Chapter Five
When my eyes focus entirely on my surroundings, I see that Anderson is still trying to get himself unstuck, but what shocks me the most is Ms. Morgan sitting in front of me, looking at me worriedly. I take a deep breath to center myself. “What happened?”
“You went rigid and started to shake a little bit; you seemed like you were in a trance of some sort.” Addam is the first to reply as Anderson finally rids himself of the chair leg.
“Isn’t anyone worried if I’m ok? I mean, my chair literally just shattered from underneath me.” Anderson snarls.
“Your chair broke, Mr. Taylor, because you kept leaning on the back two legs.” Ms. Morgan says matter-of-factly. “Now, I suggest you quit acting like a toddler and realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“It sure as hell doesn’t revolve around that skanky bitch either,” Anderson shouts, making half of the class gasp and me snap my head up towards him.
“Ms. Morgan, I apologize for what is about to come out of my mouth, and I completely understand if you give me detention,” I say, standing up and staring Anderson down with fire in my eyes. “I understand that there must be something so genetically wrong with you that you have to demean women who make you feel inferior, but listen and understand me when I say this: You are NOT God’s gift to women, nor are you the most important person on this fucking planet, I understand mommy must not give you enough love at home, but it sure as hell doesn’t excuse your sorry ass for bullying those you know you can’t compare to.” I finish my rant and sit back down as the headache I had earlier in the day comes back tenfold, and I sit down shakily.
Anderson stands there in the middle of the room, looking as if he is a steam engine getting ready to let the steam loose from every orifice that can blow smoke. “You’re going to regret the day you met me.” He says menacingly.
“You mean I don’t already?” I shoot back, making the entire class burst out in laughter, including his friends.
Anderson looks around the room with a face full of embarrassment. “What the hell are you all laughing at?” He asks, glaring at his friends.
“Dude, she burned you good!” His best friend, Lance, replies, shaking with laughter. The bell rings, signaling the end of the hour as everyone packs their stuff while still laughing like hyenas.
“You are a dead bitch.” Anderson growls at me.
“You might want to rethink your threat.” I retort with a menacing glare. “You forget that I am not afraid of you, and the fact that you think that you intimidate me is hilarious.” Anderson seems lost for words as he huffs and turns away from me. “Don’t forget to meet me in the library to do our project,” I say tauntingly at his retreating back.
He grumbles at me incoherently as I giggle and finish putting all of my books into my messenger book bag and head towards the library.
Nik, Addam, and I are about to leave; however, Ms. Morgan stops me. “Falencia, are you sure you’re alright?”
I smile and nod at her “yes, ma’am I am perfectly fine, I have a small headache, but it’s nothing that can’t be taken care of with a few headache meds and water.”
She smiles back “if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.”
I give her a genuine smile “Thank you, Ms. Morgan, there is actually something you could do for me, could I interview Addam instead for the project?”
“I don’t have a problem with it, just make sure you let Meghan know.” I nod with a smile.
I leave the classroom and walk with Nik to his last-hour class. “That was weird, wasn’t it?” Nik says.
I think about it for a minute, “Yeah, I guess a little. But then again she’s always been weird, come to think about it, it’s all very strange, I just realized that I have had Ms. Morgan in at least one class throughout the entirety of high school.”
Nik thinks about this, “yeah, you have. That’s really weird.” He says as we reach his last class, which happens to be close to the library.
I giggle and nod “Yeah, but meet me in the library when class is over. I’m gonna go see if Anderson actually showed up for our interview. Plus I gotta go talk to Thelma about our upcoming road trip.”
“You’re finally deciding to take her up on her offer?” Nik asks with a huge grin on his face.
“Yeah, I figured since this is my last year of high school and I’m planning on taking the summer off before college, I might as well go ahead and enjoy life a little.”
“About time,” Nik says with finality and heads into his classroom.
“So, other than the shoving and stupid high school bullshit, what has Anderson done?” Addam asks as we get near the library, making me jump since I forgot that he was with me.
“Nothing really, just the typical occasional shove and mean words here and there. I used to cry about it when I was younger, but my mother left me with some wise words before she passed, ‘Don’t worry about what others think of you, they form their opinions based on what they see on the outside, not from getting to know the you that lies within.’” I say as my eyes start to tear up, but I shake them away, not wanting to cry in front of anyone.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.”
I smile at him “Thanks, but it’s not really something I like talking about, not even to my therapist.” I say honestly.
“I completely understand, I lost my mom a few years back, so I kind of understand what you’re going through.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss as well. I honestly don’t mean to be rude in any way when saying I don’t talk about it, and I am sure we can exchange stories when I feel more like talking about it, but don’t hold your breath,” I reply honestly.
He nods in understanding as we walk into the quiet library. “I honestly wonder if Anderson is actually gonna show.”
“I doubt it, the less time we have to spend together the better! In both of our opinions.” I say as we reach Thelma’s office.
The sight we are met with is one that makes me feel as if I will be scarred for life. Thelma and Mr. Sullivan are locked at the lips as we walk into the room, I gasp and instantly retrace my steps back into the computer lab. “I can’t unsee that!” I exclaim dramatically while covering my eyes.
“Hey!” Thelma exclaims “It wasn’t anything worse than what some of you kids do on a daily.”
I stare at her with wide eyes “I don’t do anything like that!” I exclaim then point to my lips “Virgin everything here.”
Thelma and I stare at each other for a minute as Addam and Mr. Sullivan look on in complete shock. “Well, that’s your first lesson, now go find someone to kiss and then tell me that you're scarred.”
We both burst out laughing as we took in the guys’ shocked faces. “That wasn’t a real thing?” Addam asks.
I shake my head rolling in laughter. “No, we made an agreement a long while ago, whichever one of us got a guy in any way and the other saw it, she was given free rein to be as dramatically psycho as possible in order to embarrass the other.”
“But it looks like we ended up embarrassing poor Drake instead.” Thelma cackles.