CHAPTER 1

It was the last day of my winter holiday in high school. I was busying packing the stuffs that was necessary for my first day of school. I’m Raven Campbell, 17 years old. I couldn’t possibly think that I’m getting one year older after tomorrow, which I never wanted to remember.

I was lying on my den sickly at six in the morning. I had to admit that I got a sleepless night. My eyes were swollen deeply. Simultaneously, the thought of my odd mind floated out of my mouth,

“Crap! Who wants to see at a girl like me on the first day of school with swollen eyes?”  I said to myself. In the meantime, I heard a slightly knock on my bedroom’s door.

“Ray? Are you awake?” I heard my dad said smoothly, as people who know me well used to call me Ray instead of Raven. I often confused by the name they called.

“Yea, I’m awake. Come on in dad.”  

 “I was wondering that…the first day of school might have to be a bit earlier, so I was afraid that you might be late, so, I wandering outside for a little while and I decided to knock you up.” He smiled awkwardly.

“Thanks dad, you’re really thoughtful.” I muttered.

I walked out my house with a big yawn before I get into my car.  I drove my car cautiously into school parking lots, and found a place that I usually halted my car. I picked up my bag and walked to the administration office to collect my new schedule of the semester. According to my schedule for this semester, Biology, Algebra, English and P.E-Physical Education were the courses I’d been arrange to attend. I headed to my first class –Algebra, which located in the second floor, classroom 2. I should have acknowledged that algebra was never my predicaments and most importantly, bored.

After the first bell rang, I packed my books and headed to my locker. I shoved my book randomly into my locker and picked out the book I needed for the next class, and as usual, I stared right at the picture that I posted on the side of my locker. I gazed with reticence, five seconds. Just when I shut my locker, Jasper Whine, my best ‘boy-friend’ jogged over and made a grimace.

“Hey, Ray, what’s up?” with a big smiling face.

“Hey, fine. How’s your day?”

“Emm, I think is good. So, what’s your next class?”

“Biology. I guess. Yea, Biology.” I glanced at my schedule.

“Oh, great. I’m having boring History this period.” he did his grimace again. I grinned at him as sarcasms, and he grinned when he saw I smiled.

“It’s good to see you smile Ray. When is your study period and lunch period?” he glanced towards my schedule.

“Thanks. Third and the fifth. Lunch first and study period the last.”

“Great, I guess I’ll see you in these two periods.” He smiled widely this time.

“Okay, see you then.” I waved at him and walked off.

[ Jasper was a guy who treated me extraordinarily. I knew him since the day I transferred into Forks High School. He had a sunny-attitude, which easily influenced the people around him. He’s a very welcoming student in the school, which I agreed that, a lot. We often spent our time together, almost every single moment. I guessed we’re not having the same courses this year but one-P.E.  Lesson. I hated P.E lesson, just like he did. Everyone said we’re extremely resemblance, which everyone rumored us as a couple, but we knew we’re not. ]

I picked up my pace to my next class, when I stepped in the lab, Mr. Werner had already started his teaching lesson and he glanced sternly towards my eyes and … smile.

“Well, Hello, Ms. Campbell. I’m glad to see you my dear.” with his weird, disguised smile.

“Hi, … I’m sorry Mr. Werner.” I said apologetically.

“I hope it never happen again, Raven. Get to your seat and focus.” He resumed solemn.

“Thank you, Mr. Werner.”

The class was as peaceful as paradise, I guessed that the students were all afraid of the ferocious appearance of Mr. Werner, but I think I will be the only exception because he’d taught me since I’m an elementary in the school. I found no seats were available in the class except the seat beside a garrulous–Jasmine. He’s really popular in our school that had been labeled as a garrulous because he never stopped talking in the class. People who sat with him in class often punished by the class teacher because he always did something...silly that caused people made rage on him. Unfortunately, I had become the one who’s unlucky. I stood at the place where I had been reproached by Mr. Werner and gazed towards the seat beside Jasmine.

“Take a seat, Raven.” Mr. Werner said.  No signs of my movement and respond.

“Take a seat, Raven.” He repeated a few times. Finally, I awoke from my thoughts before he got angry on me.

“Yes sir, immediately.” I said it with a tone of reluctant.

“Hey Raven, what happen to your eyes?” He giggled, and I began my hatred on him. I ignored his question and tried to focus on what’s Mr. Werner talking about.

“I guess I’ll be sitting with you this whole semester in this class. I’ll treat you as my little sister. Don’t be afraid of asking me question, you know… I will be glad to help you.” He giggled again. I really felt giving him a punch on his face.

Among all of your schoolmates, I believed there’s a jerk exist.

“So, Raven, are you sure you have no question to ask? Oh, well, I guess I need your little help. Would you like to help me?” He stopped giggling and asked for an inquiry. I looked straight at him and grinned, without hesitation, I said with anger, “No.”

“Oh, come on Raven, I need your help. Look at that girl sitting next row. I need you to get her number for me. Go.”

“I’m not your servant. Go get yourself if you want. Stop annoys me.” I promised my anger expanded.

“Oh, don’t you think you can do it? Hey, Mr. Werner.” He shouted suddenly, and I’m truly shocked.

“Yes, Jasmine. Any question?” Mr. Werner turned over and asked.

“No, but Raven has. She wants to answer the question you bring forward to.”

WHAT?!

“Oh, Raven. You really want to?”

“Emm, Mr. Werner. Emm, Jasmine, he…” I heard Jasmine chuckled beside me and I seriously wanted to punch him in front of the whole class yet I had to control.

“Yea, Raven actually want to answer your question, she mentions that is exceptionally easy.” He chuckled again.

“Oh, Raven, come on up. Answer this.” Mr. Werner said with pleasant.

“Oh, yes sir.” I said.

“Okay, class, let’s see how Raven answer this. How many stomachs does a cow have?”

“4, Mr. Werner.” I answered confidently.

“Very well, Raven. See if you can answer the following question. Genetically speaking, blue eyes are?”

“Emm, Recessive, sir.”

“Impressive, Raven. Anemia is a disorder of the?”

“Blood.” I answered without ponderering.

“Very well, Raven. Did you learn these stuffs before?”

“Yea, I took an advance program last year.”

“Oh I see, you’re good. Keep it up, you may take a sit now.” Mr. Werner said and grinned.

I smiled exaggeratedly as Jasmine brought his indignation on me. I felt extremely proud of myself when I actually abled to answer the questions without reviewing my notebook and vacillation.

“I never give up.” Jasmine whispered.

“I’ll wait, I guess.” I smirked and the other classmates thumbed up for me.

 I took my bag and left the lab immediately after the bell rang loudly. I could hardly imagine how long I can possibly endured in the lab with my lab mates-Jasmine and suddenly a hand patted on my shoulder.

“Hey, you’re Raven?” I turned my back and saw a girl who probably a few years younger than me, smiling.

“Yea, do I know you?” I frowned as I questioned her.

“I don’t think so. I’m the new student here. You’re so cool, how could you be such intelligent?” she smiled again.

“I’ve taken the advance class last year. It’s not that hard to answer those questions, well, Jasmine, I mean the guy who is sitting right beside me, who was basically, intentionally provoke me.” I frowned.

“Wow, it’s really impressive. Honestly, biology is freaking me out. I don’t even recognize what Mr. Werner talking about, at all.” She frowned.

“It’s not that hard, take some practice and review the textbook. I’m sure it’ll help you a lot.” I’m so proud of myself momentarily.

“Ray” She called. I looked at her with a surprise.

“Can I call you Ray? Because I felt you’re so amiable.” She actually looked adorable when I looked at her at a close distance.

“Oh, sure. It's just weird for me. Who use to call me Ray is someone who really close to me.” Half grinned on my face but still confused why she would recognize my nickname was Ray.

“I’m sure we’re going to be great friends.” She smiled erratically this time.

“Okay. So, what’s your name? You haven’t tell me yet…” I asked seriously.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was too happy and I’m totally forgot to introduce myself. I’m Jennifer Hilton. You can call me Jen.” She seemed to be implying something.

“Okay, Jen. It’s really nice to meet you but I got to go now. My friend is waiting for me at the cafeteria.”

“Okay, sure. Bye Raven. See you soon!” Her smile really made me feels grotesque.

When I stepped into the cafeteria, I’d already saw Jasper sitting at the table that we used to gather during lunch. There were some boys sitting around him - Chuck. Zach, Tiff, Gilbert, and Eddy. Jasper waved at me gracefully and gestured me to walk over. Chuck pulled a chair for me to sit beside him, and we started chattering.

“How’s your biology? Rumors all around.” He giggled. “Jasmine was sitting beside you.” He grinned while he mentioned it.

“Stop mentioning that, he’s driving me crazy.” I sighed.

“Just ignore him, Raven. Everyone knows his temperaments.” Tiff said seriously, while he seemed like he had been encountered to the same experience.

“I wasn’t trying to bother him at all. But, I really wanted to smack on his face when he kept annoyed me to get him a girl’s number and especially when he called Mr. Werner.” I felt so terrible when I blurted it out.

“I’m glad if you smack him.” Zach laughed loudly just like I really did smack on Jasmine’s face.

“Wait, hold on second. Did you say you wanna smack Jasmine when he called Mr. Werner? Why?” Jasper asked curiously.

“Yea, he intended to tease me in front of the whole class. He told Mr. Werner I wanted to solve those questions...” I frowned.

“What?! So, did you …?” Jasper asked, everyone stared at me with a serious gaze.

“Emm, first, Mr. Werner said ‘very well’ after I answered the first question potentially. Secondly, he said ‘Impressive’. Thirdly, he said ‘very well’. Does these satisfy you guys?”  They nodded. They all nodded.

“Way to go, Raven. I know you’re not that easy to defeat.” Jasper’s sunshine smile emerged.

“Yea, I’ve taken the advance program last year.” I said with pride.

“Oh, Jasmine is an idiot. Actually, we’re all idiot. We’ve totally forgotten the ceremony which held last year before the holiday.” Eddy said.

“Raven took the best academic certification in Biology and we took a photo with her after the ceremony.” Tiff finally smiled.

“Okay, stop saying things about me. I better get my lunch before the fourth period falls.” I said nervously.

“I’ll come with you.” Jasper smiled as he followed me to the counter.

“So, are you going anywhere today after school?” Jasper asked.

“No, back home I guess.” I said without an emotion on my face.

“Bored, do you want to come over my place?” Jasper asked obscenely.

“Why?” I frowned and stared at him.

“My mom pretty miss you, she kept on asking when you’ll show up again.” Jasper giggled.

“Oh, I think this is not on me. I’ll ask my dad if your mom really want to meet me.” I smiled.

“Sure. Plus, I really need to talk to you.” He scrubbed his eyes, assuming there were tears in his eyes.

“Did anything happen during summer holiday?” 

“Emm, no. You know I used to talk to you everything right, and I really need somebody to talk to... Come, Raven.” Jasper seemed to be in need of someone, and I knew he needed me.

“Okay, Jasper. I’ll see what I can do. Come on, grab your food.”

“Thanks Ray.” Jasper smiled again.

Thanks for __ Reading!

TO BE CONTINUE ....