Chapter Fifteen

sky.

I was currently stuck between a rock and a hard place. And I meant that quite literally. The school building blocking my back, and a huge boulder covering my front. I'd made an oopsie on my way back from classes. Somehow, my skirt got caught on the bike rack, and was torn almost fully off of my body. Luckily, everyone in this school was self absorbed, so they didn't notice it before I ran to where I am now. What is my life, sometimes?

I'd only procured one number in my two days here, so luckily he picked up when I called. "What's up?". "I may need to borrow your sweatshirt again. Like...right now". There's some whispers and rustling around before he speaks again. "I'm watching a movie with friend's. Do you absolutely NEED to?".

"I may have torn my skirt and am currently standing in the quad in my underwear, Damien. Those may be my current circumstances". I don't know what I expect, but it's not for him to burst out laughing without hesitation. "Of course you are. Where exactly are you, because I'll be there soon". "Behind that huge boulder that people sit on all of the time. And it's NOT funny, Damien. Like...at all". He laughs again, even harder. "I'll be there in two minutes, Skylar. Don't flash anyone before I get to you" he says, hanging up quickly after. Asshole.

It seemed like it took him forever to get here, but in reality, he didn't take more than those two minutes to arrive, sweatshirt in hand. "If you went back to this morning, do you think you could have imagined your life ending up this way?" he asks with that lopsided grin, giving it to me. I quickly pull it over my head, glad that it's big enough to step out of my skirt so that the fabric wouldn't hang and show my predicament. I ball it up and toss it into a nearby trash can.

"No, but I did imagine myself kneeing you in the balls at some point. It could happen right now if you want it to" I tell him and he winces, shaking his head. "I plan on having kids at some point in my life. I don't think that'd help it". "Then I'd suggest shutting up with all of your funny man comments. I had a HORRIBLE day". "How about we get some food in your stomach, along with some kind of chocolate-y dessert, and talk about it". "That sounds really nice". "Good, let's do it".

***

Somehow we ended up in an old classroom that wasn't used anymore, with blankets and pillows that we'd forced into two duffel bags. They kept old gym mats in the room, so we stacked a bunch of them up for more cushion and layered our covers on top of them. In the warmth of the blankets, stomach happy because of the warm soup and Nutella filled donuts that he got for me, I chronicle my day.

My roommate, who is the bane of my entire existence, hogged the bathroom for two hours. I ended up missing the assembly completely, and thirty minutes of my first class because she refused to leave the bathroom. She put on a performance for her non-existing shower audience for over an hour, and whatever else she had to do in there took up another. She'd left her wet towels in the bathroom, and clogged the drain with her hair. I don't see how she had any left on her head after all of that.

I felt disgusting even after my shower, which couldn't be very long, since I didn't want to entirely miss my first class. Luckily, my teacher didn't mention it. That's something I enjoy about this school. The teachers don't force you to do anything. It's either you come to class and do your work, or you don't. There's only a warning if your grades get to a certain point, then an expulsion if you don't improve. And you can only reach that point once. If you get there again, you're out immediately.

But, I also realized just how far behind Glendale students were, compared to the one's here. I knew it'd be hard, but I felt like I couldn't recognize any concept or problem presented to me. And the teachers never had you raise your hand. Instead, they picked whoever they felt like choosing that day. That person happened to be me four times in different classes and I answered wrong on every single one. It was embarrassing.

Every original Alpha is in the advanced classes, which I learned after speaking to Nastassia in the hallway after my third hour. I wasn't even in the advanced classes at my old school, so how would I be in them here. It sucked, because no one even attempted to talk to me throughout the day.

To make everything worse, I was denied blog privileges since they'd taken notice of my old one, and didn't allow lewd content to be posted of their students. In fact, I was completely banned from the platform. And everything going around about the Alpha Purge had me worried. I was concerned that since I wasn't on their level of smarts, and wasn't allowed to write, I didn't belong there. All of that was wrapped up by my skirt being torn off of my body in a public place.

This was the worst first day of school ever.

But it did feel better to talk about it with him, because he just listened without any interruption. And then, when it was all over, he found ways that he could help. He suggested that I get a note from the Dean that excuses me from answering questions until I felt like I had a grip on the material, and that she'd be happy to write it. He also said that I should tell Nastassia about my roommate so that she could be replaced sooner than later. According to him, we'd be cut some slack since the staff is aware that we're behind the rest of the students. And that he'd be happy to help tutor me in anything that I needed help with, which I appreciated. I appreciated him, in general.

"What about my blog? I have no idea how to change her mind about it" I say and he shrugs it off, eyes uncaring. "I actually think that it's for the best. We don't need one of those blogs here". I sit up with a huff, frowning down at him. "One of those blogs. What is that supposed to mean?". He sits up as well.

"That gossiping stuff. It's actually kind of gross, when you think about it". I couldn't have been more offended. "You think that my blog is GROSS?". He doesn't seem to care that I'mupset about it. "Of course I do. Do you know what that type of stuff can do to someone's future. And, past that, their mental health. Do you ever think about that?".

I get up from the homemade bed, sliding my feet back into my boots. "Peyton and Nastassia were right about you. Your moral high ground paves roads through the clouds AND you're freaking rude. Do you know how hard I worked on that blog. YOU suck". He sighs, gathering up the blankets.

"I didn't mean to insult you, but you can't deny that your blog has ruined lives. That teacher deserved it, but the teenagers trying to go through life and figure themselves out do not. I don't care if you think I'm wrong on this. My sister isn't here anymore because of girls like you, Peyton and Nastassia. But, for some reason, I wanted to believe you were different. Have you ever thought that my morals were completely normal, and that you just have none at all?".

I stand frozen for a moment, watching him angrily shove the pillows back into the bag. "I'm sorry about your sister, Damien. I didn't know". "There's no way you could have. I don't need help with this, Skylar. I can do it on my own". "But, I w-". "I've got it" he interrupts, pulling the zipper shut on the bag he'd filled. "Okay, then. I'll see you around".

He doesn't respond so I just leave, the solemn look on my face instantly replaced with anger once the door closes behind me. How dare he insult me and my blog to my face. I had a title all written and ready for him in my head.

DAMIEN BECKETT THINKS HIS SOB STORY GIVES HIM PERMISSION TO BE AN ASSHOLE. NEWSFLASH, CRYBABY, IT DOESN'T.