Paradise

Chapter Three

"Miss Springfield?"

A breath of air cooled my face. I heard the flapping of paper, and slowly opened my eyes. Mrs. Hawkins blurred in my vision, a concerned expression tugging at her round face. "Are you alright?" she asked.

I glanced into the wide eyes of my classmates (several had left their desks to hover over me), and immediately felt embarrassed. "Y-Yeah," I muttered, beginning to sit up. My bun had fallen down, causing most of my hair to blanket down my back. Still, what little remained of the bun now pulled at my head like a suspended weight.

"Easy, Miss Springfield!" Mrs. Hawkins scolded, "You don't want to make yourself dizzy."

Some students began to snicker, and I felt my face grow hot. "I'm fine," I grumbled, using the edge of a desk to pull myself up. When the desk tittered, nearly sending me back to the floor, the snickering increased, and Mrs. Hawkins gave an incredulous look.

"Excuse me!" she cried, outraged, "There is to be NO laughing! Return to your seats immediately."

Footsteps drowned out my heartbeat, but I could still feel it hammering in my chest. I started for my desk, when Mrs. Hawkins suddenly took my arm. I turned to her, a look of mild horror in my eyes.

What now?

"Wait right there. I'll write you a pass to see the nurse," she simply said. Then she let go of my arm.

A pass to see the nurse?

My heartbeat spiked, but it wasn't out of fear or embarrassment, no, it was out of surprise ... but relief just the same. This meant I would be able to call my mother at work, and she could come take me home. She would sympathize with my situation. After all, I had fainted in class.

Then my eyes trailed away from Mrs. Hawkins hunched back as she wrote my pass. I turned around to find Yvette staring at me. There was a look of amazement in her eyes, and it made me feel strange. I wanted to smile at her, to show her that I was alright, but I just couldn't do it.

"Here," Mrs. Hawkins said from behind me. "Gather your things, and go to the office."

I obediently took the pass.

Mrs. Hawkins turned to the class. "Does anyone want to escort Miss Springfield to the office?"

I groaned inwardly.

To my surprise, Yvette raised her hand. "I would like to go," she said.

"Well now!" Mrs. Hawkins responded like Yvette had volunteered to go fight in the war. She grinned broadly, revealing all of her too-perfect teeth (which were obviously dentures). "That's what I like to hear! Already getting involved." She pointed toward the students with her free hand as she scribbled another pass. "You could all learn from her."

Yvette gave me a smile as she embarrassingly gathered my things, gently placing them into my opened backpack, and met me at the door. I could hear whispering coming from the back (as well as snickering).

"Here you go," Mrs. Hawkins said as she handed Yvette her pass.

I took my backpack from Yvette and muttered, "Thanks." as we headed outside the classroom. I was still feeling a bit lightheaded, but I ignored it as I speed-walked down the hall.

"Penny!" Yvette hurried beside me. A strand of hair tumbled into her face, bouncing in rhythm with her stride. When she pushed it away, it traced a line of shadow along her jaw. "You shouldn't be walking so fast."

Slinging my backpack over one shoulder, I reached behind my back and tugged the rubber-band loose, letting my hair spill the rest of the way to my waist. "It's fine," I sighed, pushing the rubber-band up my wrist. When I went to put my hair back up, Yvette gently pulled my hand back.