Chapter Two

Gia Reynold

""Holy smokes Gia did you see the new guy that got enrolled into our football team" Remmy swooned as she spoke animatedly about her new future prospect.

Fortunately for me the bell rang just in time for me to high tale it out of biology before I had to sit through another excruciating class hearing Remmy rant about our elite football team "I'll see you after business class Rem" I eagerly say to her while packing my books in my bag with the speed of light, with quick and calculated steps I make my way to my business class keeping my head down to remain out of sight. Taking my usual seat at the front of the classroom closest to the door I slump into my chair releasing a sigh of relief for avoiding any unwanted confrontations today.

When Mr. Backster walked into the class we were all flabbergasted with an unexpected pop quiz he mentioned, hearing a chorus of protests sound out in the class "ENOUGH!" Mr. Backster displeasingly bites out causing the class to quiet down in an instant, with bated breath everyone anxiously waited for Mr. Backster to bark out his orders "as I was saying before the whole lot of you so rudely interrupted me, we will be doing a verbal pop quiz today" without giving anyone an opportunity to interject he continues speaking with authority "I'll be asking questions by random so don't for one second think that you're off the hook because this will have an influence on your end term results" he continues listing down the rules with no room for discussion, but you can hear distant whispers and grumbles from the rest of the students in class.

With the unexpected turn of events I could feel my anxiety levels rise with the vague explanation he gave us about our end term results being influenced by this pop quiz, mustering up as much courage as I possibly could I decided to do the unthinkable and raise my hand in hopes of getting my question answered. It was like a timer for a ticking time bomb went off in that exact moment "oh look pea-brained Reynold's actually has a question to ask for once" Colt mockingly states, not long after the entire class bursts out into hysterics "that is quite enough!" Mr. Backster disapprovingly states, all the chuckles died down in an instant "let me make myself clear, nobody and I mean NOBODY! Will ever interrupt this class with insolent comments ever again, do we understand each other Mr. Colt?" Mr. Backster assertively speaks "Y-yes s-sir" Colt distressingly stutters out "good" Mr. Backster nods his head in satisfaction, turning his attention back towards me with his piercing blue eyes "now Gia what were you going to ask me?" he says with a hint of empathy.

I felt so self conscious and self aware of the expectant eyes on me, like the world could swallow me whole in an instant, trying to ignore all the judgmental stares I clear my throat before asking my long awaited question "sorry Mr. Backster" I apologize for good measure "but I realized you left out one important detail about how greatly our end term results will be affected by this" I boldly state "w-well I guess my question to you is, is if you could elaborate on the matter" I speak with as much confidence as I could muster in that moment. Mr. Backster was looking at me with a hard and calculating stare what felt like hours passing he finally breaks the silence "it's a good thing Gia asked this question" he says with praise "but to answer your question Gia I have not yet decided on how drastically this pop quiz will affect your results, but I do hope for everyone's sake in this classroom that you will not disappoint me, now without further a do let's get started cause we don't have much time to waste" Mr. Backster says with haste.

He was relentless with his questions and as promised he managed to make it through an entire class that constituted of 35 student bodies, minutes passed and my palms were all sweaty and the apprehension increased by tenfold, we were three in total, myself included that was walking on thin ice with the pop quiz questions "it's do or die Gia" that voice in the back of my head says scornfully "this will be your last question Gia" Mr. Backster says with remorse filled eyes "get this one right and you're off the hook kid" he says with the underlying emphasis of the importance of this question and what it would mean for my end term result.

My heart was racing, palms were still sweating and my legs felt like it was going to turn into jelly any minute I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard him asking me my final question "State the elements of directing for me Gia" Mr. Backster sternly asks, this was it I either proved everyone wrong in this moment or just confirmed all the rumours everyone was spreading like wildfire about me. I can't always be perceived as pea-brained Reynold's that has a vocal problem when speaking in front of big crowds.

I don't always want to be that girl that always sits back in the shadows while everyone else tramples on her, this is my moment where I'm going to prove them all wrong and make a difference. I'm not that small minded girl that everyone thinks I am, with my mind made up and much needed determination I start naming each of the elements of directing in a shaky voice "s-supervision, l-leadership, m-motivation a-and uhhhhh uhhhh" I start stuttering out "No! No! No! No! This can't be happening!" I frantically pick my brain for an answer but all I am getting is blanks upon blanks "What's the last one Gia? Common think! Stupid brain! Why do you always fail me when I need you in a desperate time like this?" my subconscious angrily says.

Everyone was staring at me, either with judgment filled with them or hope that I would pull this through. In my critical state of self loathing I tried calming myself down by speaking words of encouragement, making another attempt at naming off the elements without any self doubt clouding my thoughts I stood there with confidence when I got through the first part without so much as batting an eye "supervision, leadership, motivation a-and c-communication" I finally spoke out with a triumphant smile plastered on my face, Mr. Backster sighed in relief "you can go have a seat Gia" I instantly felt my body relax into a state of content, as soon as Mr. Backster finished grilling the other two students that were left the bell rang indicating the end of this traumatizing pop quiz experience.

I made quick work grabbing my backpack an dashing out the door to avoid any unwanted conversation, but of course the universe thought differently of it, before I could reach the stairway for my next class Colt stood firm blocking my path with his escapades, with a distasteful and emotionless expression evident on his face he lowered his lips to my ear "don't for one second think just because Mr. Backster somewhat tolerates you means that I will, you will always be an ignorant nobody to me Reynolds" he tauntingly says knowing how much it irks me when someone identifies me by my last name, having another go at his gut wrenching words he delivers his final blow "people like you shouldn't even exist" he spits his venom with a satisfied smirk plastered on his cynical face.

Colt slowly maneuvered his way around me making sure that not an inch of him touched a single hair on my body. I stood there frozen on the spot, the words repeating in my head like a broken record "people like you shouldn't even exist" and all I could think was that he might possibly be right when my own father didn't even want anything to do with me either.

"Confusion, it was written all over my tiny face when I saw dad walking out the front door with his bags packed.

Mom probably sensed my apprehension as she grabbed my tiny hand in hers as a form of comfort, watching dad leave with bated breath without so much as a word uttered from his lips I felt my heart cracking bit by bit with every passing second not knowing what is going through his mind.

I couldn't help but feel a wave of unworthiness wash over me "was dad leaving because of me? Did I do something so wrong that he wouldn't even look me in the eyes to say goodbye to his little angel? Why wasn't he taking mom and I with him?" a little whimper escaped my lips with the idea of not having dad around anymore, pulling on the hem of my mom's dress she crouches down to my eye level with a hint of sorrow filled in her eyes, the words that left her mouth next was what had me paralyzed on the spot "y-your father won't be coming b-back Gia" she said with bitterness laced in her tone as she halfway stuttered and spat the words out.

Shaking my head vigorously in denial to accept the reality of the situation I stumbled a few steps back with the effect her words had on me. I couldn't believe that this was happening, with a tear stricken face I desperately cried out "daddy! daddy! come back daddy!" in the hopes of having him swoop me up in a big bear hug and make all my fears disappear, but it never came."

It was only when I felt a firm hand squeezing and grabbing my shoulder did I realise that a single tear escaped from my eyes, quickly wiping away any evidence of what just transpired I turn around coming face to face with a very familiar set of eyes that belongs to the one boy that captivated me by their depths "are you okay?" he asks with clear concern etched on his face, giving him a gloomy smile "I'll be alright" I respond discouragingly, but before I could sidestep him to make way towards my next class he gently tugs on my elbow and turns me right back around "I don't believe we've been properly introduced" he gives me a toothy grin with nothing but genuine intentions, outstretching his hand towards mine "I'm Luke" he expectantly says "Gia" I say with lack of enthusiasm but make and effort to shake his hand none the less.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the boy I now know as Luke I cut our little harmless exchange short leaving him looking confused and puzzled by my sudden change in demeanour, not giving much thought to what it might look like I quickly make my way towards my next class with one minute to spare. Class went by in a blur leaving me alone with the one phrase that has been playing on repeat in my head since Mr. Backster's class "people like you shouldn't even exist" I know that it shouldn't bother me but it's when peoples words cut so immensely deep and strikes a nerve that you eventually start believing it yourself when its been your mantra since you were a little girl.

My heart still shatters into a million pieces after having Colts unwanted words bring up old memories of a day I managed to keep locked up in the dark confines of my brain, but its in that moment where I could feel something shift in me where I could hear the ear shattering crack of my heart breaking bit by bit, but mostly I could feel something leave me something so immensely authentic and real that I didn't know how important it was to hold onto till it was too late.