HONESTY

Giggles and soft whispers filled the room. Exchanging enthusiastic greetings and embracing each other in tight hugs, familiar voices and faces were heard and seen for the first time since the start of the Christmas holiday. The animate actions and exaggerated tones that were made by the students suggested that the sixteen-year-olds were extremely excited to see each other again after so long and looked forward to facing the challenges that lay ahead of them this new academic year.

Just then, as if on cue, the loud and distinct clicking of high heels echoed throughout the corridor. Almost immediately, the students froze in their tracks for a split second before scurrying to their seats, in a desperate attempt to look quiet and meek in front of their new English teacher.

However, they noticed something different this time. Besides the ever-familiar clicking sound, there was also a soft, barely audible pair of footsteps following quietly behind. The group of boys and girls gave each other curious glances.

Who was that?

As Mrs Badstuber stepped into the now silent classroom, her crisp, clear, and sometimes annoying, booming voice greeted them with a simple 'good morning class' before placing her textbook on the teacher's table.

However, the class was not quite so interested in greeting their teacher. Their eyes were, instead, focused on me. I was a tall, Eurasian girl who stared back at them with a blank look which reflected off my brown hazel eyes.

"This is Debbi. She will be joining our boarding school as a student. Please do make her feel welcomed here in Germany."

With that being said, the teacher then gestured towards an empty chair at the front of the class. I dared not make any eye contact as I lowered my head and made my way to my designated seating place. Gingerly placing my schoolbag down to my right, I quietly slipped into my seat.

'So far, so good' I thought. I heaved a sigh of relief as I looked around the room in curiosity.

Before I could finish my train of thoughts however, I felt a small tug at the hem of my blue blouse. Turning my head slowly, I managed to pluck up the courage to look at the boy who was sitting to my left.

The boy was casually dressed in a white polo shirt and a pair of faded jeans. With his hair being a dark shade of blonde and eyes as blue as the ocean, one could say a girl would swoon at the sight of him. I bit my lip. I was no exception.

My heart skipped a beat as he flashed me a cheeky grin. I, on the other hand, just continued to stare...

"Hey, I'm Felix," The blonde stretched out his hand as he introduced himself. Stunned by the friendly action, my heart was screaming to just reach out and say 'hi', but my mind was not allowing me to do so for about five seconds before I finally broke out into a shy smile.

"Erm...hi..." I grabbed his hand in a firm handshake. Looking into each other's eyes, we both let out a small laugh before Mrs. Badstuber suddenly spoke again.

"Debbi, you'll pair up with Felix this semester as his English buddy," She smiled at me before turning back to write on the whiteboard again.

I raised an eyebrow. English buddies? This was kindergarten all over again! I groaned. I was never a good teacher, always losing my temper easily.

That was when I felt a gaze on me. Felix, upon knowing the buddy system, chuckled with delight as he pulled out a vocabulary book he had been keeping from his bag. I inwardly scoffed at the sight. Who keeps a vocabulary book when you are sixteen?

"I was just wondering if you could help me with these words...my English...not very good," He pointed to the first page. Flattered by the attention, I quickly leaned over to have a closer look.

I froze. That word. I could still remember...

"Hey, what's wrong?'" There was concern in his deep voice.

"Honesty...Don't you think it's superficial? So many broken promises...The worst thing is when the people you love never put into action what they always promise to do."

I clenched my fists.

"They just take you away to some boarding school and put you there, thinking it's the best for you when they don't even know how much you had to give up over there – your friends, your whole life...and that was after they promised you that they'll always put your interests at heart."

I rolled my eyes, "Honesty – there's no such word."

That was when I felt a hand on mine. I looked at Felix, who stared back at me with his big, blue eyes. It took my breath away. His beautiful eyes looked as if it had honestly understood me – my pain, my sorrow, my heart. It was always said that eyes were the windows to one's soul. I never believed it till now.

"My parents divorced two years ago," he said slowly. "I got sent here right after that...nobody wanted to take care of a troublesome teenager. Even after they said and vowed that they would." He shook his head. "I know what it feels like, feeling betrayed, feeling hurt."

I squeezed his hand. It felt bittersweet. I was not the only one. Yet, I had hoped fervently something like that would never happen to someone as sweet and understanding as Felix.

"Felix's hitting on the new girl!" A loud, low voice from the back of the class jolted me back to reality. Almost immediately, Felix removed his hand from my grip as he looked away, his cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. I chuckled. Maybe it was just me, but he seemed...cute at that time, for the lack of a better word.

I smiled, "Thanks for being so honest. It was nice to know someone understood me."

He paused for a while and pursed his lips, as if hesitant about something. Then, his smiling eyes met mine.

"Promise me something?"

I nodded.

"We'll never lie to each other, no matter what the circumstances are?"

"Of course," I quickly said, grinning from ear to ear.

That was when he took my hand and held it tightly, "Thank you. It really means a lot to me."

"Ring!"

The bell rang, signalling the end of English class. Picking up his books and bag, Felix flashed a mega-watt smile at me. I could my heartbeat quickening with each second passing by.

"So I guess I'll see you around?" He spoke in his infinitely cool and seductive German accent. I could already feel butterflies in my stomach.

"Absolutely," I chuckled, almost forgetting about the shyness I displayed at the beginning of the class.

"Honesty..." I giggled as I strolled to my next class, my heart swelling with joy.

Honesty.

I am definitely in love with this word.

Maybe vocabulary books and English buddies were not such bad ideas after all.

Hoped you liked it! :D and please don't ask me why Germany :P Let's just say I have strong feelings (of obsession) towards Die Mannschaft (MIROSLAV KLOSE!) and German rower Felix Bach (he was awesome at the Youth Olympic Games). So, there you have it -.- Every comment and favourite counts so don't forget to click the review/like button! :)

MidnightInception xoxo