Standing out

Stalker

Rosemary:

I rested my chin on my hands. Mrs. Titania's class is reaaaaaaaally boring, but I'm too afraid of her to skip it.

Heh, like I even have the courage to do that...

I can't even walk to the library alone...

...

Too much? yeah, maybe...

I turned to see Dolce on her phone. She's been my best friend for years. We dreamed to get here together, and here we are today, stuck with each other for the next...

...3 years.

I saw Ruby behind me. She looked ready to strangle someone. I understand her. If it wasn't for Mrs. Titania, none of us would be here.

I looked at Mrs. Titania. 

She was angry.

Very angry.

And I understood her. Having to take care of kids who aren't even paying attention to you is hard. But still, I don't like her. You'll know why in a minute.

The class fell to silence. Everyone was looking at her. 

What unfortunate person was going to fall in her mighty hands today?

She slammed her hands on the table. Everyone flinched.

"Milan!" she calls for a kid in the back.

The poor boy stands up. The whole class looks at him.

I'm so sorry for him. Regardless of what he did, I hope Mrs. Titania isn't too harsh with him.

She looks at him thru her thick glasses.

" Why were you staring at Rosemary and not at the lesson?"

Everyone looked from Milan to Rosemary.

I would've done the same, then I remembered.

Oh yeah. I am Rosemary.

I looked at Dolce, who was holding her stomach from the laughter. She didn't make any sound. 

And that wasn't a good sign. 

"Oh please not again" I hear Ruby say from behind.

I covered my functioning ear with one hand and Ruby's eyes with the other.

Maybe it was too late for me, but at least I could save the young one.

Dolce let out a laugh comparable to a scream. She was crying of laughter. 

And everyone turned their eyes from me to her.

"Thank you" I hear Ruby say under her breath. " I did not want to see that."

"No problem, at least I can do something for the next generation"

Ruby's the only one in the gang who doesn't get mad when I call her young. Even if we're all sophomores (except for Ruby), I am a year older than everyone.

Yeaaaaaa, I attended kindergarten late...

I looked at Milan. He was back on his seat, looking at his desk. I was so sorry for him.

Yeah, what he did was quite stalkish, but he wasn't worth getting scolded for just looking at me, I'm just sayin'.

But I felt even worse when I saw a tear fall from his eye and onto the paper. He quickly rubbed his eyes and looked around.

He saw me. 

He had red eyes and looked about to burst out.

I gave him a smile and mouthed 'it's ok'. He rubbed his eyes again and looked out the window.

You may say he exaggerated, but everyone knows what happens when you get on Mrs. Titania's nerves.

Firstly, she embarrasses you in front of the whole class. That would make you the largest gossip source for the day, regardless of what you did.

Secondly, she often exaggerates things and whines at the other teachers about certain kids (whom she of course doesn't like), making them look bad.

And lastly, she may end up even giving you detention. You don't know how many clear records have been destroyed by this woman.

Even Olga and Pierce, who have gotten many prizes at many contest (mostly involving math and chinese) have gotten into detention once for 'being unmannered' and 'talking back'.

So yeah, being a horrible but silent person can get you thru this class, but being smart and sometimes saying a word gets you detention. It's that messed up.

And I was extremely sorry for Milan. I think I've met him somewhere before.

The bell rang. 

He ran out of the classroom without sparing anyone a glance.

I guess I should talk to him...

...after I get Dolce to stop laughing...