A Rift Between Us

Chapter 21 - Period Five: ICT

Alfie's grip on his phone loosened as he pressed the power button, illuminating the screen. The blurred photo appeared instantly. He tapped the options icon and deleted it before slipping off his backpack, brushing away the dirt and grit left by Keiko's shoe. Despite his best efforts, a foot-shaped mark remained. He looked around. There was no sign of her. She was truly gone, at least for now.

He quickly rotated his phone, positioning it just right to snap another photo of the flowerbed. The shot was better, though still a landmark away from what his Canon could achieve. His mind flashed back to Keiko, sending a wave of unease spiralling through his body.

Why does she have to be in every single one of my lessons? Oh wait...

The zipper on his bag tore open as he pulled out a laminated sheet. It revealed a series of small rectangles, each showing a lesson for the day. The edges fluttered like a flag as he traced his finger along the Wednesday row, stopping at period five: ICT.

Argh, damn it...ICT is always done in tutor groups.

He shoved the sheet back into his backpack and zipped it closed with force. The periodic bell rang, signalling the end of lunch. The hustle and bustle in the courtyard continued as everyone plodded back inside. Alfie watched them, flung on his bag, and adjusted his blazer. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he followed them inside.

Hmm, I wonder if Ms Hubbard is in today. Ms Camdyn did say the staff shortages were only happening with science teachers.

The chatter grew louder as Alfie stood by the entrances, the hum of voices blending into a cacophony. Flocks of students scurried in, almost climbing over each other as they filled the area. The stairs were packed, leaving little room to manoeuvre. A sudden crash echoed through the space, causing everyone to look up. The double doors at the top of the stairs had been kicked open, slamming against the walls with a resounding thud.

A short boy with a bowl cut rushed down, shoving everyone in his path with reckless abandon. His nose twitched like a rabbit, his eyes narrowing to slits as he bulldozed through the crowd. A girl bumped into him from behind, making him stumble and sneeze, spraying a fine mist of saliva all over Alfie's face and glasses. Alfie winced, wiping his lenses with the hem of his shirt, the chaos around him momentarily forgotten.

"Hey!"

The boy kept barrelling downwards, rubbing his runny nose with his jumper.

"Sorry bro, sorry!"

 Some people laughed as they bumped past Alfie. The boy scrambled into the lower corridor, showing no signs of stopping. Others quickly moved away after witnessing the scene. Alfie darted to the fountain, his heart racing as he dabbled his fingers in the cold water. He splashed his face repeatedly. An abrupt lump in his throat made swallowing difficult. He spat as a few droplets trickled down his face and past his lips.

The upstairs corridor had quickly quietened as most students had entered their classrooms. Wiping the remaining water from his face, he dashed towards Ms Hubbard's ICT suite. The door was slightly ajar, letting out a whiff of cheese and tomato sauce. Everyone was present inside. As he pushed the door, every gaze turned towards him.

"Ms Hubbard, sorry I'm la-"

He stopped mid-sentence as he noticed Mr Dodge slumped in Ms Hubbard's seat, finishing a slice of pizza. He looked over at Alfie, his eyes more hollow than ever, framed by dark circles and bags that resembled heavy-duty suitcases dangling from his face.

"You're late. Alfie, you and me are going to have a serious problem."