Chapter 3: Grayson: Belle the Bible Thumper

I move to go after her but notice a book lying on the floor. I scoop it up and read the title. Holy Bible. I whip my head around. Did anyone else see the title? Can they guess by looking? Do people even care about Bibles in schools in this part of the country? In my last school, a teacher was fired for giving a student a Bible and encouraging him to read it. He sued the district, but I moved before it was resolved.

I jog to catch up with Isabelle. "Hey, you dropped this."

She eyes the Bible, as if unsure where it came from.

"You really don't strike me as a Bible thumper," I say. Not that I'm complaining. It's nice to know there's someone else here who believes in God.

"I'm not." She snatches the book from my hand.

"No?" I raise a brow, challenging her. "Then why are you carrying around a Bible?"

"That's really none of your business."

"People don't carry around Bibles unless they're trying to spread the good word." I smirk.

"Don't be a jerk."

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37."

She takes a small step back. "You know scripture?"

"I know a lot of things," I say, pleased with how I've managed to shock her.

"Except how to drive."

I let out a surprised laugh, and she responds with a smile - a genuine one that makes my heart race in a way I've never felt before.

She hugs the Bible to her chest. "It's my brother's, okay?" Her voice dips with sadness and a hint of gratitude.

"Oh. Okay." A wave of disappointment hits me. I'm glad she's thankful to me instead of screaming at me, but is she not a believer herself? Why didn't she just tell me that in the first place? Is that locker back there her brother's? I want to ask, but she speaks before I can.

"I'd say this has been fun, but lying is a sin, so..." She shifts on her feet.

"I believe lying about lying is a sin, too. Admit it, this has been more fun than you've had in a long time."

"You wish," she mutters and then takes off down the hall again.

I glance down at my schedule, then at the nearest classroom door. I'm in the right hallway. In a couple long strides, I'm by her side.

"I am sorry about this morning," I say, hoping she won't blow me off completely. I don't know anyone here except her, so I'm kind of at her mercy.

"Thank you. Confessing sin is the first step toward redemption." She takes a few more steps and then stops outside room 247. "I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble with Principal Drake."

"Nah." I wave my hand dismissively. "He just gave me a warning."

"Well, this is my class."

I look down at my schedule once more and grin. "Mine, too."

"No way." She takes my schedule and studies it. "You're seriously taking Senior Spanish?"

"Yep." And I've never been happier about anything.

She thrusts my schedule back into my hand. Without another word, she yanks open the door and walks in. I follow.

A tall, thin woman greets us. "Ah." She claps her hands. "Senorita Carson. Bienvenido."

"Hola, Senorita Guzman." Isabelle hands over her late pass and sits at the only empty table.

The teacher turns to me. Everything about her demeanor is vibrant, and she's young, too, probably in her twenties. "And you must be my newest student. Grayson Alexander, yes? Principal Drake called to let me know you'd be joining us."

"Yes, ma'am." I hand her my late pass. The administration here doesn't waste any time, do they?

"Bienvenido." She smiles. "Please, take a seat next to Senorita Carson."

This day is starting to get better. I make my way toward Isabelle, and only then that I notice how small the room is. Six tables dot the small space, each only large enough for two students. I drop my bag onto the floor and slide into the chair beside Isabelle.

"All right." Senorita Guzman sits on top of her desk and crosses her legs. "Welcome to Senior Spanish. Let me repeat that - welcome to Senior Spanish." She pauses for a brief moment. "This isn't an English class, so today is the only day I will speak English. By now, you all should have basic conversational proficiency in the Spanish language, so starting tomorrow, the moment you walk into this room, I expect to hear only Spanish. Understood?"

Everyone nods.

"Bien. Now, because this is an advanced class, we are going to fully immerse ourselves in the Spanish language and culture." She grabs a stack of papers and hops off the desk. "As you can see, I've seated you in pairs. Please say hello to your partners." She hands each of us a paper.

It's written completely in Spanish. I read through it, and I can't stop the smile from forming. Beside me, Isabelle drops her head onto her folded arms, and I hear a small groan. She may not like what this says, but I sure do.

"This project" - Senorita Guzman waves the paper in the air - "will be seventy-five percent of your final grade."

Isabelle lifts her head and smooths her hands over her hair. But she doesn't look at me.

"Together with your partner, you will pick a Spanish-speaking place - I don't care if it's a city or entire country - and you'll present on it to the class at the end of the year." She looks down at her notes. "The more creative, the better your grade. Be aware of the requirements, though. I expect everyone to prepare a meal unique to your chosen location. I've already reserved time in the culinary room for you to use if needed."

She returns to sit on top of her desk. "I've also reserved the gym so we can all practice a traditional Spanish dance."

A collective groan ripples through the room.

Senorita Guzman holds up her hand to silence us. "My goal with this project is to make you fall in love with the Spanish culture. To make you want to visit the place you research. To make us feel like we're actually there." She clears her throat. "So, I'll have no complaining. We will all learn the dance. Each pair can put their own unique flair to it, but it will need to be performed during your presentation. No exceptions."

I'm not a professional dancer, but I'm not terrible, either. I slice a look at Isabelle. And knowing she's my partner? This is officially my favorite class.