The Joining: The Cycle of the Shards Book One

15: Improvising

     Shanna walked through the hall quickly, having satisfied herself that Mrs. White was going to be okay. The last that she had seen, she had stood up and was very close to assaulting Brian before Mr. Phelps had got in between the two of them. At that point she decided she would much prefer heading to Computer class than to get caught in whatever that was going to be. And with computers also came Kyle.

She had always had a slight interest in the boy, like Brian and most of the boys that had glanced at her admiringly she always knew when he was looking, yet it was his reaction when he was caught that was the most amusing and a little bit sweet. His face would get red, and he would stammer whatever sentence he was saying, if he had been saying anything. He was a little bit...safe? She guessed at the word for it, but he wasn't exactly someone that gets caught doing something that he wasn't supposed to. But he wasn't a goody two shoes either. He was...Well, if she had to describe him, he was just kinda there, trying to stay out of things, not getting involved in a whole lot. For some reason, that was enough to cause a small attraction, but until yesterday that's all it was, based on looks and his general ability to not care, as it was a feeling she herself fell into from time to time. She did require some sort of adventure to her life though, so that probably left him out for anything more than a brief flirtation. But then he showed up in the office with Brian, and she started to wonder if she had written him off a little early. Something had changed with him, that's for sure. When she had caught him today, he had met her gaze, seemingly unafraid, and while she couldn't really make out what was said, she knew that he had spoke for quite a while. And then just outright embarrassing that jackass without throwing a single punch!

Her feelings were high as she moved through the halls but they dropped as she entered the classroom to take her usual seat right next to Kyle, but Kyle wasn't there. She looked at Jim, who just shrugged. "No idea. Maybe he got in trouble after all."

Shanna sighed as she sank into her seat. Even without actually making contact, she worried if Kyle would get thrown out anyway. She had done everything she could to help him, including pretending to call his father. There was no justice among the principal and the teachers, at least she could do something to try and even things out. She knew he should have found a way out of facing off with Brian again, but it seemed so wrong for anything to happen to him, especially when he was just becoming interesting!

As she moped, waiting for the bell to ring so at least she could lose herself in her typing, she heard the students behind her talking. To distract herself, she leaned back and listened.

"...And the guy got tripped by Brian's guys in Phelps' class, so he was probably looking for revenge."

"I know! I was there! He rushes out bleeding, comes waltzing back in like he owns the place, and then ends up spouting some crazy stuff, like Mr. Spock stuff. Phelps didn't know what to say!"

"I didn't realize the guy ever talked. Good for him."

"Good for everyone if Brian's gone! Talk about taking one for the team!"

Shanna smiled. Word travels fast. Maybe something got shook up when he got knocked down in Science? She hoped that she'd get the chance to talk to him in person instead of just getting everything from the gossip. The teacher started going over the lesson and she leaned forward, brushing a hair out of her eyes. Her fingers splayed over the keyboard, and she began.

Critock had every intention of reaching the class on time. While he hardly was looking forward to 'learning', especially with everything weighing on his mind, he was hoping strongly that Shanna would be able to help him. He knew he was making a lot of assumptions, which Tom continuously called him out on.