Double Trouble novel Chapter 5

So wanted to start a new student/teacher story so here one is. excited about it!

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Oh Boy, Uh, Man...

I'd learnt not to be jealous of Nahla a long time ago. She had it all: the nice car, nice house, family, and clothes. She always had the latest technology. I knew I could not be jealous of her because of it. I knew it wasn't Nahla's fault that I didn't have these luxuries and I didn't have the stability that she had. If I hadn't controlled my emotions, there was a great chance that we wouldn't still be friends.

She was my best friend.

But, like any best friend shouldn't, I kept things from her that I should have probably shared. Every always had to have someone to rely on. I should have told Nahla about Brogan, about the emptiness of the house, about the real reasons why Nahla wasn't allowed in the house, and that Brogan didn't go away on business trips. But I couldn't. I didn't want to see the pity in her eyes. I didn't want her to look at me differently after that - because even if she denied it, she would.

Still, I probably should have told her about the cute gallery owner that had been popping up all over the place. Was I worried that he seemed to be everywhere? Not really. If he owned the gallery, then of course I was going to see him there. And in the Target parking lot this morning? Well, he might have been doing his shopping early morning before opening the gallery. Even people with flashy Mercedes could shop at Target too.

I should have giggled and sighed as I mentioned Eric to Nahla, but that didn't happen because I didn't tell her. Eric meant nothing. It's not like he'd asked me out or anything. I'd just bumped into him a couple of times, and he'd introduced himself. I want to protect you, he'd say, but I wasn't going to take that literally. I didn't need protecting - least of all from a stranger.

Nahla slammed my locker shut, just missing my face. I turned to look at her with as much annoyance as I could muster, but she giggled and made a face. "Sorry." She apologised. "I didn't realise you were that close to it. What're you daydreaming about?"

"Nothing." I replied. "Just wondering how much it'll affect us, you know, with Mrs Winters gone. I don't want to start something new. I liked the projects we were working on." It wasn't what I'd been thinking about, but it would do.

"Well I know the new teacher is a guy, so," Nahla shrugged. "I don't mind. Easier on the eyes, easier on the ears." She said. Then she looked at my unchanged expression. "Darcy, I'm sure you'll love the class still."

"I beg to differ."

"Give him a try," Nahla replied. "Come on, we need to get to class." She said, dragging me down the corridor. "History calls."

Austin rolled his eyes and then turned to the front of the room, watching as more and more people flooded in. Nina just laughed at her brother's reaction.

But Blythe, Blythe Rivers who talked too much as had practically white hair, just grinned. "I'm serious."

"Darcy's upset that we've lost Mrs Winters," Nahla explained. "I told her it's a guy this time, but she's not convinced."

"She will be." Nina replied.

Nahla's eyes flashed with excitement. "Is he cute?"

"Gorgeous," Blythe replied. "Such good looks. Young, tall, and totally... off limits." She grumbled, hitting her head against the table dramatically.