Who We Have

Chapter 6

October 20th.

Halloween was arriving in less than two weeks, and this put the committee in stress and panic-filled rush. Jennifer, more than most, felt the crushing waves of responsibility in the organization of the dance. It consumed most of her time, as did her studying, and there was hardly any time to breathe. Of all the years Andy had spent Halloween with her, she could see that this was probably the most stressful one for her.

Every morning, Jennifer would come in and nearly collapse into her chair from exhaustion. When Andy walked into registration that morning, it wasn’t any different, at least not with her best friend. As the class settled in the arrival of their registration teacher, they paid attention as one more person walked in. It was a boy that shared the age of the students. The old woman spoke to him quietly, and Andy eyed him curiously.

“Have you ever seen him around here?” Andy whispered to Jennifer, who raised her head gently and rested her chin on her arms at her desk.

Staring for a moment, Jennifer sat up and shook her head. “Maybe he’s in a different…” the boy started walking to the back of the class and their gazes followed, “…class.”

He slumped into his seat at an empty desk and placed his bag on the surface, his chin resting on it not a moment later. As he had averted his attention from anyone and everyone, Jennifer and Andy shrugged it off and averted theirs.

***

The first lesson of the day was History, and Mrs. Maple began explaining the exercise she was going to be handing out for them, giving them the base information they needed. Andy thought History and English was a good pair of subjects to have throughout the year if she wanted to get into writing as a career. It was easily one of her favorite subjects, and usually quieter for her since Jennifer hadn’t chosen History, but instead Physics.

Once she was done, Mrs. Maple spoke up, “Alright, everyone find a partner and come here to take an exercise sheet to work on together.”

That was something Andy didn’t particularly like. She never spoke to her classmates much, only when they had to work together. A part of the class was full of acquaintances and peers, more than anything, and the other part, people she despised and vice versa. After certain incidences, Andy found personal, unwanted enemies in some of the other students.

Immediately, people turned to the ones they knew and started pairing up. Andy usually waited until one person wasn’t paired up before she’d end up with them, just to make it easier. The girl looked around with a dull expression, catching sight of the boy that had arrived earlier. The expression on his face could only be described as bored or tired. Even if it wasn’t directed at her, it was still better than the scowls she would usually receive.

‘Why not,’ she thought, making her way over to him. As she was about to speak to him, he looked at her and stood up, walking to Mrs. Maple’s desk without a word. Confused, Andy waited, staring at him at first, and then around, unsure as to what she should do. She didn’t realize until he returned, that he was getting the exercise sheet. He sat back down in his seat and looked at her expectantly.

“Um,” she fidgeted with her fingers for a second, and then pulled up a nearby desk next to his. She sat down and waited as Mrs. Maple gave them instructions on the papers and set them on their way.

Once the students were left to work, Andy looked at the boy and tried the friendly approach to kill the awkward silence. “Hi, I’m Andy.”

He simply glanced at her, before grabbing a pen. “Jack,” he said, writing his name, and then hers, at the top of the sheet.