Forest Darling

Chapter 1 - Nugget

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Chapter 1

°Harriet

I'm running late for the first lesson on Monday morning, like always. Who thought school on Monday is a good plan?  I'm already at the door of my classroom as I take a quick peek at the clock and see that there is 1 minute until the beginning of the lesson.

I try to open the door really quietly in the hope that Mr.Collins doesn't notice that I'm late again. As my eyes look to the right; I exhale calmy when I see that he isn't yet sitting at his table. Quickly I make my way to the last row. Meanwhile you can clearly hear the door open again and there is no doubt who is coming in right now.

My back faces him but I can make out that he throws his bag aggressively on the teacher's desk and is mentally preparing to yell at me.

"Ms.Levine I thought it was enough to call your parents and say that they're 18-year-old daughter can't handle to be on time. It seems I was wrong." He says with an angry voice.

Everyone in the room pays attention in my direction. Some laugh, some look annoyed and when my gaze fell onto Bella, she tries to give me a compassionate smile. I slowly turn around and put a small smile on my face as well.

Before I can open my mouth to apologize, Mr. Collins begins to walk my way and continues his speech.

"Since I can't talk to you like a grown-up, I'll adjust to your level."

He's standing right in front of me and starts stroking my head. The situation is so overwhelming that I don't dare to move even one bit. I stare at him with wide eyes.

"So Harriet, I'm Mr.Collins and I run this class. The start is 7:30 am, which means you have to go to bed very very early in the evening so that you sleep out the next day and sit here on time. Do you understand that, little girl?" He bends down a bit, so that he is on an equal eye level with me.

If a mirror would stand in front of me right now, I could mistake myself for a tomato. The situation is so shameful that I am hardly able to speak.

I sincerely apologize for my behavior in a cracked voice, turn around and go to my seat as fast as possible.

Just before I arrive, my foot gets stuck on something and I stumble against a table. A half open Pepsi bottle that stands on Fynn's desk tilts over and drowns his whole place, including his notebook, pencil case and his grey hat that he had taken out of his pocket shortly before.

He jumps off his seat. For a second, I see sadness in his eyes until it turns to pure anger. He takes his hat and storms out of the door.

Mr.Collins only throws me a paper box while rolling his eyes and starts his lesson. I slowly begin to clean the table as best as I can, put the used cloths in the trash and finally come to my seat.

This is the exact memory I have in mind when I stumble head over heels against a table in the canteen which makes Fynn's water bottle too fall over. I look anxiously between him and his bottle until I realize that this time it is completely closed.

Am I really this clumsy?

You mean are you really this dumb?

Did my inner self just roast me?

Did you just knock his bottle over again?

Yes.

Then yes, I did.

He looks me dead in the eyes.

"Wasn't it enough when you made a fool out of yourself two years ago? Open your fucking eyes and just be for once aware of your surroundings."