Heroin

I took calming breaths to ease my annoyance as I walked through the empty hallway, looking for someone whose existence I'd very much rather ignore.

My short plaid skirt was starting to ride up, and the white long-sleeved shirt, together with its black tie, started to feel tight around my body, and the "president" tag on my chest itched as my hair stuck to the sweat at the back of my neck.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance before taking the scrunchie off my wrist and using it to tie my hair.

Despite my exhaustion, I kept walking straight to the backdoor exit that led to the school parking lot, a spot that I was sure I'd find him in and hopefully alone because I was in no mood to argue with neither him nor his minions today.

I forcefully opened the large doors upon reaching them and was met by none other than the group of idiots sitting at the trunk of some random kid's Ford, smoking and laughing like they were in some hookah joint. I wanted to slap them.

My eyes habitually started searching for him, and when they found him, he was already looking at me, his brown eyes mocking and a smile threatening to break out from his lips.

There he was, leaning at the trunk of the car, standing at 6'2, his brown skin almost glowing under the scorching sun, the same sun that turned my cheeks red and made me look like a victim of intense rashes, Unfair.

He'd taken his tie off and laid it next to him, the first three buttons of his shirt open and his hair braided in cornrows complementing his stupidly attractive face.

"To what do we owe this visit, your excellency ?" he asks mockingly, and his friends snicker at his tone. I knew what he was doing; he did it every time. He was trying to annoy me, get under my skin, and spur a reaction out of me, but I was too done with everything today, and I genuinely did not feel arguing.

"Get your asses to class. I'm not coming back to tell you twice." I said sharply, and he rolled his eyes as if I was the annoying one, and he was the victim being subjected to it daily, but in reality, it was the opposite.

" or what?" he asked stupidly, and I took a deep breath to calm my growing rage.

"or you'll be hearing from the principal with news of a suspension or even expulsion. I don't know, and I don't care. I'm not in the mood today, so get inside now, or I won't hesitate to step back and make it your problem." I stated firmly, looking him straight in the eye, face serious and jaw clenched.

Why was I so mad? because I had already started the day by waking up to a panic attack at midnight, having to calm my anxiety down, and not having an ounce of sleep since then. So forgive me for not being in the mood to deal with the school's most entitled assholes at eight-thirty a.m.

"someone's angry today," Cole, one of his best friends, said while hopping off the trunk.

"When is she not?" Grey, his other best friend, replied, hopping off and walking past me with Cole close behind him, both with stupid smiles on their faces, and I resisted the urge to jump on them.

They disappear into the school, leaving Arlen and me by ourselves. I look back at him and find him scrutinizing me like he was analyzing some sort of essay, and I immediately feel self-conscious.

"what are you waiting for, Arlen?" I asked, annoyed that he was still in the same position, almost unfazed by my rage. He wordlessly stood up straight, taking his tie with him, and started walking towards me, he stood directly in front of me, and I held in a breath. Knowing well enough that if he started arguing with me at such proximity, my frustration would skyrocket, and I would have a literal breakdown right in front of him.

I looked anywhere but him hoping he wouldn't notice, but he did because he reached his hand out and held my chin, making me look up at him, his face serious.

"I don't wanna see you In there today," he said, motioning his head to the school building "go sleep at the nurse's office or go back to the dorms, whichever one it is, make sure I don't see you at school today," he said almost harshly, and I scoffed yanking his hand off my chin.

"who do you think you-" I started stubbornly but was cut off by his stern voice again.

"Don't make me see you in there and do it myself," he said in a tone that left room for no arguments, and with one last look, walked past me and into the school.

I stood there dumbfounded as I tried to analyze what had just happened. I replayed our whole interaction and slowly started getting enraged. How dare he annoy me one minute, then read me like an open book and order me to do the right thing in the next!!!!!

I almost went back in to rile him up, but my pounding head and barely open eyes begged to differ. Knowing that he was right, I accepted defeat, made my way to the dormitory accommodations building, and called In sick for the day.

I got to my room and threw my shoes and tie on the sitting room floor before making my way onto my bed, throwing myself on it and opening my phone to find texts from my best friends Maya and Jared.

Maya🥰: Arlen told us that you wouldn't be in school today. Are you alright? Text us ASAP.

Jared🤩: you're not coming to school? I get to save money then. One less fat hoe to feed during lunch today🤪. Don't die!!! We're coming to see you later. Love you!

I rolled my eyes before texting a quick reassurance that I am okay and drifting off to sleep.

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