Thariah POV

Morning came with a screaming alarm clock and a sheen of sweat coating entire being. I had barely slept, and woke up again at 3, staying awake until my alarm went off at 6. Struggling out of the bed, I shuffled to the bathroom where I proceeded to wash the layer of sweat off my skin with a hot shower. Stepping out, I wrapped myself in a towel and looked in the mirror. The dampness of my skin accentuated all the imperfections on my face. All the blemishes, smatterings of acne, paleness. All of it blaring at me in one big gross mess. I looked away and started blow drying my dripping mane.

Why do I have so much hair? Why do I need so much hair? What purpose does it serve, other than hide my face when I want to sleep in class.

Ponderings of the same sort drifted through my mind as I got ready for the day until I pulled my left leg through my shorts. And remembered. There I stood, in the middle of my room, with one leg in and one leg out of my shorts, and a bra, having a panic attack. I would've stayed that way for a good hour more, except my sister barged in without even bothering to knock and saw me. The perfect dark eyebrow shot up her forehead once again.

"Are you okay dingus? First you assume the burrito position of gloom and next I walk in you half naked looking like someone killed a puppy right in front of you. You wanna share in your obvious predicament?"

I finished pulling on my shorts, and waved her off. "I'm fine."

"Obviously you're not but okay. Can I borrow shoes? Maddie and I are going on a day trip as a last hurrah before heading back to college."

"Sure what shoes?"

"One of your many pairs of converse. Your Union Jack ones if you're not wearing them."

"That's fine. I was gonna wear the batman ones."

"You're such an adorable nerd."

"You like the same stuff I do!"

"I know," she said with an impish grin. "Now put a shirt on and finish getting ready."

***

Quiet chatter buzzed in my ear as I sat anxiously on the edge of my seat. I was in my first block, English and I was watching the slow trickle of students coming through the door. I was currently seated towards the back next to the window, as far from my peers as possible. Riz and I had compared schedules so I knew she wasn't in this class with me. Still I was hoping that a few kind acquaintances would walk in so I wouldn't be utterly alone.

Just my luck, the seats were filled with people I didn't talk to, for they were either utter cheeseheads or we had nothing in common. Well, this looks like a class where I'll be a loner.

A few seconds later our teacher Ms. Girdy introduced herself and started role, there was a knock on the door. Ms. Girdy opened it and Azrael walked in.

"Sorry I'm late. I had a mix up with my schedule." He said sheepishly.

"That's fine for today, perfectly normal. Go have seat." Ms. Girdy looked back to the role as Azrael made his way to an empty seat.

Then all the cliches in the world came together as I realized that the only open seat was next to me.

Azrael sat down after glancing at me briefly. I was looking everywhere but him, my hands gone sweaty and slick. This is awkward. This is so very very awkward.

The role was finished and Ms. Girdy went to her computer to enter it in, giving us a few seconds to talk. I glanced over at Azrael and saw he was looking at me. He looked away and so did I. My cheeks could probably put a fire truck to shame.

"So..." I heard next to me. I looked over at Azrael. "You're Thariah, right?"

My face turned even hotter. "Yeah."

He gave an nervous smile and laughed a little. "Can I ask you something?"

"Y-yeah, sure."

He started to say something, stopped and tried again. "Why did you kiss me the other night?" He asked quietly, so no one around us would hear. I was grateful, because this whole situation made me want to go find a hole to die in and if people heard that I'd kissed Azrael, rumors would fly like a crazy and I'd have to move to Cebu.

Even still, my blush grew even darker, if that was at all possible.

"I-it was a truth or dare. Sorry." I smiled apologetically.

"Oh," his face held an unintelligible emotion, then it past. "That's alright. I've been in those situations before."

All the pent up nerves jitterin in the core of my stomach released and I deflated with relief. I smiled a true smile at him. "Thanks."

He flashed me a smile too, and a little piece of my heart melted. I don't swoon over guys or anyone really, but if a guy has a nice smile, meaning genuine and happy and not held back, a little piece of you falls in love. Not that I'm saying I'm in love. I barely know the guy. I'm just incredibly interested.

Finally Ms. Girdy was back up at the front of the classroom, and we started going over the routine, first day class syllabus.

Azrael was in two more of my classes, physics and calculus. In physics, he sat behind me, and in calculus the next row over from me. For the first week of school, we'd talk on the occasion, but our conversations were very short, seeing as how we didn't know what to say and I am a socially awkward potato not very good at interacting with other people, especially if they happen to be guys I am interested in.

The school year seemed like it was going to be as bland as any other year, but half way through the second week, when schedule changes were still very much happening, a certain somebody was added to our physics class. A certain unpleasant somebody going by the name of Mark. Mark Derens, the scumbag who cheated on me and sent my heart through a paper shredder, burned the shreds, then scattered the ashes to the wind.