Fixing A Broken Compass

Test Day

"Maybe the reason I didn't tell you anything is because talking takes up oxygen and right now, I am already struggling to breathe."

The days leading to Friday were atrocious. The twins were down more, Willow wouldn't leave Miles's side, and Reggie sensed their anxious energy making him more cranky.

Miles was trying to keep it together but school was a struggle. He hadn't gotten to drop his photography class and he was nervous to even go by the art room hall. Fear that Mr. Finn or one of the other teachers would catch sight of him and Miles's walls would fall.

Add on to the fact that Mr. Toma's words were ringing in his ears.

He didn't like that the man thought he wasn't trying when Miles had been giving all that he had left.

I know it was Friday the day of the test and Miles felt like a complete zombie.

His movements were sluggish, his feet dragged, and his gaze drifted moving but not seeing.

Struggling was not the word.

He was brimming with anxiety. He hated testing days. No, he more than hated them. He despised them.

It always left him feeling jumbled. It was as if he would get himself so worked up that his body turned on him. Nothing helped, his chest would burn, and no matter how much he rubbed it the ache just stayed there.

Ask him a question face to face Miles could fumble together a response. Put it on a piece of paper in front of him and he was lost.

The guys must have noticed his change of behavior today as well. He was more jumpy in his classes. A little more obnoxious and loud than he had meant to be. He didn't mean to but he fell into a habit when he was having tests.

It's like everything bubbled up inside of him and he was buzzing with too much energy.

The others had been asking if he was okay and Miles cracked one joke or another. His heart was racing and if he was being completely honest he was dragging his feet getting to Mr. Toma's class.

Still, the moment he walked in he kept his head down heading for his usual seat.

The bell rang as he moved to sit down and Miles curled and uncurled his hands. The room was almost unbearably loud to his ears. His eyes glanced at the clock watching as he ticked by. He shifted as he sat.

"Alright class," Mr. Toma cleared his throat, silence coated the room and Miles wasn't sure what was worse. The silence or the noise. "Quiet down. Today we have a test. It's covering the first few chapters we've done. I expect none of you to have any issues. If you've kept up with the homework you'll be fine."

Groans echoed in the room and Mr. Toma shook his head.

"The quicker you quiet down the quicker we can start. I expect no phones out and eyes should be on your paper. I won't hesitate to kick anyone out. And if I see any phones it'll be an automatic zero."

More complaints echoed in the room and Miles shifted. "He's such dick. Who does a test this early on?" Someone murmured slowly.

Mr. Toma looked across the room before handing out the tests. Miles waited until one landed on his desk. The moment he got it he stood with his backpack heading towards the door.

It was quiet enough the class didn't notice, or anyone who had previous classes with Miles knew he took tests out of the classroom. Still, he felt himself brimming with anxiety.

"Mr. Lightwood." Mr. Toma called completely confused. He stood and Miles froze on the spot. He felt people start to murmur and his heart sank into his stomach. "What are you doing? You need to sit down."