The Conductor

Chapter Twelve- Miranda

I waited patiently in the seemingly endless lunch line, anticipating the moment when I would finally get to place something delicious on my tongue and eat. There was a crowd of people in front of me. I had arrived at a bad time.

I tapped my foot and shuffled along until it was finally my turn to pick up my lunch. I chose a single slice of pizza that had just been pulled out of the box, the cheese hot and melting over the edges of the crust. I picked up a small container of lettuce and a chocolate milk, and I was on my way.

I scanned the cafeteria for my friends. They seemed to be nowhere to be found amongst the sea of faces, but I somehow miraculously found them and headed in their general direction.

I sat down next to my friend Jen, Shel sitting across from me, and Casey sitting diagonal to me.

Jen, Shel, and Casey had been my friends since fifth grade. They were nice girls, and I enjoyed their company. We sat next to each other every other day, B days. Shel was a dancer and in Orchestra, too. She was seemingly shy around new people and is like a second mom. She can be bossy, but at the end of the day we always have fun.

Jen was in Concert Band with me. She played the Clarinet. She behaved well in class and was really quiet, but when we hung out things got upbeat super fast when she was with us. She's weird and fun.

Casey was not as strange as the rest of us. She gets involved in our conversations easily, but she won't talk your ear off. She was in Orchestra with Shel, and they always made Band jokes in front of us. (Psst, Band is better, just sayin'.)

I had just sat down when my friends started to interrogate me, as usual.

"Oh good, you're here Miranda." Shel greeted me. "How was Keyboarding?"

I gave Shel my chocolate milk and in return she gave me her Capri Sun pouch.

"Ugh, terrible." I groaned. "I hate that class so much. Is it wrong that I'd rather have Band that period?"

"You'd rather have Band every period." Casey chimed.

"Yeah, you're probably right." I replied. "But lately Band's also been a source of concern for me as well."

"Is it because Mr. Jones hasn't been here?" Jen asked, quietly.

"YES!!!" I almost screamed. "He hasn't been here for the past week!!!"

"Maybe he's on a trip with the Army Band." Shel reasoned.

"Well, yeah, but it think it has something to do with what I told you about a few days ago, the splitting wood noises?"

"Miranda, it has nothing to do with that!" Jen argued.

"Yes it does!" I replied. "If it had nothing to do with it then why did he panic and just...LEAVE... the way he did? There has to be some reason why he flipped out at the sound of splitting wood!!!"

"Woah, lady, calm down!" Shel said.

"HOW COULD YOU TELL ME TO CALM DOWN IN THIS SITUATION?!? THE FAVORITE TEACHER OF HUNDREDS IS GONE AND NOBODY CARES!!!"

"I do," Jen said, a little louder than before, "But not this worried about it! Take a chill pill! He'll be back in a few days!"

I frowned. This particular group of friends thought I was a strange Band-obsessed weirdo, but somehow they always stuck with me. But they believed nothing and usually would nod-off my theories.

I sighed. I had finished my lunch now and I decided to go see what Megan was up to. She'd believe me.

"Well, guys, I'm gonna go now. I'll see you later." I said, standing up. Shel gave me puppy eyes as I waved goodbye and threw my trash away. I walked out into the commons area and spotted Megan sitting with her friend Marisol.

"Hi Miranda!" Megan waved when she saw me.

"Hey guys!" I greeted back.

"Still worried about Mr. Jones?"

I sighed. "Yes! I am DYING for him to just come back already! I'm worried!"

"I am too. Do you think it has something to do with our little theory?"

"I KNOW it has something to do with our little theory! Dude, Mr. Jones makes it so obvious that he's a time traveller."

"Yeah, he really does." Megan replied. "The worst part is he denies it."

"Yeah, that little Ding Dong!" I teased. Marisol and Megan laughed as a thin smile spread across my face.

"But seriously though, I'm worried." I said as my smile faded. "Remember the splitting wood noise I told you about?"

"Yeah." Marisol replied.

"Well, that was the last day anyone saw him. Since then, he hasn't showed up to school in the past week!"

I suddenly noticed a strange girl looking at us from a distance. She was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, her blonde hair styled back into a bun. I had never seen her before until now. She seemed to be listening in on our conversation. She stared at us with a glare.

"Hey guys," I whispered, still looking at the girl, "I think that girl over there is eavesdropping our conversation."

Megan and Marisol turned in her general direction. They joined me in staring at her for a few seconds. We turned back towards each other.

"Maybe you're right." Marisol agreed. I turned back towards the girl, but she was gone!

"She disappeared!" I almost yelled.

Megan and Marisol gave me confused looks. I frowned in frustration.