Visions of Fate

13. SHADOWS OF DOUBT

The rest of the periods passed me by like an injured tortoise trying to finish a race – painfully slow and menacing to watch. So far, I'd met three teachers; Mr Watson, Mr Stevens and Ms Thompson, each one seeming even more official than the other.

Throughout the entire periods, I kept receiving side glances from the other students and the heat crept up to my cheeks so much that I felt beads of sweat gathering on my forehead and I actually started feeling claustrophobic at one point.

I told Mom this would happen.

So far, I had seen no sign of Ethan and that actually made me feel more relieved than I cared to admit. Maybe it was because of the fact that I was so embarrassed, I couldn't look my boyfriend in the eye. At this point, I was pretty sure my bad luck was contactable, and the last thing I wanted was to spread my incurable disease to the one I loved.

So, I glued my butt to my chair for almost three hours, watching students pile in and out of the class, while burning holes on my skull with their  curious gazes. At one point during Ms Thompson's History class, when I thought I couldn't take anymore embarrassment, I felt the devil on my shoulder throw a convincing speech about how I should have flunked out and taken an excuse to use the restroom.

But I resisted the urge because, a) That would have only drawn more attraction and, if anything, heightened curiosity. B), I hadn't an idea where the restrooms were in the first place. So I gave up the strong urge to escape my shame and remained in tact.

The bell rang in the middle of Ms Thompson's class, cutting her short in her description about 'The Cold War'. Leaving, she reminded the entire class about their due project next week Monday and scurried out the door like she too was glad about the sudden interruption.

It wasn't until the student-clones began piling out the door that I realized what was truly going on. It was break time. Meaning that, since I had no lunch and didn't even know where 'lunch' was located, I had nowhere else to go. Meaning that I would look even weirder and even more desperate sitting alone in the class while everyone else happily dined in the cafeteria – wherever that was.

Then I began to panic. Because I didn't want to be labeled as weird on my first day of school. Though, judging by circumstances and events, I'd say that was too late. Still, it would only get worse to be seen sitting alone in an isolated classroom, while my other mates literally dined together in the cafeteria.

But then I recalled Abi's word and my heart mended its shattered pieces back together. Because I had a friend now. I had Abi. And though I knew close to nothing about her, she still remained my saviour in my demise. So I waited for her in the empty classroom, playing and setting a new high score on Subway Surfers on my phone. When I hadn't seen any sign of her, I rested my head on the oak desk for a few minutes.

Minutes that turned into years, and years that slipped into decades. Yet no sign of her. My bones ached from being stuck in the same position for too long, and my butt felt like I'd just finished doing a day old workouts session. I was pretty sure I was growing beard by now. Yet no sign of her. I was beginning to think this overly enthusiastic young lady had totally abandoned me and was probably enjoying her lunch with her so-called friends in the cafeteria.

Upon realization, I slumped my shoulders in resignation, anxiety and general exhaustion. Then, right when I was about to surrender myself to sleep, I felt a low grumble in my stomach, like the purring of a gigantic creature. Then the sound came again, only this time it was even louder than before.

Great. This was just great.

So I was a socially awkward seventeen year old girl, stuck in the only classroom she'd ever been to, who had missed her breakfast, currently missing her lunch while wallowing in sheer shame and exhaustion. This day couldn't get any worse.