A Year Full Of Surprises

A Year Full Of Surprises - Chapter Thirty-Nine.

Chapter Thirty-Nine...

I sat nervously twitching and fidgeting as I prepared myself for the bell ringing and what that meant. It was third lesson, which meant I had maths next. I knew my skin was deathly white and all I wanted to do was run away, not have to sit in the lesson pretending that everything was normal.

The bell rang and Grace and I walked, at a speed that was far too fast for my liking, to his classroom. I dreaded coming through the door and seeing him, bringing back the memory I had been trying not to think about since yesterday.

I never did reply to his text, but I had read it multiple times over. I didn’t want to face the reality of coming face to face with him and knowing that nothing could ever happen between us. It was a harsh blow.

I trudged into the classroom and went straight to my desk without even looking at him, my eyes downcast the whole time. Grace sat down next to me, but didn’t talk because she quickly became engrossed in his teaching. I decided it was best for me to do the same. I didn’t want to focus on him, but focusing on what he was trying to teach I could just about manage.

When he had finished lecturing, he handed out his sheets, not even coming near me but placing the piece of paper on the edge of my desk. I tried not to show how much it hurt me, despite knowing exactly why he was doing it.

Grace took one look at the sheet, along with the rest of the class apparently at the number of hands which shot up, and shook her head. “I don’t get it.” She exclaimed. “I don’t understand how to factorise these equations.”

I understood them perfectly, just like I knew I would, but I didn’t say that. Well, I didn’t intend on doing, until Grace raised her hand as well. I grabbed it and pulled it back down. “Don’t bother waiting for him to explain it some more.” I rushed out as she sent me a puzzled look, curious about my reaction. “I’ll tell you how to do them.” I offered.

Grace’s eyebrows furrowed. “Do you understand these?” She asked taken aback. I would have been offended, but I hadn’t exactly shown her my true potential when it came to any of my subjects.

I nodded vigorously and explained precisely how to do them so I knew she’d understand. Most of the class would never get it, but Grace wasn’t an idiot, so she picked it up almost immediately.

She looked at me dumbstruck when I had finished. “How did you know how to do that? No offence, but you’ve never been amazing at maths before.” She said sheepishly.

I hesitated. “Fluke I guess.” I waved it off.

I sighed and looked back at my sheet. Why was I bothering to act like a smart ass anymore? Now I wasn’t friends with Mel, I had no one to pretend for. Grace liked me for me and was already being labelled as the new nerd. I could still do well in my tests but not put my hand up for every question that I would no doubt know the answer too.

I might as well start off small anyway, I decided eventually, speeding through the questions and getting each one right. I had finished before everyone else, but I expected that really. I always used to when I acted myself.

Only this time, I hadn’t thought of the consequences. Instead of being able to stare idly at the clock and wait for time to pass, I couldn’t help but allow my eyes to stray to where Jord was lounging in his chair.

His eyes were unfocused and he looked like he was thinking hard. He appeared almost out of it. I was proven right when someone else who was sat close to the front put their hand up to ask for help. Normally he would have responded immediately, but today he just continued to stare at nothing, his face scrunched up slightly.