Chapter Text
I walk into my first class on Monday morning, Algebra II. I fucking hate math. It certainly doesn’t help when everyone in your class is a total asshole. I lazily walk over to my desk (in the middle of the room since my last name is Jones) and sit down, putting my books on the empty desk beside me. On the board are instructions to get ready to correct your homework. I go to my backpack to get it when I realize…
It’s not in my bag. God fucking damn it. First period and I’ve already fucked up. Must’ve left it at home sitting on the kitchen table. I just know this day is going to be shit. I let out an exasperated sigh. Oh well, maybe she won’t check it today.
The bell rings signaling that the first class of the day has begun and a few last minute students walk in. Then the teacher, followed by a tall boy with disheveled hair, saunters to the center of the classroom.
“Class," she begins, "This is Gavin Free, he will be joining us for the rest of the semester. He just moved here overseas all the way from England, so let’s all try to make him feel welcome.” Great, another dickhead to deal with, and a brit at that. Like there wasn’t enough idiots here already. “Why don’t you introduce yourself to the class Gavin?”
She backs away, and the boy, Gavin, gives this goofy-ass smile to the class. “Hello mates,” Mates? He was as English as it gets. “I’m Gavin and I hope we can all get along this year.” Everyone stares but no one says anything. He looks like he feels awkward and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost.
He looks to the teacher expectantly and she moves towards him. “Alright, now let’s find you a seat.” Oh fuck. There were only two empty seats, and one of them was right next to me. Please put him on the other side of the room, I like to keep my books there. “Ah, why don’t you sit right there next to Michael?” Of fucking course.
I let out a very audible groan as he looks my way. We lock eyes and he gives me that smile again. Something about that smile makes me feel like he‘s not all the bad, but I shake it off as I realize he’s walking my way and now I’ll have to move my books.
I shove my stuff under my desk and he sits down next to me and waves hello. I give him an annoyed nod and look toward the teacher. “Now let’s start our warm-ups and in ten minutes we’ll begin the lesson.”
All around me pencils move. I look toward the board trying to discern what the equation means before I just think ‘Fuck it’ and go to doodle in my notebook. It’s only been a few seconds when I feel a tap on my shoulder.
“What?” I snap, before turning and realize it’s just him. He looks taken aback, and the hurt look on his face makes me regret snapping at him. But before I've got the chance to apologize, he goes to ask me something. I’m too distracted to hear what he says though. This is the first time I really get a good look at him and his features strike me.
His face is a little round with a chin that juts out, and on it he’s got some stubble like he’s forgotten to shave this morning. His hair is a dirty-blondish and looks as if he jumped out of bed 2 minutes ago. His eyes look kind of green but it’s hard to tell exactly what color since they’re so murky. His nose though, it sticks out slightly more than most people and is a bit unusual.
I’m so captivated by his face for some reason that I almost miss it the second time he asks me. “I said, can you help me with what we are supposed to be doing?” He says it slower this time, trying to make sure I understand.
“Oh right,” I blunder, “Sorry, I just got a bit distracted.” He gives a small chuckle and looks at me expectantly. “What do you need help with?”
“Well, for starters, what are we even supposed to be doing?” I look at his blank notebook on his desk and realize he’s even more clueless than I am.
“Oh, these are warm-ups, we do them every day before class starts. They're fucking useless but you might want to make a section in your notebook for them, since she does notebook checks. For this one you just solve the equation.” I would’ve elaborated more but I had no fucking clue on how to solve it.
“Oh right, so you just have to subtract the 16 and divide by 4x?”
“Uh, right.” Fuck he was smarter than me. Just what a needed, someone else to make me feel dumb. Although somehow, I felt like he wouldn’t be the same. He was oddly different.
“Thanks for your help bud!” Bud? I guess he’s quick to call people his friends. Whatever, it’s no skin off my back if he wants to think we’re friends. He just better not expect nothing from me.
“Yeah, no problem.” We both go back to our work, or doodling in my case. But even after the lesson has begun, I still take the time to give him a look, just trying to understand what it is about this boy that is getting me feeling weird. I can’t quite put him out of my mind. But whatever, I’ll probably forget about him next period.