CHAPTER 3


    "Girls, guess what? Ethan asked me outst night! Can you believe it?"


    "No way!"


    "Oh my gosh, finally!"


    "Ethan grew some balls. It''s about god damn time."


    I clutch my gym bag to my chest, weaving my way through the crowd in the girls changing room. Half of


    the girls are undressed, parading around in their underwear without a care in the world. The


    conversation in the locker rooms always gives me a headache if I listen too long which isn''t a surprise


    considering all the girls ever talk about is boys.


    Thetest discussion is Ethan and Melissa.


    Ethan has been crushing on Melissa, the girls captain of the football team for months before he''d finally


    asked her out. Apparently their first date is going to be at Melissa''s pool party she''s hosting on the


    weekend.


    That doesn''t sound like much of a date to me . . .


    I''m a hopeless romantic who spends endless hours watching stereotypical love movies on Netflix.


    Every single time a couple split, I blubber like a baby even though I predict it happening from the start.


    My ice cream or popcorn bowl always ended up mingling with my tears. . . Gross.


    My idea of a first date would be something intimate yet simple. A chance for both of you to get to know


    each other without the presence of several others.


    Somewhere quiet and romantic?


    A restaurant maybe.


    But then there''s always the worry of eating like a starved pig in front of your crush.


    I finally reach the toilet cubicles and enter the free one, locking the door behind me. This is where I


    change every PE lesson. It''s small, cramped and smelly but it''s out of sight and I''d choose that any day


    over everyone seeing my SpongeBob SquarePants underwear. I''m ashamed to admit I also have the


    matching bra on.


    I quickly change into my gym clothes, a bright red shirt with the words HEYWOOD HIGH printed on the


    back in block white letters. I opted for the size that was two sizes bigger as showing what little shape I


    have to my body doesn''t appeal to me.


    Underneath I''m wearing red and white stripe shortspleted with white socks and my trusty old


    converse. The entire school basically looks like the human version of Where''s Waldo in our gym


    clothes.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    "Girls, line up please!" Mrs Hollins yells loudly, attempting to grab the attention of the ss. Everyone


    lazily walks over to her, continuing with their conversations. Mrs Hollins let out an annoyed breath,


    rolling her eyes. I watch as she raises the whistle to her lips before blowing into it. The shrill of the


    whistle catches me by surprise and I wince, covering my ears with my hands.


    "Girls, I want you in line now!" Mrs Hollins screams, stomping her foot down onto the grass in a childish


    manner. She craved the students attention and respect by actingid back however times like this


    proved she''s theplete opposite.


    Eventually a line is formed and I join the end of it, keeping my distance from the two girls giggling on


    the end. Mrs Hollins eyes drift up and down each student before theynd on me.


    "You!" She points at me, causing my heart rate to speed up. I hold my hand up half heartedly, looking


    incredibly awkward. She gives me a slight frown before continuing —


    "Go get the ss footballs, hurry up."


    She throws the gym keys at me and theynd in a heap on the floor in front of my feet. I simply look


    down at them and stare.


    "You were supposed to catch them," Mrs Hollins sighs, shaking her head. I bite my cheek hard,


    bending down to retrieve the keys.


    "Didn''t you know? She''s mute," Beatrice''s voice fills the silence and several people burst outughing.


    My cheeks burn with embarrassment and I resist making eye contact. I clutch the keys tightly, feeling


    the cold metal dig inside my palm before turning and heading for the equipment room where the


    footballs are stored.


    "Quieten down ss!"


    My footsteps speed up and I close my eyes, breathing in slowly and breathing out. Finally I reach the


    equipment room and try the first key inside the lock, no luck. There''s around ten different keys and I


    nce down at them before sighing heavily. It takes me a while to find the right one but when I do, I


    smile and pull back the door before stepping inside. The room is dark with no light beside from the


    natural sun peeking through the slither in the door. It doesn''t do much to help me see.


    "Shoot," I mutter holding out my hands in front of me to stop myself falling. I can barely make out any


    shapes in here so what hope do I have in finding the footballs?


    "Would you like some help?"


    A voice startles me from behind and I miss my footing as I stand on something hard which causes me


    to lurch forward. I yell out as I connect with the floor,nding painfully on my side. I wince and feel


    around, grabbing a metal pole from underneath me that''s poking into my back. Pain res up my body


    and I clench my jaw, the frustration beginning to increase.


    "Stupid idiot of a teacher!" I curse Mrs Hollins, blinking back the tears in my eyes from the sudden pain.


    "Are you okay?" A deep voice cuts in and I immediately freeze realising that I''m not alone.


    "Hello?"


    The voice calls out again. I can vaguely make out his outline, tall with broad shoulders.


    "Hello," I let out a small squeak, my voice timid. I hear him walk towards me, the shadow of his


    outstretched hand inches away from my face. I stare at it, feeling a blush creep up my neck and cheek.


    "Take my hand, I don''t bite."


    I nod in the dark before realising he probably can''t see me nod. Urgh Be Winters, you idiot. My small


    hand reaches out uneasily until it meets with his and I feel his fingers close around mine tightly, pulling


    me up using gentle force. I wince, groaning a little from the pain ring up my side.


    "Are you hurt?" He asks me, his voice low yet raspy. He sounds like he''s just woken from a nap and


    every time he speaks, my nerves increase.


    "Y-yes, I mean no I didn''t, it doesn''t matter." I whisper, my voice shaking. I haven''t spoken this many


    words all day and it feels weird. I notice how he hasn''t let go of my hand even though I''m firmly steady


    on my feet. My palms began to grow mmy so I quickly pry it away from his grip before he can notice.


    "You don''t sound so sure but okay."


    "Thank you," I say quietly, not daring to look up at his face even though I probably couldn''t make it out


    in the dark anyway.


    "No problem. Try leaving the door open a little to let the light shine in." Mystery Boy chuckles quietly,


    hisughter causing goosebumps to skim down my arms.


    "That p-probably would have been easier." I respond,ughing along nervously.


    "I''m guessing you''re from Mrs Hollins ss?" He asks me, handing over the dreaded bag of footballs. I


    take them from him, clutching them against my chest.


    "Yes I am, thank you."


    A moment of silence passes between us before he clears his throat. I can vaguely make out his


    shadow moving further away from me and towards the door.


    "See you around Clumsy."


    His words hold a smile behind them which causes the corners of my lips to tug upwards. I briefly catch


    a glimpse of the back of him as the door opens.


    Dark hair and broad shoulders.


    Once I''m alone, I breathe out deeply, my nerves settling back down to the surface. A simple interaction


    causes me to sweat with nerves and worry. As I leave the equipment room, I search the area to find out


    the identity of Mystery Boy but it''s toote . . . he''s already gone.