Emery's view

During class, I tried my hardest not to look at Gracen because every time I did I would blush. Luckily, I was saved by the bell, I packed up and was almost out the door when an image of Gracen hopelessly lost, trying to find her next class popped into my mind. I groaned in guilt and slowly turned around to walk back over to her.

"Hey Gracen,....... if you want I can help you get to your next class.... unless you don't want help or already got it from Mrs. Patters?" I blurted out.

The teacher scolds me and says, "It's Mrs. Patrick's, you'd know if you paid attention."

I say sorry and roll my eyes when she turns around, I glance over at Gracen who is still seated, waiting for her response. She looks like a little kid on Christmas morning and suddenly answers with a yes as she jumps up from her chair and pushes me out of the class. As she does that she puts a hand on the left side of my back, which causes me to tense up and move away slightly. She gives me a puzzled look and was about to say something, but I cut her off.

"Jeez I guess you're in a hurry to get to your next class. Dying to learn a new lesson?" I smirk trying to get her to stop from asking me what was wrong.

"Yeah right. That's at the bottom of the list of things to do. I just wanted to get out of there before Mrs. Patrick's asked more questions about Australia," Replied Gracen, "so can you lead me to my next class pretty please?"

I only listened to half of what she said because I got distracted by her accent. Her voice sounds so beautiful and her accent is cool.

"Thank you. I'm from Australia so that's why I have the accent," stated Gracen

......Oh god did I say that out loud. I am so mortified... I looked dumbfounded as she laughs and answers yes........ Wow I really need to notice when I'm thinking and what I'm saying out loud. One of the things I hate about having no filter in my mind.

I look down in complete embarrassment and ask for her schedule to help her find her classes. Then I realize we have four other classes together. Woah, I did not expect this. Great, I get to make a fool of myself in front of this gorgeous being multiple times today. I tell Gracen and she looks so relieved and gives me a big smile, which just about melts my heart from cuteness......yup this will be hard.

I try to cover my blush by turning around and leading the way to second period. But since I'm a very clumsy and unlucky person, I walk right into someone's open locker, making a lot of noise so that everyone stares at me. Gracen is by my side the next second holding onto my arm, trying to get a good look at my head and asking if I'm okay or not. I immediately answer yes and lead her to second period pretending like I'm not in any pain.

When we get to second period, I introduce Gracen to the teacher. Then we are given our assigned seating and Gracen and I end up sitting next to each other. The class goes by relatively fast I manage to make it through the whole period without making a fool of myself.

The real issue starts in third period, literature. I wish I could rant on and on about how much I hate school and teachers, especially when they get together to assign projects in every class. Now we have a partner project and who do you think mine was......... (Drum role) Gracen. Oh my God, this school wants me to die of embarrassment. And you know what, it just goes downhill from there. The project is, get to know your partner on a very personal level, their personality, their wants, their goals, their past, etc. Then right it all down and submit it to the teacher every Monday for the next six months.

😲 Yup that was my exact reaction. I can't believe this teacher wants me to bear my soul to Gracen. Like, um nooooo, I don't even tell Clare or Jordie very personal things. Heck I was barely able to tell them about the accident or all the frustrating things I endured last year with my mental health.

I look over at Gracen and she looks completely fine, not shocked at all. Well, I guess it makes sense, she's like perfection unlike me. She probably hasn't gone through most of the sit I have been through. I hope no one ever goes through what I went through the last year.

I can already tell this will be the worst class. How am I supposed to open to Gracen, when I can barely form a sentence without blushing or stuttering uncontrollably? How am I supposed to open if that involves trying to get over my past?

I don't want anyone knowing the truth of what goes on in my head. What if Gracen learns the truth of what happened last year? What if she looks at me like I'm broken? I don't think I would be able to go through it.