Chapter 3

It was Monday morning and the start of my second week of school. Last week everything seemed to go fine. Though, I didn't really talk to anyone other than Dacia at lunch break, and of course the teachers. On the plus side, the classes started off slow and the work was really easy (well, there was barely any work at all), but I knew that this week the pace would pick up and the real work was about to begin. 

I was walking, just making the turn into my first period classroom (English literature) when- BAM!!

Next thing I knew I was on the floor, holding my right shoulder that was throbbing from the pain of the fall. I had landed right on it. Luckily, there was nothing broken or injured. 

"I am so sorry!" A voice said from behind me. 

I slowly turned around to see Kazue getting up from off the floor. 

"I'm really sorry about that," he apologized. "It's completely my fault, I was going too fast."

I then sat up and looked at Kazue who was now stood up in front of me, holding out his hand, to help me get up. "Are you okay, Kiera?"

But I didn't accept his help. I remained on the floor of the hallway and turned my head, looking away from him. I felt so embarrassed. "No, I'm sorry."

At that moment, Mr. Cameron walked out of the classroom. "And that's why we don't run in the school," he said. "Are you two alright?"

I gathered my binder and pencil case, then stood up slowly. The pain in my right shoulder was starting to ease a bit. 

"I'm definitely alright," said Kazue. He then gave me a concerned look. "You can't be though. You fell down pretty hard. Darn it, I'm really sorry." 

"I'm perfectly fine, really." I lied. 

"Okay," Mr. Cameron started, "if either of you wants to go and get ice or something, you can. Just note that class will be starting in about 4 minutes." The teacher then walked back into the classroom.

Kazue nodded then turned his attention back to me. He gave me a sheepish smile. "I can take you downstairs to get ice if you want."

I shook my head, "No, I'm fine."

"But your shoulder. It looked like you really-"

"I'm okay, seriously." I cut him off.

He frowned, "Well, alright... I'm sorry again."

"It's okay." I told him. I then walked past him and made my way in the classroom.

For the first twenty minutes of class, I had never felt so awkward sitting next to someone. And that spoke a lot, considering I always felt awkward sitting next to people. 

Mr. Cameron was in the middle of teaching a lesson when the class phone rang. He answered the phone and spoke with someone for about half a minute.

Afterwards, he put the phone down. "I have to go and take care of something down at the office. I'll be back in a few minutes."

The teacher left the classroom and mostly everyone just went on their phones. Me on the other hand, I continued my sketch of a rose that I had been drawing during the lesson.

I didn't draw that much. Usually I would sketch random plants like flowers or trees on the side of my page just to cure my boredom during class. But I suppose over the years I got particularly good at drawing nature. 

"I didn't know you were an artist." Kazue said while smiling gently at my drawing.

As soon as he said that, I immediately covered my drawing with the palm of my hand.

Kazue frowned. "Oh, I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to, um, invade? But it genuinely looks really nice."

I felt a sense of embarrassment. I didn't necessarily like other people seeing my drawings. 

So all I could say was a quick "Thanks," and then close my binder, putting away the paper with the drawing of the rose. I could tell Kazue had felt some sort of guilt, for not only bashing into me before class, but also 'invading my privacy.'

I kind of felt bad afterwards because, all he had done was compliment my drawing, and I had made it into another problem... Always making the smallest things into the biggest problems... those were the things my father used to do. Of course, in a very violent way. Still, somehow I was able to relate every situation of my life to my abusive father who would never leave my mind. Nothing would ever change.