The Corner by Shaine Lake

Author:Shaine Lake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: girl, horror, ghost, classroom, corner, anxiety, disorder

Chapter 12 Hope?

For the past week, every weekday morning, I had managed to take the same bus as Anton. And the outcome was the same every time: he didn’t sit with me. I had made a promise to myself: if he ever sat with me, I would take the initiative to befriend him. It was necessary to take that first step out to fulfil what I had set out to do for Mandy. However, part of me was hoping that he wouldn’t sit with me, so I didn’t have to try. Rejection was something that was hard to swallow, even though I had experienced it umpteen times.

When the bus pulled to a stop at Anton’s bus stop, I nervously waited and threw quick glances at the staircase to see if he was among the passengers boarding the bus. The moment I spotted him, I quickly looked out of the closed window. Through the reflection on the window panel, I saw him strolling down the aisle.

Please walk pass my seat.

The boy halted when he was near my location. Then he pulled off the guitar case sling and the school bag’s strap from his right shoulder and proceeded to settle down into the seat beside me. I found it unbelievable that he would actually sit with me. For a few minutes, the grey matter in my head was swirling wildly, unable to process any information. I felt my heart, which was pumping blood at full force, being pulled up to my throat, blocking my air passageway and pressing on my vocal cords.

Did I smell alright? Did my behaviour seem normal? Any remnants of my breakfast stuck between my teeth? Did he know that I was nervous? Would he have the impression that I was a creep?

I dared not move, much less say anything. The idea of abandoning my plan crossed my mind. But as a friend, what had I done for Mandy? For my sake, she had carried the burden of withholding the truth from our classmates. I was grateful to Kelly too, but she had done the same thing because of Mandy, not me. I hardened my resolve to step out of my comfort zone.

I squeaked, “Hi.”

Anton was just staring ahead, not responding to my greeting.

Did he ignore me on purpose? One more try … and after that, I would avoid taking the same bus as him.

“Hi,” I blurted with a voice that was a few decibels higher than usual.

He turned to regard me with a seemingly puzzled expression. His bright, blue eyes, the soft dark blond hair … I found him to be better-looking up close. His name “Anton Thorne” was embroidered across the top of his shirt pocket. The heat was rushing to my cheeks. I wanted so much to look away so that he couldn’t see that I was blushing.

“I saw you once in the gymnasium …” That was like the only topic I could talk about. I couldn’t be telling him that I had been observing him

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