The Moment Everything Changed (Lucy's Life #1) Read online

  Instead of answering he pulls out the stool across from me on the left side of the table. I note that both the quiet girl and shy guy are sitting on either side of me. I can’t help but feel like I’m in the middle of some kind of punch line...What do you get when you pair a quiet girl and shy guy? An outsider.

  Chapter Two

  Since I’m nervous about the crowd's in the cafe I tell Mrs. Jang I'd rather eat my lunch in the AR room. Thankfully she has no problem with it.

  In the AR room Mrs. Jang and I are making small talk about my morning classes. I can’t help but note how down to earth Mrs. Jang acts. She’s really easy going and open. Mrs. Jang goes on to explain how the school schedule works. My morning classes were day one’s classes and that my afternoon classes will be day two’s classes. She then continues to tell me that every other day my last two periods switch order. Makes no sense but I get it.

  After lunch I find my English class, where I find yet again the quiet girl and shy guy. After English with Mrs. Jackson (who also happens to be my home room teacher) I find my Fashion class.

  Looking around the room I don’t recognize anyone except the two girls from homeroom and art. The two whole gave me fighting eyes. From Fashion with Mrs. Kitchen I walk to my Family Studies class where I see duo again. I can’t help but smile. It’s clear I’m meant to hang out with these two.

  After Family Studies, I’m thankful to discover I have my spare period next. I meet Mrs. Jang in the hallway buy the elevator.

  “How did it go?” She asks as I approach.

  “Good I guess.” I force a smile. “I’m just so tired from all the walking. This thing isn’t all that light.”

  “I bet.” Mrs. Jang responds as we board the elevator.

  We get to the AR room and Mrs. Jang excuses herself to return the key while I make my way to a seat. I’m relaxing talking with Mrs. Jang when the quiet guy walks through the door. Is this just a coincidence that he keeps showing up everywhere? I can’t help but divert my eyes as he slowly walks into the room. Mrs. Jang see’s me watching someone so she looks over her shoulder.

  "Hey Bobbie, come join us." That's his name..."Bobbie."

  He's shy and I can tell he’s nervous but he walks over and sits down beside Mrs. Jang, which just happens to be right across from me. I nervously pick at the buckles on my back pack that’s sitting directly in front of me.

  Mrs. Jang effortlessly includes him in our conversation. I can tell she’s talking to both of us in hopes of easing the tension and nerves between us. Meeting new people is always hard in the beginning. Once she sees us relaxing a little she excuses herself leaving us to talk.

  Thanks, and theres those nerves creepy up again. I can’t help but sneak a look at him. He’s avoiding looking at me too. It’s suddenly awkward and we’re both unsure what to say to each other.

  It’s not like I go around meeting new people all the time. Especially not guys…Guys make me extremely self-conscious and weird but I think it’s weirder we’re both sitting here doing nothing, or saying nothing for that matter. Guess I’ll have to break the tension.

  "So I think we have a few other classes together than just art." I offer looking across at him.

  "Yeah, you’re the girl with the bright pink cast." He smiles and his smile lights up his entire face before he catches me looking.

  My cheeks feel warm but smile anyway. "Yeah, that." I snicker.

  We make some small talk before I’ve got to start towards the front of the school to catch my bus.

  "Well my bus is coming in a few minutes so I better get going.” I back out my chair. “The cast kind of slows me down.” I smile standing up now. I sling my backpack over my shoulder then reach for my crutches. I’m going to need that walker after all, the crutches are hurting my armpits. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow." I say smiling.

  “Are you sure you’re going to make it that far…?” He speaks up. “Would you like some help?” He asks shyly scratching the back of his neck.

  I’m surprised he’d asked. I’m looking at his face and he’s literally blushing. I can tell immediately either answer I give him will stress him out so I say.

  "If you want, it's totally up to you." I try to act like it's no big deal but I'm secretly hoping he'll walk with me. He’s motionless for a second so I smile and begin to walk.

  I’m barely walk away from the table when he stands up and begins to follow me. Alright, I smile to myself. I manage to walk only half the hall before I need to stop and take a break.

  “So what happened?” He asks pointing at the cast.

  “I got trampled at a school dance which messed up my foot so bad I had to have surgery.” I offer.

  “Your summer must have sucked eh.” He says casually.

  My summer consisted of me in pain but I kept pushing myself forward. No matter what I knew I had to fight through the pain and learn how to re-walk. After all I did just have major back surgery but I chose not to tell him all that. I didn’t want him to see my flaws. I wanted him to like me not think I was a freak. It was bad enough I had to have this bright pink cast and I’d be bringing a walker to school tomorrow.

  “You have no idea.” I smile anyway.

  "Well that's why I hate dances." He replies laughing. It’s the first time I’ve seen him fully relax. His smile literally lights his entire face.

  "You and me both." I laugh with him then I motion I’m able to continue walking.

  It’s in that moment that I get a little glimpse of who Bobbie is. He’s the type of guy that would rather hang out alone instead of among a huge crowd. My type for sure…

  We get to the front doors and Bobbie moves ahead to get the door. I’m not accustomed to having guys hold doors for me. I nervously walk through and we continue.

  “Thanks for your help.” I smile. “That’s my bus.” I motion towards the one waiting.

  “Cool.” He tucks his hands in his pockets. I feel weird just walking away but what ese was there to do…?

  Back at home I hobble in the front door to find my mother busy with Matt and Jayden. She’s asking them all about their first day back so I’m able to practically hobble in and up to my room without being noticed.

  But I’m used to feeling invisible in this family, nothing new but honestly I’m fine with it. I find it easier to cope when it’s just me I’m worrying about.

  Heading up to my room I’m thankful for the space. Throwing my back pack down beside my bed I toss myself into my comfy chair completely exhausted.

  Who knew walking on crouches could be this tiring? There’s no way I’m going to be able to keep up with theses every day but I’m dreading having to rely on the walker.

  I’m relaxing in my comfy chair when my thoughts drift off to Bobbie. I can’t pin point what I’m attracted to but there’s something there. Maybe it’s just a curiosity.

  At dinner that night my mom asks me if I’d had any classes with my sister. How about asking me about my day before you ask about someone else’s. I thought looking across the room to the couch where my mom was so fond of placing herself these days.

  “We have two classes together.” I offer between bites of Kraft Dinner. Matt’s all time favourite.

  “Which two?” She questions.

  “Um Geography and Math.” Two of the most annoying classes ever.

  “That’s the only two?” She questions.

  “Yep that’s it.” Thankfully so too. My sister and I don’t get along with each other in large doses.

  I guess my answer pleases her interests because she doesn’t ask anything else and honestly I couldn’t be bothered to share anything further anyway. I wasn’t about to let anything I say now be used against me later. This family had a way of pulling each other down. Ever since coming to live with my mom in grade four we haven’t had a relationship. She hasn’t even made, an effort to get to know me personally so until she does then I have nothing to say. I’m not good at talking to strangers and even though this woman is my biological mother
she’s still a stranger to me…I fear she’ll always will be.

  I finish the rest of my dinner in silence then go back upstairs to my room. I pretend that I’m sorting out my books and thing’s for tomorrow’s classes just to get away. I didn’t want to sit downstairs with my mom and Max. My mom’s creepy boyfriend and the reason my sister only lives with us now part time.

  Back in my room I pull out my school books and schedule. Looking at the class schedule I smile. I can’t help but be reminded of Bobbie. I can’t understand why I was already kind of crushing on him?

  Was it the way he smiled? Was it his kind shy face or the fact that he blushes every time he looks at me? Or maybe it’s because he’s shy like me? Or maybe it’s just because he offered to help me out? Such a gentleman.

  I’m then reminded of the last guy who made the first attempt at getting to know me. Aidan... Aidan was the first boy I met at my public school. When I lived with the Bernstein’s, I went to a catholic school and attended church regularly which to be honest at the time I loved. I’d always thought I’d live the perfect catholic life, with a husband and a perfect little family…That was until I discovered the Bernstein’s weren’t my biological family…My perfect little future seemed to crumble right before my eyes.

  All the students at my public school looked at me differently, but I was different, in every way possible and they could be so cruel but not Aidan, see Aidan was somewhat teased because he was the smallest guy in our grade even though he was fairly popular with everyone. I remember the day clearly…My class had gym which meant we had to walk from the portables to the school. All the students ran ahead leaving me to trail behind. Looking ahead I could see that everyone had slipped in the side door and let it close behind them which meant I’d have to walk further to the other doors.

  I changed my path when I spotted the door open, Aidan calls out to me. He’d waited for me. No one ever waited for me…That night I went home and told my sister but I learned she had a thing for him too. Of course, she did. I knew then I had no chance. Besides how would that look? I was trying to get closer to my family not push them away. So, I didn’t act on my crush.

  But Bobbie…There was no way Britney could possibly be into him. He was too shy and quiet for her but we’d pair nicely.

  The following day at school I have Geography first with Britney. Even though we’re sister’s Britney does her best to avoid me at every cost. I watch as she walks by my table and sits a few tables behind me.

  I’m pulling my books out of my backpack when I see Bobbie walk into the class. I can tell he’s embarrassed to be at the front of the class but he takes a moment to nod “hello” as he rushes to a table at the back of the class. I can’t help but smile, it’s a start.

  As the final bell rings a blonde girl rushes in. Since she’s late all the seats have been taken so the only other, available spot is next to me. I look over at her. She won’t last long beside me. We’re two totally different people.

  This girl seems like one of those girls who like too much attention to be stuck hanging out with me. I can picture her maybe hanging out with Britney or those girls from my other classes. She’s pretty and dresses like the popular girls.

  She looks around the room to see there’s no other spots so she pulls out the chair and moves to sit down. Her long straight blonde hair swooshes in the air. I shuffle over a little more and she smiles at me. Man, she must take forever doing all that makeup but she doesn’t look trashy like some of the other girls. Mainly one in person comes to mind.

  The class begins and we immediately start taking notes. I guess no one told Octavia we’d be doing work on practically the first day because she was clearly not prepared to take notes. I open my binder to remove a few sheets of blank lined paper then I reach for a pen and slide them over to her.

  “Thanks.” She says smiling.

  “No problem.” I whisper.

  Maybe I just made a friend? How long will it last though? She was clearly going to be a popular girl in no time. If not already.

  We take a few notes and then our teacher Mr. Davidson breaks us off into groups for our first assignment. Since it’s Geography the assignment is to write about where we’re from or where our relatives are from. But what if we don’t know much about our family?

  Mr. Davidson goes about calling out the names of the groups. I’m hoping he’ll pair Britney and I in separate groups since we’re sisters but then I remember Britney’s using our dad’s last name. I hear my name called along with Octavia, (who I just realized was the girl sitting beside me) David and Bobbie. I glance over my shoulder at Octavia to see her smiling.

  “What’s up?” I question.

  “The blonde’s kind of hot.” She whispers leaning close to whisper in my ear.

  “Who David?” I return.

  “You know him?” She questions eyeing me.

  “No I just know the other guy’s name is Bobbie.” I offer.

  “And how do you know this?” She teases smiling at me.

  I totally blush. “He kind of helped me yesterday.” I offer.

  “This totally works out.” She almost shrieks.

  “What does?” I ask curiously.

  “Well you like Bobbie and I like David so…” She trails off.

  “I never said I liked anyone.” I turn back to my backpack.

  “Oh come on, you totally blushed there.”

  “I didn’t.” I return looking back at her.

  “Alright if you don’t like him then I’ll just have to go after them both.” She smiles eyeing me. I must have made a face to her response. “That’s what I thought.” She teases.

  “Whatever.” I smile knowingly.

  Maybe I’ve totally misread Octavia. I could totally see us hanging out. A moment later David and Bobbie join us at our table. David sits down and Bobbie pulls up a chair in front of me. I can’t help but smile that he chose to sit in front of me instead of on the other side of David closer to Octavia. Maybe my instincts about him are right?

  “Hey.” He says shyly.

  “Hey.” I return and he blushes. Am I blushing too?

  “Hi I’m Octavia.” Octavia says offering her hand to David.

  “David.” He replies shaking her hand.

  It was weird watching these two. Was it just as weird for Octavia watching mine and Bobbie’s exchange? Bobbie and I sit by and listen to the two of them talk. By the way they’re acting it’s like Bobbie and I aren’t even in the same room. All, is well because I’m content on just listening anyway. I’ve never been too good about sharing about myself. So instead of talking Bobbie and I both sit back and listened to them.

  It was kind of a learning experience for me watching the way Octavia interacted with David. I could sit back and observe how they flirt. Even though I’m in high school I’ve never had a boyfriend, only a few crushes here and there but watching both Octavia and David flirt was a little weird.

  By the time the two are finish talking about themselves class is over. In a way, I’m a little disappointed I hadn’t got the chance to find out a little more about Bobbie when I had the chance but I couldn’t help but feel like I’d have more than enough time to get to know him this year.

  I move from Geography to Math. Finding at seat relatively close to the front like the day before Britney sits down beside me.

  “That girl Octavia that sits with you in Geography, she’s bad news Lucy.” Britney says leaning close. “Promise me you won’t hang out with her.” Britney pushes.

  Why does she care who I talk too? “She doesn’t seem too bad to me Britney.” I return shrugging her off.

  “You don’t know her like I do Lucy. She’s trouble.” Britney presses.

  “Okay.” I say annoyed. Why is everyone always telling me what I can and can’t do?

  Britney gets up and moves to the back of the class. She’s probably just jealous I that might actually make a friend. God forbid someone popular like Octavia.

  With the desk open besi
de me Tori takes up the seat like yesterday. I look over at her and smile.

  “Hi, again.” I smile.

  “Hey.” She says shyly removing her books from her bag. I shuffle my feet. “What…happened? Is it broken?” She asks.

  “Nope not broken, just messed up the tendons and had to have surgery to repair them.” I offer.

  “Oh and they put it in a cast?” She questions.

  “I know weird, right?” I smile.

  “Yeah.” She smiles

  It’s ten minutes until the end of class so I start to pack up in hopes of sneaking off before all the crowds start piling into the hallways. Britney startles me by coming to my side.

  “Mrs…” He’s searching his list for her name. “Please sit down until the end of class.” Mr. Holt says.

  “Um I’m helping my sister.” She returns sounding a little defensive.

  “Mrs. Park is your sister?” Mr. Holt questions looking between us. I know I’m completely different from Britney but for a teacher to question it just seemed wrong.

  “Yeah we have different last names.” Britney returns placing her hand on her hip a little annoyed.

  “Alright then.” He replies.

  I pack my things quickly as Britney grabs my backpack off the table. Why’s she being so nice? I stand up and we walk out of the class.

  “You didn’t have to help you know.” I barely whisper not looking at her as we enter the hallway.

  “I know but this way I get out of class early.” She returns smiling at me. There it is.

  “At least walk around the corner with me so you don’t get in trouble.” I offer looking over my shoulder in case Mr. Holt pokes his head out of the class. I don’t want her to get in trouble… I don’t know why I even care though.

  “Good thinking.” We walk to the stairs. “Are you eating in the café?” She asks pausing at the top of the stairs.

  “No it’s too busy for my liking.” Ever since I was trampled I try to avoid as many people in one place as possible.

  “Where do you go then?” She questions.