24 floors » cth // chapter one
"Class dismissed. Enjoy your lunch, guys"
As Mr. Frank said the 'magic words', everyone collected their stuff and got up from their seats and exited the room. Louise stayed behind for a few moments since she didn't want to get shoved by her classmates. For the past god knows how many years it has been, Lou learned from experience that being at the bottom of the high school chain meant that you will always be shoved and pushed around by people. She had enough shoving and pushing in her lifetime, she thought. Finally seeing few people, Lou stood up, taking her bag to head to her locker.
After getting her books for her classes, Lou made her way to the cafeteria. Of course, as her school was a cliché, anyone would easily spot the typical high school cliques: the jocks, the cheerleaders, the smart-ass kids, the artists, etc. Lou breathed in a sigh of relief as she knew that at least for half an hour she would get some sanity from her two friends.
Well, that was what she thought.
Lou pushed a lock of her raven hair behind her ear to see the worried faces of her friends, Honey and Max. To her left, she saw some familiar faces. In her head, a frown was etched as the thought of interaction or new people comes into play. She was contented with her two friends as she knew they wouldn't leave her and stab her in the back. Quality over quantity, as the saying says so.
Sitting down, Lou scanned the faces of the new ones on their table, trying to remember them. There was a familiar guy with blonde hair and has a REALLY long fringe seated beside Max, seated in front of me. Beside fringe guy, was Hood â Lou would've judged him to be a jock as he's known as the football team captain. Lastly, in front of Hood was Luke Hemmings â a tall and awkward guy in her History class.
Max cleared his throat. "Uhm, Lou, this is Michael" He introduced fringe boy, "he's my lab partner and we have this project going on and yeah". Michael greeted Lou with a hey, who just nodded at him with a small smile. "This is Calum and that's Luke, by the way" Michael said. "I hope you don't mind us invading your table" He chuckled, wholeheartedly.
Lou mustered up a smile. She didn't want to come off rude to Max's friends for just eating lunch with them â that's a petty reason to get pressed about. "It's fine, don't worry about it".
She wished it would be fine.
;;
"Hey, sorry if we didn't get to remind you about Michael and his friends joining us for lunch. He decided it on the last minute" Max apologized to Louise as they walked to their next class. Lou let a small laugh. Sure, lunch was awkward for her as she didn't really say anything other than two-word replies. Knowing she cannot last new conversations with new people, she had put on her earphones. Boy, she was thankful she did not forget them this time. She didn't have to deal with the new faces but instead, she was calmed by her songs.
"Its nothing, it's not your fault" Lou assured him. "I know you have trouble with people but I promise, Michael and his friends are nice guys" Max said, hugging her by her shoulder. This earned Max a roll of eyes from Lou, "it's not like I'm going to see them a for some time and be friends with them". Then when she looked at Max, he had his sorry face on. Oh boy.
;;
"See ya tomorrow, Louise. Hope you have a nice evening" Honey said, hugging Lou. "And trust me, Michael and his mates are good guys. I had classes with them. They're not some dicks. You can be friends with them" she added. Lou gave a genuine smile, this time.
"I appreciate what you and Max are doing, H. But I really am contented with you guys". "Unless the both of you are getting rid of me and giving me away to those three" Lou joked, poking Honey's side.
"As if, I'm ever getting rid of you!" Honey pouted, making Lou laugh. "It's more appropriate if we get rid of Max, don't you think?" The blonde girl winked, making the raven-haired girl shake her head at her friend's silliness.
"But I reaaally assure you, Lou. Those three, they're nice idiots. You can count on them on making you smile" Lou chuckled at the description her best friend gave. Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"And I reaaaally assure you, Honey", she mimicked her friend, "I'm fine with you guys. You know I have issues with people". With a final hug, Honey said, "you'll be alright, Lou. Trust me".
As Lou walked over to her car, she thought of what her friends have said and done. Lou knew to herself that her friends are lovely for trying to introduce her to other people, but she just couldn't. It was sad, Lou wasting her friends' efforts because of her thoughts. She wished she could easily make friends, but it was hard for her to share pieces of herself with a lot of people.
Lou just heaved out a breath, climbing inside her car. As she started to drive, her mind started to wander to somewhere else. She knew she was getting closer to her house, obviously. This thought made Lou's breathing hitch. Within a few minutes, she would be in her house.
Some would call their house as a home, but Lou would never call that structure a home. That structure is just another two-storied house where people live; it's just another four walled structure. A home is a place where you feel joy, cared for and most importantly; loved. The place where she lives is not a place where she feels loved but a place where she feels hated.
Another sigh escaped Lou's lips as she reached her destination. She parked her and shut the engine off. She hoped she could slow down time just so she can delay coming inside of her house. Heavy steps were planted on the pathway as she walked towards the front door. Take a deep breath and don't mind the shit you'll be condemned of, a voice reminded Lou as she came face to face with the brown oak wood door. Hoping for the best, she opened the door and walked in.
It came no surprise to Lou the new broken pieces of glass laid on the floor and the stench of beer in the room. She would clean up in the morning and be still greeted with the same surrounding as soon as she came back from school or work. Despite the custom of the broken glass and beer in her house, Lou's face turned paler and the frown in her face sunk deeper. Not wanting to get her feelings the best of her, Lou just picked up her pace towards her room, double-locking it as soon as she got inside her place.
Once safely locked inside her room, Lou felt relief wash over her. Her bedroom was one of the places she felt safe and sound â her safe haven. Because it's a fact that outside of her bedroom, it was pure chaos; and outside her house, it's a cruel world full of shitty-assed fuckholes.
A loud shout boomed over the house and by that time, Lou knew shit will be going down.
;;;
there you have it folks! chapter one of 24 floors!
so what are your thoughts on Lou??? do you think she's too closed off i would be stoked if I have pals like Max and Honey!
like, comment, and share the story bbs!
ps. this book is on wattpad and i will most likely update there more (chapter 5 is already posted there!) so hereâs a link of the book
love always,
min
