Her Touch

5

WHEN I GOT back from my run, I decided to call my mother. I ran up the stairs and into my room in search of my satchel, where I had left my phone. Taking my phone out of my bag, I also grabbed the pack of gum I had from the day before.
After entering my password and finding my mother in my contacts, I pressed the call button and placed the phone against my ear. It took about three rings for her to answer and her voice sounded tiresome.
"Hey baby, you know better than to wake me up so early," she yawned before I heard shuffling and a groan from someone next to her.
"Tell Brian hi for me. I'm sorry for bothering you, I just..."
"It's okay, baby, how are you? Is living with your grandpa working out or do I need to hire a U-Haul?" She chuckled, making a smile form on my lips.
"I'm okay, things are great. I'm going to do some volunteer work for the school, you know for some extra credit for Harvard."
I said as I took out a piece of gum from the packet and unwrapped it, before placing it inside my mouth and chewing, "that's great, baby, I'm so happy you're socializing. What will you be doing, though?" She questioned as I heard Brian say something, "Kylie said hi," she told him.
"Math tutoring and a teacher's pet, not too thrilled but if it helps with college and occupying my time, I'll try."
"Oh baby, have you been having flashbacks again? You only want to occupy your time when you do." She said, concern laced in her voice.
"No," I lied, "I just think it's time for me to associate with people," I said trying to convince myself as well.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes mom, don't worry so much. How is work going? No more courtroom shootings I hope."
She chuckled, "no, no, none of that. I'm working on an important case at the moment, it is confidential so I can't tell you more."
"Okay, sounds good. Anyway mom, I just got back from a run, so I'm going to take a shower, okay? I'll talk to you later."
"Okay baby, be safe, don't go running after any girls, and focus on school," I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"When have I ever, mom?" I questioned.
"Point taken, go shower, goodbye baby."
"Bye," I said before the other side of the line went dead. I took a breath as I removed the phone from against my ear and rested it onto the bed. I took a quick shower and changed into jeans and a t-shirt, before grabbing my satchel and heading off to school. Grandpa must have still been sleeping as usual, since he wasn't a morning person, a trait both my mother and I took from him.
After grandma had died about a year prior, she was cremated without having a funeral, just as she wanted. Her desire to not have people mourning over her death beside her dead body was expressed since I was growing up, and everyone accepted her decision. It was painful to let her go without being there to say our last goodbyes, but it was what she wanted and my grandfather did everything that she had asked of him. He was the only one present at the crematory and both my mother and I buried ourselves it excessive work on that day to distract ourselves from what we knew was taking place.
Grandpa soon learned how to cope with the loss of the love of his life. He carried on his days with trivial things and a lot of sleep since he was retired.
The morning air was warm and windy, the sky a light shade of blue and the clouds white and puffy. My eyes travelled along the length of the streets and the roads, admiring the beauty the little town held. I had two classes that day, both Literature but different levels of the subject. I really needed to attend, since I didn't in my Junior year, because of my intolerance of the teacher who had something against me since Freshman year. He was anti-LGBT, and it was clear to the entire school that I was indeed a lesbian. I saw no need to hide my sexuality or wanted to. I was proud of it, but that teacher would have gotten me expelled if I attended his classes. His remarks and attitude toward the LGBT community in class angered me to the extent of punching my locker on multiple occasions, which made me eventually drop his class.
As I walked, I passed teenagers that were heading to school as well. They looked at me in a more knowing way than before. I just continued my journey to school and as I neared, I heard someone yell my name. I turned around not recognizing the voice and saw someone running toward me. I didn't recognize him at all. I turned back and continued to walk, trying to ignore him, but he caught up to me and hastily placed his hand on my shoulder, making me stop in my tracks.
"What do you want?" I growled, not even turning to face him.
"Uhhh...hhh," I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, as I tried to calm down. I was getting angry for no reason at all and I knew it. I turned to face him.
"I'm sorry for being so mean, but what do you want?" He cleared his throat and gripped the strap of his backpack before speaking.
"I was wondering... if you wanted to... go to a movie sometime?" I arched my brow. Is this a joke or is he serious?
"You're not serious, right?" He looked at me as hurt flashed across his face. He bit down on the inside of his cheek, as he ran his fingers through his sandy blonde hair.
"I...uhh..."
"You do know that I'm a lesbian?" His eyes widened and he stepped back.
"You... you are?" He asked, surprise laced in his voice.
"I just said that I am," I shrugged and checked the time on my wristwatch. I had a good ten minutes before my first period, but I didn't want to be around him any longer, "look, dude, you're obviously uncomfortable with the information I just shared. So, let's save each other the trouble and never speak again, deal?"
I didn't wait for him to answer as I walked away and headed toward the entrance of the school. I let out a sigh of relief and found my locker, placing my phone inside. I didn't need any temptation to distract myself during class. I had to focus. I had to pass, and not only pass, but I had to achieve an excellent grade. If not, I would have felt like a complete failure, as I was already feeling.
I walked to class and entered, surprisingly being the only one there. Ava then entered and looked at me as she placed her handbag down on the desk.
"Hi, Kylie," she said as she opened her bag and took out a folded piece of clothing. The fabric looked familiar, "I just wanted to return this."
She walked toward me and stretched her hand out to hand it to me. I shook my head and smiled, "keep it, it looks really good on you."
I said, but she didn't retract her hand, "no, I can't."
"Keep it," I repeated, "just don't make it a habit of soiling your clothing while you're over," I chuckled and she finally retracted her hand.
"Thanks," she said walking back to her desk, confusion seemed to arise on her face. She placed it back inside of her bag, not even zipping it, before turning back to me, "you're a lesbian, right?" I rolled my eyes. How many people are going to make me speak about my sexuality in less than five minutes?
"Yes, I said that I am yesterday," I answered, making her lean against her desk. Her eyes wandered around the room, before focusing on me again.
"Your grandpa never said..."
"So my grandpa should have told you my sexual orientation? If you are uncomfortable with the topic, why bring it up? Look, if you don't want me to be your TA anymore, it's okay, cause if you are going to be like this..."
"No, I never said that I have a problem with it," she took a deep breath, "I'm just curious about it. I mean there are many gays in the town, but I just don't understand what the orientation means, I guess. Am I making any sense?"
"Gays?" I phrased with an amused look on my face.
"Is that all you got from what I said?" I chuckled and shook my head.
"What time do you want me to help you today?" I questioned, knowing that I didn't have enough time, at that very moment, to explain it to her.
"After school is fine," she answered confused as to why I suddenly changed the topic.
"Okay, well, I have you fourth period today and then I'm going home, so how about you come over? I can help you with whatever you need. I hope it is something we can do there, and I will also explain to you anything you want to know."
She nodded, "that sounds good. I have a lot of questions. I just have to mark take-home assignments that I gave the class to do over the summer," she said and smiled, looking as though some tension was gone.
"Okay, the bell will ring in... hold on," I looked at my watch, "five, four, three, two, one," I looked up and the bell rang the exact moment. I was surprised that no other students but me were in the class.
"Doesn't seem like anyone but me is attending today," I said as we both stared at the door. She walked over and opened it, before we heard multiple voices yelling. I got up, walked out with her and came upon a fight taking place near the entrance of the school, where what seemed to be an entire class was standing around watching.
She loudly groaned before leaving my side and walking straight over to them. A man in a suit ran past me as well and toward the riot.
"What is going on here?" He yelled. A boy with dark brown, curly hair picked up the other on his shoulder. They fought like amateurs. He placed down the boy after hearing the man speak, which made the same boy punch him in the stomach. The curly haired boy fell back from the impact and landed on the floor, while yelling profanities, "that's enough, both of you, in my office now!"
The man scolded, who I then assumed was the principal. The two boys walked in tow with the principal as they walked past me and probably toward his office.
"Everyone in class now!" Ava yelled as she walked toward me with everyone in tow behind her, "unbelievable," she mumbled, walking past me and into the classroom. I followed behind her and headed to my seat as the rest of the students piled in, except for the two boys, "now that everyone is not ditching class to witness a fight, we will have an oral test as your punishment," I groaned and slumped in my chair. Why am I being punished as well? I had a bad feeling in my stomach and knew that I wouldn't be able to answer any of the questions. I read the two required books for the class already, but to answer questions about them, I couldn't, "okay, since you guys had the entire summer to read Hollister's Journey and The Tribulations of an African Slave, we'll start off simple, since I doubt any of you has read past chapter one or even a single word from any of the books," she looked around the classroom, her eyes landing on me for a moment longer, before she looked away, "who is Hollister in the book Hollister's Journey?" She asked and pointed to someone at the back of the class to answer.
"Um... he is the main character?" I heard the voice of a girl say and knew that she was completely wrong.
"That's incorrect, Emily," Ava said.
"I don't know then," the girl said and Ava shook her head in disappointment.
"Does anyone know the answer or do I have to give the entire class detention this afternoon?" That was a bit too much just because no one knew the answer to the question. I was definitely not staying after school for detention. I had to help her with grading assignments anyway. Why am I concerned about her and her work? I took a deep breath before raising my hand, "yes, Miss Blanckaert?"
"He's the narrative voice that tells of his experience growing up with a single parent in a third world country," I answered as a smile formed on her lips, "his mother is the main character," I added, making her nod and she turned her attention back to the class.
"So, the new girl had to answer the question. I am very disappointed," Ava shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, "everyone has detention after class except her," she added, making the entire class except me groan. I felt eyes on me and knew that they must have hated my guts if they hadn't already.
"She's a senior, so she is supposed to know the answers," the same girl, who got the answer wrong, said.
"That has nothing to do with this, Emily."
"Well, I'm just wondering why the hell she is in our class," the girl grumbled.
"Can everyone hand up their assignments that I gave over the summer?" Ava ignored the girl and began collecting the assignments from students. I assumed that was what I had to help her grade later that day, "Miss Blanckaert, you have to write an essay of one thousand words about a topic of your choice. I will give you by the end of the week to complete it," she said as she continued to collect the papers. I nodded as I watched her collect the last of the papers and walk over to her desk, where she placed the pile. She turned back to the class and looked at me, before looking back down at the pile on the desk, "Miss Blanckaert, can you come over here for a second," I nodded and got up from my seat, her smile broadened as I neared, which made me happy for some reason, "here is the student register," she picked it up from the desk and handed it to me, "please mark the student names. I'll be back in a few minutes. You can sit at my desk."
She gave me a smile before leaving the classroom. I sighed as I walked behind her desk and sat down, before opening the register.
"Fucking teacher's pet," I heard the same girl say out loud, making me raise my head.
"If you're so offended that I'm smarter than you, then you should get over yourself because I am smarter than you," I said looking at her. Her bullshit was really starting to piss me off. She scoffed.
"Don't think so highly of yourself just because you're some city girl, there must be a reason why you came to this town, must have been expelled or something."
I rolled my eyes, "jumping to conclusions won't get you anywhere in life," I said as I looked down at the register. I took a deep breath, trying not to get angry, before I called out the first name on the list. The boy made his presence known and I placed a tick next to his name. It continued like that until I reached the end of the list. The girl didn't even bother to say anything when I called her name, except that she was present. As I closed the register, I heard her speak.
"You're just a stupid dyke," it seemed as though she ran out of other ways to criticize me, so she had to insult my sexuality.
"Do you seriously want to upset me?" I grumbled as I stood from the desk. I didn't intend to get into a fight with her, but she was getting on my last nerve, "look, insult me all you want, it just proves that you are threatened by me," I said as Ava walked back into the class.
"Everything okay?" She asked as I walked back to my seat.
"Yes," I mumbled taking my seat. I'm just frickin' great.