MY FAVORITE RIVAL

CHAPTER 4

Dylan's pov

That precis Professor Wave got up in a hurry from the cafeteria table and didn't even take his beloved bag full of books and who knows how many other mysterious things.

He is a weirdo, however, he intrigues me and in my opinion he is a good prey for my little jokes and deep down I think he likes me a lot.
It's going to be a very fun year, I can already imagine it!

I grabbed Nicholas' bag and took it to the class where I was going to have my afternoon philosophy class; 5 D.
The very one where Prof. Wave showed up this morning.
I walked in and placed my briefcase and Wave's bag on the desk, greeting the boys who politely rose from their chairs.

Dylan: Sit down kids, today is going to be a long hour of math.
But first I have to take this bag back to your new teacher.

Vincent: What, prof? Already math on the second day of school practically?
He's a nightmare and his subjects are horrible.
Can I take the bag to Prof. Wave?

Dylan: Vincent Mills, be a good boy.
And no, I'll carry it.
Guys in the meantime decide who will be class rep this year, in my hour on Friday there will be voting.
Up up up up, move.

The boys all started pointing at Mills, he was a bold and tough kid, he would have made a great representative if it weren't for his innate laziness.

I grabbed my bag and walked out of the classroom going to the janitors' cage to ask which classroom he was in at the time and was told he was in 3 C.
I thanked with a wink the 40-year-old janitor who immediately blushed and went to knock in that classroom.

Prof Wave: Guys quiet!!! Please..
You can't have class like that....
But did they knock by any chance?

I held back a laugh hearing that chaos inside the classroom, then ran a hand through my thick black hair and knocked harder and opened without waiting for a response.

Dylan: Hi guys, Prof. Wave.

I spoke in an absolutely calm and moderate tone as the boys stood up in silence and sealed their lips in terror.
They watched my footsteps come closer and closer to them and smiled.

Dylan: Oh well well, you were already freaking out the professor on his first day?
You could have waited at least a week, poor guy.

I smiled amusedly and the boys giggled softly while Nicholas looked at me ruefully, to say the least.

Nicholas: Actually it was just the presentation moment, it's normal for there to be a bit of a fuss!
And thanks for the bag, that's why you're here I guess.

Dylan: Oh yeah, next time I'll take it home if you don't remember it, so you'll be forced to spend time with your buddy here.
Take it.

I handed him the bag and then nodded goodbye to the boys, pausing for a moment at the edge of the door.

Dylan: Chrissy, we're doing tutoring tomorrow at 3:30 p.m., not 5 p.m. anymore, I have plans.
If that doesn't work for you send me an email and we'll work it out.
Bye guys, see you tomorrow.

The boys greeted me politely, and Wave said a simple "hello" as she sat back down at her desk.
As soon as I closed the door that commotion resumed and I immediately giggled.
I returned to 5 D and began to present the program we would be doing that year.

When the lesson was over, which was quite tiring for the guys half asleep in their desks, I grabbed my stuff and left after saying goodbye to them.
I went home and lay down on the bed as a headache pervaded me.

I fell asleep and around 8 p.m. I heard noises coming from the apartment next door, but I didn't pay much attention to them.
When I heard the noises increasing and getting louder I got up and leaned my ear against the wall.
I heard straining noises, probably from that Nicholas.

Oh right, he had arrived only the day before and was probably tidying up some furniture.
Maybe he needed help?
Hmm.

I got up and gave my face a wash to wake up from my slumber and then went to knock on door 10 waiting for an answer.

Nicholas: Who's that?

Dylan: Your buddy, Wave.

Nicholas: What do you want?

Dylan: Calm down.
Do you need any help?

Nicholas: No, I'm not going to cut you open and I don't need any help thank you.

Dylan: -

Dylan: Would you stop being "I don't need anything" and get help?

He didn't answer me, he was really gone.
I shrugged and sighed, going back into the house and sitting down at my desk to prepare the next day's program, complete with a restorative coffee.

I texted Principal Lauren to come over the next day to my place by 5 p.m., since by 3:30 p.m. Chrissy, one of my 3 C students would be coming over to tutor her mother's requested math tutoring.

Lauren called me instead of texting me back and we started talking and joking as we had been doing for a few months now.
I heard the doorbell ring and got up while continuing to talk on the phone, only to open the door without even asking who it was and find Nicholas standing in front of me.

I squinted my eyes but immediately tried to change my expression and clear my throat.

Dylan: I'll call you back later, bye.

I disconnected the call without explanation and put the phone in my pocket, looking at my colleague.

Nicholas: Emh..sorry, am I disturbing? If you want I'll leave or ask someone else-.

Dylan: Take it easy, no bother.
Have you changed your mind?

Nicholas: No, about that.
Let's say I'm obliged to ask for help with a huge piece of furniture I have to move.

Dylan: Let me see!

I followed him observing from behind, shaking my head amused.
Once inside, I helped him move the furniture and then crossed my arms over my chest.

Nicholas: Thank you, you can go now, that's all I needed.

Dylan: Are you already kicking me out?
I mean, aren't you going to show me a little bit of your little abode?

Nicholas: That's not the case Hallen, you can go.

Dylan: And I want to see instead, let me take the tour.

Nicholas: Do it yourself, I'm tired.

Dylan: He stammered and so I went for a general tour without stopping for details.
In the bedroom on his bedside table I saw a picture of him with a beautiful young woman, she must have been about his age.

Dylan: Is this your girlfriend?

I asked raising my voice to be heard taking the photo in my hands and looking at it.
The girl looked sweet and pretty, but Nicholas in that picture had come especially funny, he was sticking his tongue out.

Nicholas: Huh?
What the hell..put it down!
Who gave you permission to take it, put it down.
And she's not my girlfriend, she's my wife.
We moved a year ago.

Dylan: Interesting, then someone who can stand you is there.

I winked at him and laughed as he glowered at me and huffed taking me by the arm and walking me to the door.

Nicholas: I thank you, you can go now.
See you tomorrow.

Dylan: See you tomorrow Wave.

I left a painless, playful pinch on his cheek spontaneously, not even realizing it.
I giggled and went home, writing to Principal Lauren and apologizing.
She replied a bit in a huff but eventually understood why and could not blame me.
I went to bed exhausted and fell asleep almost immediately with Nicholas probably humming in the shower, you could hear it all and it was very funny.