Avoiding The Bad Boy

Chapter Four

Graciela’s POV

I’d been at college for three days, my room was unpacked, my roommate, though constantly looking as though a glitter bomb had exploded over her clothes, was pretty fun and I’d managed to not embarrass myself since the granny panty incident, I was winning at life!

‘Gracie’ came Addison’s voice from our adjoining bathroom just before she stuck her head out of the doorway, her hair in rollers.

‘Looking good Addie’ I grinned, ‘you borrow those from your grandma?’

Addison flipped me her middle finger, yeah, she may be all unicorns and pink sequins but underneath, the girl has no problem flipping you off.

‘I’m trying to get my curls perfect for tomorrow’ she huffed, ‘first day Gracie! I need to look like one of those i********: girls, you know, hashtag just rolled out of bed.’

I glanced at my own reflection in the mirror that was attached to our wardrobe, taking in my mess of brown hair and the scarred lips from where I constantly chew on them, I was more hash tag dragged through a hedge backwards.

Pulling on a frizzy strand I wondered if maybe I should put a little effort in ready for my first day as a kick ass college student. ‘Do you have any more granny rolls? ‘I asked, looking back over at my roommate as she made her way to her own bed in the silky bed shorts and camisole that showed off a figure I could only dream of having.

Nodding, Addison rummaged in her huge make up bag before throwing a few old lady rollers at me. Sitting cross legged on the floor, I dragged a brush through my locks before carefully rolling sections around the plastic tubes and fastening them so they didn’t come undone.

Once done, I crawled into my own bed and lay down, wincing as granny’s hair help dug into my scalp. No pain no gain, tomorrow, my flowing curls would make every second of discomfort tonight worth it.

Across from me, Addison flicked the light switch on the lamp on the table between us and plunged the room into darkness. Closing my eyes, I willed sleep to come, relaxing my body as I imagined my first day where the old Graciela was no more and the new vibrant, exciting, gosh I want to be her friend, Graciela was going to come forth and dazzle the student body.

I was woken by the screaming of my alarm the next morning, sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains to show my room mate already dressed, her hair down in pristine curls as she applied her makeup.

Sitting up I groaned as I rubbed my hand down my face, I’d slept about three hours, anyone who tells you that curly hair is worth the pain is lying! It’s like trying to sleep with lots of tiny little dwarves carving tube shaped dents into your skull. Thank God I have long hair to cover my head, I’m pretty sure I’ve got a weird shaped skull now.

Eyeing Addison, I stretched, ‘you’re ready early’ I mumbled.

My roommate glanced at me in confusion, ‘what are you talking about?’ she asked, turning her haze back to the mirror to concentrate on her eyeliner, ‘it’s eight o’clock.’

I yawned, scratching at an itch on my back that I couldn’t quite reach as her words permeated my tired brain. ‘What?’ I shrieked, grabbing my phone to find eight am staring back at me not the six am I thought I’d set it for. Scrambling out of the bed, I rushed to the bathroom to brush my teeth shouting over my shoulder, ‘why didn’t you wake me?!’

Addison leaned back to look at me through the bathroom door, ‘I figured you didn’t need as long as me to get ready’ she replied, ‘you set your alarm so I assumed you knew how long you needed.’

Cursing myself and the Gods and everything else I could think of for my inability to tell a six from an eight. Brushing my teeth in record time, I had to make do with a flannel wash under my pits before spraying deodorant and pulling on my clothes. Addison had already left, heading toward her first class at eight thirty, leaving me to mutter every swear word that the girls at my boarding school had taught me as I grabbed my bag and ran from the room.

Foregoing the lift, I took the stairs two at a time, slamming through the door to our dorm and running as fast as I could across the quadrant toward the main buildings.

Thankfully I had spent the three days prior, finding the way to my classes so I dashed toward the nearest building that housed my first lecture. Ignoring everyone around me, my feet hammered against the polished floor as I glanced at my watch in panic, I cannot be late for my first day! God, please, help a girl out! I volunteered at a church bazaar once, that has to count for something, surely?

Skidding to a halt outside of room M116 I steadied my breathing before turning the door knob and walking in. Fifty pairs of eyes turned toward me as I slunk inside, ducking my head as I mumbled an apology to the professor who was openly gaping at me.

‘Uh, Miss . . . ‘ he started uncertainly.

‘Frost’ I offered with a small smile, ‘Graciela Frost.’ I swallowed thickly, ‘look I’m really sorry, I . . ‘

The professor cut me off curtly, ‘would you like to go to the restroom Miss Frost? I think you would benefit from it’ he said pointedly.

Frowning, I raised my head to look at him, this was college not elementary school, why was he telling me to go to the bathroom? I hadn’t had to do a just in case wee since I was six.

‘No, I’m OK, I um . . I went before I came here’ I replied with a nervous laugh.

Walking over to me, the professor took my elbow, trying to guide me back to the door as he muttered in a low voice, ‘I really think it would be a good idea if you visited the restroom Miss Frost.’

Pulling my arm away from him, I took a step back, my eyes widening, ‘I don’t need to’ I replied firmly and loudly, ‘please do not man handle me.’

Giving me a look that could only be described as pleading, he tried one more time, ‘Miss Frost . .’ he started.

‘I’m fine’ I cut him off sternly before turning toward the chairs that were arranged in an arc around half of the room, and starting to climb the stairs to a free seat.

As I walked, I could hear whispers from the other students, all of them looking at me in shock. That’s right people, I don’t care if you are a teacher, you won’t touch me without my permission, I will call you out publicly because I am a badass.

Taking a seat near the back, I raised an eyebrow at the professor who cleared his throat and walked back to the board, picking up his marker and writing his name.

‘Good morning students’ he called out as he turned back toward us, ‘my name is Professor Wright’ he tapped under his name with the marker in his hand, ‘and I will be teaching you Statistics, can you please pull out your textbooks and turn to page four.’

At the end of the two hours, my head was buzzing with how much information had just been shoehorned into it, anyone who said that College is harder than High School was seriously underestimating. There was no easing us in with a week of get to know you, oh no, we have a test at the end of the frigging week!

Throwing my things into my bag I stood up and weaved my way down the steps toward the door, giving the professor one last glare as I walked out.

‘Hey Curly!’ came a voice from behind me, turning around I frowned as I realised a group of guys were leaning against the lockers and the one that had spoken was looking directly at me.

‘Curly?’ I repeated, OK I did have curly hair but not like overly curly, more a natural wave.

‘Sorry, maybe you prefer Rolly’ the black haired boy offered with a grin.

‘My name is Gabriela’ I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest, ‘I prefer people to call me that instead of some inane nick name that makes no sense.’

The teenager tilted his head to the side, ‘nah, your name can’t be Gabriela’ he mused, ‘that’s way to young for someone like you.’

Giving him a bemused look, I turned away and headed toward my next lecture, ‘Bye Rolly, see you around’ the guy behind me called as his friends sniggered.

Waltzing into my next class, I spotted the guy who had helped me on my first day. Deciding to get past my embarrassment I called out ‘Trey!’ and gave him a wave as he turned to face me his eyes widening in shock. ‘Graciela, from Lincoln?’ I added as his friends all turned to face me, each of them breaking into a grin as they perused me.

‘Friend of yours Trey?’ one of his team mates asked, shoving his shoulder.

‘Uhh, I just . . helped her out a few days ago’ the jock muttered as he grimaced back at me.

Swallowing my humiliation, I scurried away, heading to the back and throwing myself into one of the seats, sinking down with the hope that the floor would open up a fissure that I could slide into and hide. OK, our first meeting was embarrassing, but did that really warrant mortification when his friends saw me?

‘Oh my GOD!’ came a yell from beside me making me jump as I turned to find Addison beside me, staring open mouthed at me, her bag hanging off her arm.