Dawns High and the Destruction of the Bees

Con.

Matthew Lin:

Monday, September 7th—

It's the class right before lunch today, which is Math. The teacher is Ms. Trotta. She's nice and all, but when you ask to go to the bathroom, there's this feeling that she'll murder you if you just want to skip her class. Also, if you're caught sleeping, Ms. Trotta will throw a chalk pen right at you. I try my best to stay focused, but I can't help, but think about the meeting with Mr. A later. He doesn't seem like a mean person, although Roy kinda acted weird around him. I don't think I've ever seen him that angry, not even when Betty called him, "Ugly."

This year, I have geometry for math. Ms. Trotta really wants us to learn, so she is super strict. However, I feel like if she would stop pausing every three seconds to yell at a student, we would learn way more. I sit at the corner of the room, next to the window. It's open and there's a cool breeze, I like this spot. Also, I get to see the road in front of Dawns High and it makes me feel relaxed.

At the end of the lesson when I'm packing up, I think to Emma, Lunch or Mr. A's office?

Emma thinks back, Let's just get lunch and eat it in his office. I agree, I reply. Ms. Trotta's room is on the 5th floor and the cafeteria is on the 1st floor, so it's going to take a while. I have to walk down 5 flights of stairs and go back up to the principal's office. There are elevators, but it's only for teachers and emergencies only. Anyways, I spot Emma on line in the cafeteria when I get there and Selena's with her. They don't see me, they're on their phones. Then, from behind me, someone says, "Yo, Matthew." I turn around and see Roy and George.

"Sup?" I ask. I tap my wristband for my Student ID. One of the lunch ladies scans it and I go get my lunch. It's macaroni and cheese with apple juice and blueberries.

"Nothing," Roy says. "Just wondering if you want to sit with us for lunch."

"Sorry, dude," I tell them. "Emma and I have to go to Mr. A's office, remember?"

"Oh yeah," George says. "Well, good luck then."

"Thanks," I say to George.

Roy then says, "You know, you don't necessarily have to go. That old man is so bothersome."

"What do you have against Mr. A anyway?" I ask him. "You were acting weird last time when we met him."

"Oh," George says hastily. "Roy was just having one of his mood swings, right?"

"Yeah," Roy says. "Well, you better go now, your sister's waiting." He points behind me. Emma and Selena are standing next to the door.

"Why don't you guys sit with Selena?" I ask them. "Emma will be going with me, so she'll have no one to stay with."

"Good idea," George says. "I won't be stuck with this grumpy dude for the next half hour, yes!"

"Hey!" Roy says. "It's not like I want to sit with you."

"Just kidding," George says, laughing.

"Well, see you guys later then," I say.

"Sure," Roy says. I walk over to the girls.

"Sel," I say. "Looks like you'll have to sit with them for lunch," I indicate to Roy and George.

"But I don't know them," Selena says, panicking already.

"Chill," Emma says. "You've met them before. You can do this Sel. We believe in you."

The three of us start laughing.

"Emma," Selena says. "I'm not a baby." She's still laughing, "I can do this much, at least."

"You'll never know if you might need some reassuring from your best friends," Emma says.