the week. My eyes where scanning the cafeteria and I stopped in my trucks just as my eyes made contact with someone's and Kate's voice soon became a distant sound.