Delicate Pulse | Violentine

Today Marks History

It's loud and hectic.

Kids swamp every corner, from lounging on desks to deliberately stacked chairs. Conversations, squeals, singing and laughter are passed between groups. Students are jumping over furniture and chasing each other in circles. A trio of boys are having their own competition to declare whose paper aeroplane can stay airborne the longest; the stakes don't look too high.

Brody leads me to the front where the majority of the desks are free. I pile my belongings then proceed to sit beside her until I hear a small snigger thrown our way. I follow the noise to see a group of girls swarming over a desk a couple of rows down. They simultaneously whirl their heads around, pretending not to look at me. The girl in the centre surrounded by them doesn't. She eyes me down daringly. I watch her say something incoherent to her group and they break into spontaneous giggles. I envision myself jumping up, storming over there and smacking the clean-shaven side of her red head-

"Take your seats please!"

A dark man wearing a white rolled sleeved, button-up shirt and tie strolls into the room. The chaos simmers and students rush to their claimed spots. It takes merely a couple of seconds.

"Good morning everyone. I hope that everyone is well-fed and rested for today's lesson." 

The man, who I presume is the teacher, says all this while picking up a whiteboard marker. He taps the end of it into his palm thoughtfully and scans the crowd, his eyes land on me.

"It appears we have a new face joining us," he nods towards me. Then he does something that had crossed my mind earlier that I had been dreading. He gently motions me to stand and I hesitantly but obediently rise.

"My name is Mr Everett and the floor is all yours," he encourages.

"Hi, uh, my name is Clementine," I monotone, scratching the back of my neck.

"Pfft...Like the fruit?"

A boy calls this out and a wave of laughter choruses in response. Mr Everett flashes a disapproving look and hushes the poor attempt of a tease. As if I haven't heard that one before.

"Do you have anything you'd like to share with us?" he asks, moving away from the subject.

"Um, sure."

I straighten my posture and look the boy who called out dead in the eye.

"Ever wanted to try a new flavour? I suggest salt lick, I'm sure you'll love it."

He stares at me. "...What the hell?"

Mr Everett claps his hands together while still holding the marker. "Okay, okay. Thank you, Clementine."

He turns his attention to the board and opens the lesson with Ancient Greek. I fall back into my seat and listen to the murmurs circle around me. I can still hear them by the end of the session, no matter how many times Brody flashes me a reassuring smile.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"There she is! Wassup new girl?"

A pair of tallboys greet me and Brody at our bench by the courtyard. One is a stranger and the other has an unforgettable, toothy grin.

"Hey, Louis right?"

"And she remembers my name! I'm flattered."

He cheerfully invites himself to slide into the space beside me, dropping his tray carelessly. His friend now stands alone. He's fair-skinned and has a platinum blonde mullet. His haircut almost distracts my attention away from his electric blue eyes. He's definitely got a look going on here.