The Days After

10 Minutes

The Boss

"That's dumb," Danielle said flatly.

Her teacher whirled around, glared at the class.

"Excuse me? Who said that?"

There was a hush that fell over this 7th-grade math class. Every student was either looking off into the distance, staring straight ahead or looking around the room. Every student except one.

Danielle raised her hand. "I did."
"Ah, Ms. Lara, of course, your reputation proceeds you."

Danielle remained expressionless.

"So what, pray tell, is so dumb," the teacher continued.
"I think the way you're showing how to complete that problem doesn't make any sense."

The teacher sighed and smiled.

"I understand that on the first day, this is a lot, Ms. Lara. It will take some ti-"
"First, you spent the first 15 minutes on introductions, 20 minutes on how this class will be run, and we are coming up on" she looks at her watch "18 minutes for this one problem?"

The embarrassment was palpable. The teacher's face turned a different shade, and her face contorted. There was shock on everyone's faces.

"I've been teaching this class almost as long as you've been born, Ms. Lara, and will not tolerate any disrespect!"
Danielle shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, but just so you know, I already solved the problem 10 minutes ago."
"Did you now? That's wonderful. Now if could get bac-"
"The answer is 26-"

Then the intercom came on.

...
The Optimist

"Hey, Lucas, my guy, what's up!"
Lucas whipped around. "Yo, Mark! What's up?"
"Dragging through the day, ya know?"
"Dragging? Man, you gotta enjoy it all!"
Chuckling. "Not school. It sucks."
Whatever, bro, alright, I'm heading to my last class."
"Okay, see ya. Oh, and I'm glad you didn't end up moving."
"Man, you're like the fifth person to say that. I did move"
"Huh? Then how are you here?"
"Check the text! Later bro"

Mark stood there for a moment, shook his head, then went to class. Lucas made it into class right as the bell rang.

"Mr. Gordon, just in the knick of time, huh?"
Lucas smiled. "Yep, wouldn't miss it."

Lucas had been looking forward to this class all day. He was particularly fascinated with the fact that we are living on a spinning rock, spinning around a gigantic fireball, in an endless universe, but nobody talked about it. He believed that was the beauty of human nature. That we all can see the good in things. Lucas was content with that.

The teacher was speaking while scanning the room until her eyes landed on Lucas. "Mr. Gordon, what are you smiling about back there? Do you know something we all don't about biology?"
He shrugged. "No, but I'm just ready to learn it all."

The teacher found his optimism charming. She continued with the first-day usualness until almost the end of the day. Then a noise like a radio channel featuring nothing but static came from the ceiling.

...
High & Low Frequency

Daryl always wore black. No matter the season, no matter the time of day, no matter the occasion, Daryl wore black. He didn't talk much and gave his best effort to go unnoticed. His skin was impeccable in comparison to the traditional pimple-faced middle schooler, and the way the sun hit his brown skin was sensational.

Robin had been tall since elementary school. She stood a foot taller than most of her peers and could see every school happening from anywhere. Most people who are tall at a young age, are insecure about it, but Robin was different. She loved being able to spot her friends in a crowd. And she made a point to do so.