Chapter 2

I stumble into my bathroom and look into the mirror. The bags under my eyes are apparent and my eyes are all red after crying so much. I feel freedom less, like part of my life is now meaningless. There is no more dating, no more gossiping about boys and no other boys really period.
The hot water hits my back, and I start to feel a bit better. The hot water always seems to fix everything. After about and hour though, I realize I have to get out and get ready for school and I feel terrible again. This is definitely going to be a long day.
I come down the stairs with jeans and a baby doll tee that I just threw on. My blonde hair is tied up in a messy pony tail and my make up is a mess. I moan as I see Amber coming down the stairs in a skirt and a tank top as happy as can be. She is humming to a song I can not name, but it is really cheerful.
“What?” she says.“Nothing,” I say back in an even tone. I don’t want to spoil her happiness.“Hey Amber?” I ask in a nice tone like nothing is wrong.
“Yes,” She says in a sing song voice. What a dork.
“Can you not talk about the arranged marriage at school?”
“Why?”
“Can you please just not?” I snap back.
“Ok, just chill.” She says and then there is a honk of the horn.
“See ya sista.” Amber says as she walks out the door.
I grab a pop tart and put in my ear buds. I turn on my iPod, Put on sunglasses, and step outside. Birds are chirping and the air is nice and warm. Cranking up my iPod to some rock music, I began my walk. Walking like a robot, I reach school before I know it and walk to my locker. While getting things ready for my classes, I notice someone looking at me in the distance. He has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is totally muscular. I sigh and snap out of it, I can’t date guys anymore anyways. He starts to walk towards me and I slam my locker shut in a hurry. I walk fast to get him off my trail and he looses me.
A frown forms as I think about what I just did. I just ran from a totally hot guy because I am marrying a guy that I don’t even know. The guy could be intolerable or really irritating. I hear my sister laugh as she giggles with her friends. She is so blind to the fact that the forced marriages are ruining our lives.

I sigh again as I turn the corner towards my first hour. I get in class and sit down four minutes before the bell rings. No one else is in class yet, but I just don’t have the energy to go find some of my friends to walk with. I slump in my seat and play with my iPod ear bud, the one not in my ear.

A tap on my shoulder brings me back to the real world. Claire is sitting in the desk behind me, a look I know well on her face. I turn in my seat, and before my iPod is away she is talking.

“Did you see the new guy?” She asks, and then continues as I shake my head. “Oh, he’s gorgeous! Blonde hair, blue eyes… and you can just see his muscles move beneath his shirt as he walks! And he has this total “I know I’m hot” attitude about him.”

I roll my eyes at her and laugh. She is always the one with all the gossip. I bite back the sudden wave of sadness I feel at remembering, no matter how hot new boy is… I’m taken forever…

“Geez girl, don’t get so excited.” Claire scoffs.

“Huh?” I say, playing it off as tiredness. I don’t need her asking a bunch of questions, because if she found out anything the whole school would know within twenty-four hours. This is the only problem with being friends with the school gossip, you can tell her no secrets.

Claire looks at me for a minute and then dismisses it, wanting to get back to the new guy she’ll probably have slept with by the end of the week. “So… his name is Chris. Isn’t that just adorable?”

I nod and look towards the door as the guy from this morning walks in.

“Crap…” I mutter, looking away quickly.

Claire glances towards the door and gasps. “That’s him!” She hisses at me as she smiles and waves suggestively at him.

He nods his head at her in a totally uninterested way, but I know it won’t stop her. Up until yesterday, that wouldn’t have stopped me from going after someone I wanted either.

“He’s coming over here!” Claire whispers excitedly. I look up and sure enough he’s walking right towards me, his eyes locking onto mine. Of course, Claire thought for sure he was starting at her and she flipped her hair flirtatiously.

“Hey, why’d you run away this morning?” He asks, and for some reason, I choke.

“What are you talking about?” I say in a confused voice.He chuckles, “I have never seen anyone run away from me that fast. You should be on the track team. I just wanted to introduce myself.”
“Ok,” I mumble.
“My name is Chris,” he smiles a million dollar smile, “What is yours?”
“My name is Hazel,” I say in a nice voice. I feel a nudge from my back.
“Oh, and this is Claire,” I say pointing to her.
“Hazel that is a sexy name.”
I roll my eyes. The bell rings and he sits in the seat next to me. Class starts and a note is flicked onto my table. It’s from Chris.
Hey, can I have your number?
Wow, that was upfront.
Who passes notes anymore?
I toss it to him. He writes something then tosses it back.
Well, I guess we do. So, can I have you number Hazel?
Sorry, I don’t give my number to weirdoes.
Ouch
I did feel bad saying that to him, but there is nothing I can do. I am not single and I will not be for the rest of my life. I feel my phone vibrate and check it. It is a text from Claire.
Wut r u 2 talkin about?
I text back, nothin and ignore her text back
At the end of the hour, I rush to get out but Chris catches up.
“Hazel,” he says in a flirty voice. He must really like to say my name.
“I have to get to my next class,” I hurry past him, leaving him confused.
I tears start to form in my eyes, but I wipe them today. It is already first hour and all ready I am about to break down. This is not only going to be a long day, but also a long year. I walk with my head down to my locker than walk like a zombie to my second hour. When I walk in I find none other than Chris sitting in the back.
“Two classes in a row aren’t you lucky,” I roll my eyes yet again.
“Hey, hey wait,” He says in a saddened voice, “why do you keep rejecting me or avoiding me? Is it because you have a boyfriend?”
“No I don’t” I say with an even tone.
“Oh, than what gives? I don’t even know you, but I have never really met a girl that has been this cold to me.”
“Well, I guess than I am not like most girls.”
“I guess not.”
With that I take the seat next him, showing some kindness. Even though in the back of my head I thought I can no longer be interested in boys, I feel bad for being so cold to him. Maybe if I be nice to him, he will stop questioning me.At the end of the day, I walk out of the school and towards my house. It was another nice day, but I feel lonely. Not soon after I got out of the school’s parking lot, a car comes up next to me.
“Hey, want a ride?” I is Chris
“Ummm…” I say in a moan.
“Oh common, it is just a ride,” he says and laughs.
“Ok, sure I just live down the street on the next neighborhood.” I say and get into his black G6.
“I hope you like rock,” He says, cranking up the music.“I do,” I say and nod.