Elysium Read Free Page A

picture of the male and female genital regions popped up on the chalkboard.
    Mrs. Henley proceeded to explain every bit and piece, going into great detail, which only caused the laughter to increase. She was, of course, oblivious to what was going on around her.  I silently thanked the higher powers when the bell finally rang. I grabbed my bag and started making my way toward the front of the class. There were of course sexual comments being thrown around by the guys to each girl that walked by.
    “Hey, Meadow, need me to personally go over the material with you?”
    I rolled my eyes at Ian Krish. “You wish.”
    “Don’t you know it!”
    This was how every guy was in this school. It didn’t matter so much if you were so geeky no one talked to you, or if you were the most popular girl in school. They were equally disgusting to each and every female that crossed their path. Sexual harassment threats didn’t go very far with them because I doubted the majority even knew what that meant.
    “Get a life.” Mumbling under my breath I hurried and left.
    I went through my next two periods in a blur, my mind so unfocused because of the pain in my head it was a wonder I could walk. I popped two more aspirin, needing them to kick in right away. When lunch finally rolled around, my appetite had picked up. I stood in line, the smell of the baked bread causing my stomach to grumble.
    I stared out the windows that lined the far wall in the cafeteria. Outside, it looked as if it had warmed up, but I didn’t trust the Colorado weather. It could be twenty degrees with the sun shining.
    Someone nudged me forward, and I muttered my apology. I took a red tray and looked at the unappetizing food offered. I decided on a bowl of fresh fruit, well, as fresh as this time of year offered, and a slice of banana bread. My appetite had suddenly taken a nosedive.
    I paid for my food and searched for an empty seat. It was always crowded in the cafeteria. Most of the time I opted to eat in the music room because the solitude was calming. Glancing around the packed room, I saw Heath sitting by himself. Guilt for the way I treated him sprang up inside of me, and I decided I at least could say thank you.
    Making my way toward him, I pulled my tray close to my body to avoid the swinging elbow or the wild crowd. “Hi.” He looked up, a surprised expression covering his face momentarily. His blond hair was disheveled, the straight strands hanging loosely across his forehead. His bright blue eyes regarded me solemnly, expecting the bitch to reemerge, I suspected. “Listen,” I dropped my gaze to the ground, suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier.”
    When he didn’t respond, I lifted my eyes to look at him. He shrugged and then looked down at his tray. He moved his fries around on his plate for a moment before looking up at me again. “It’s okay, no biggie.” We both smiled, and I felt relief wash through me. The last thing I wanted to do was be nasty to one of the only genuine people at this shit hole.
    “Well, well, well. What do we have here?”
    I cringed at the voice behind me. Surely that was Satan I was hearing and not Anne, although they might as well have been the same person.
    “Did you find a new friend, Heath baby?”
    I had to give him credit. He could actually look at her without turning to stone. Heath stayed quiet, but I didn’t miss the way his eyes narrowed slightly.
    The last thing I wanted to do was bring Anne’s wrath down on Heath because I was the one who initiated the conversation. “I just wanted to say thanks.”  I didn’t wait around to hear a reply.
    Sliding into an empty seat across the way, I ate my food in silence and kept my head downcast. Although, it seemed I was a glutton for pain because I found it hard not to glance up at Heath and Anne. Of course she was staring at me, and I didn’t miss how Anne kept giving me the evil eye. I was used to Anne’s bitchiness, but never had