Helena Laarsen, freshman at Sierra Nevada High School, is probably the shyest girl you will ever know. With the self-esteem of a gnat, she walks around with her hands clamped around her body as she closes herself off from the rest of the world. Speaking in front of class makes her knees shake, and being in an unfamiliar situation is even worse. But because of her incredible lack in a social life, she has developed many talents that will surprise anyone that gets the pleasure to know her.
In a bikini, she steps out of the girls' locker room and tiptoes over to the bleachers as she imagines people glaring at her in judgement. She slowly sits down in her spot and tries to squish herself into a small ball, in hopes that she will go unnoticed.…show more content… Especially the guys. Italian blood flows through her body, and it sculpts her face in an exotic way, separating her from the normal blonde beach girl that is common in California. But she doesn't see the beauty in her because of a nose that's just a little too wide and eyes that hide under the shade of her eyelashes.
There's one thing that stands out though, and that's when the sun smashes through the protection of her long eyelashes, there's a sort of beauty there that couldn't be described unless you saw them. The way the light shines makes her eyes glow with intelligence and utter kindness, and you realize that while she may be physically beautiful, the way her personality breaks through her own skin is what makes her truly gorgeous. There's something in the way her coffee bean eyes glow that stuns everyone who has the courage to break the wall she built.
But that's not what makes this story important. What makes this story important is how she handles this newfound…show more content… Mr. Greever, the PE teacher, throws the yellow water polo ball into play, and the water becomes a thrashing beast that craves the faded orb.
Before Helena can think, the ball smacks her in the face, and she sees a brilliant, white flash on the insides of her eyelids. Her cheeks burn a furious red as she feels sympathetic stares being shot her way.
"Are you okay?" the other goalie asks as she throws the ball back into play.
"Yeah. I blocked the shot at least!" Helena says as she tries to play off the incident.
The other girl laughs, which sends a wave of relief over Helena. Luckily, the rest of the game went by smoothly, and before long, it was time to get out of the pool to change.
***
After she is dressed, Helena stands behind the writhing group that waits impatiently at the gate for the bell to ring. She watches them in curiosity simply because she finds it fascinating how only a sound stops them from leaving early. The gate is wide open, but they're scared to disobey the bell.
"My face is soft," a boy with gigantic aviators says.
