Trying

Alexis

"Alton, you're holding up the line. Please enter the classroom."

Startled, Alton looked up from his phone and did a double take upon seeing who it was talking- his math teacher from last year, Mr. Rosenthal. Face turning red, Alton quickly walked into the classroom, taking up a desk in about the same position of that in his English class. Still shocked to see Mr. Rosenthal there, Alton looked back at him. Mr. Rosenthal looked at him with fire in his eyes. Alton quickly turned back around and took out his math materials.

"Oh huh, that's some luck. Got you in my class again," a voice to Alton's left said. Turning his head, Alton was shocked to see who was next to him. Alexis was looking at him, a disgusted expression plastered on her face.

"You, too?" Alton said, bewildered. "How are we both in the same class with the same math teacher from last year?"

"You know, Alton, you would have known this was coming if you ever read the school emails."

Alton threw her a questioning look. Alexis sighed, pulled out her phone, and read, "'Due to the retiring of Mr. Lee last year, we have moved Mr. Rosenthal to the tenth grade. Any students in his class last year will be in his class again, as well as some new students.' You know, Alton, you should maybe consider actually trying to know what's going on. Just an idea." Alexis put away her phone.

Alton looked down at his math notebook, swallowing the retort in his mind that he knew would've gone horribly wrong. Well, there goes the hope of friendship, he thought, rubbing his forehead. Normally Alton prepared to make a first impression upon his new classes, because he always hoped that having new kids in his classes meant different people who didn't have preconceived notions about him. Now there was no chance.

He glanced up to see none other then Elvira sit at the desk on his right. Alton watched her unpack her math materials, quickly glancing away when she looked up. She took out her pencil case. Fuck, thought Alton. He'd forgotten to bring any. Could he ask Elvira?

After weighing it over in his head he decided against it. First impression of a careless needy student? That was the last thing he needed. "Alexis," he said quietly. "May I borrow a pencil?"

Alexis laughed. "Really, Alton? I gave you a pencil every week for six months last year and you always lost it. I'm not doing that again. If you're going to be a shithead who forgets his pencil, not on me."

Alton sighed. He expected that answer, but he didn't like it. He felt a tap on his right shoulder and looked. "Here you go," said Elvira, handing him a pencil. "Don't worry about giving it back any time soon, alright? And, Alexis?" She said, pointing at her. "Watch your mouth. You keep calling him a shithead and I'm going to have to shit on your head."

Alexis looked at her and scoffed. "Really Elvira? You're out of your damn mind if you think I care at all about your threats."

Alton gingerly took the pencil from Elvira, avoiding eye contact as he thanked her. Whispering, he said, "bad idea to talk to Alexis like that. You're new here and she's just gonna target you as bad as she targets me."

Elvira paused tapping the desk with her pen, lost in thought. Shrugging, she said, "worth the risk. I don't like dicks and you seem like a cool dude." Elvira smiled, and before Alton could react she was back to her work.

The rest of the math period was spent by Alton ignoring Alexis' snide remarks and trying his best, and failing, to pay attention to Mr. Rosenthal. 

When the bell finally rang, Alton and Elvira were first out the door, finally heading in opposite directions. Alton watched her go, a feeling of disappointment settling in. He startled himself out of it and began walking to his next class. Disappointment at watching her go? That was new for him. Just excited because she was kind to me, he said to himself firmly. Still, the thought wouldn't leave his mind. This was the first time in his life Alton felt disappointment at watching someone walk away, and he didn't know how to feel about it.