Back To You

No Social Ladder

I didn't make it to the cafeteria before the bell rang so I just went to my next class. I knew my friends would worry so I sent out a group text telling them that I got held up and that I would explain later.

By sixth period I was overthinking like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't stop thinking about Rebecca and why she was crying.

I had only been in this school for a few months, but I had never once seen her hard exterior break. Although what that guy said was extremely rude, it didn't seem like enough to make Rebecca cry.

All of fifth period Andrew tried to get me to tell him what was wrong, but I resisted. I didn't want to risk someone else hearing it and a rumor starting. It would be easier to just wait until it was just me and my friends. And I wouldn't have to repeat myself a bunch of times.

"You look like you just witnessed a murder." Cole said. "Now the stress is eating you alive."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Thanks, that made me feel so much better."

"You know, you'd feel a lot better if you just told me why you were so upset." He said.

"I will. Later, with everyone else." Andrew wasn't the only one trying to get me to spill the secret.

Well, not a secret exactly.

The over-thinking and lack of sleep was not a good combination, and all of my thoughts were mixing together.

"Kay guys it's Monday so let's try and get something done, yeah?" The teacher stood in front of the class. Everyone stared at her in confusion.

She almost never gave us an actual lesson. We mostly just sat around this period, besides the occasional worksheet she have our. Some kids used it like a study hall to actually finish their homework, but most of us just talked.

"Alright, so let's just review what we've gone through this year."

She started asking random questions about things that we supposedly learned. This was a geography class, but some of her questions were about science and math. I think she was more confused than we were.

My mind started to drift back to Rebecca. Don't ask me why, because I obviously had know control over my thoughts.

"Natalia." My head snapped up and I blinked a couple of times. "What was the Louisiana purchase?"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I remember discussing this in history class, but I couldn't remember. My thoughts were all over the place.

"Um," I glanced around and my classmates had expectant looks on their faces. "The president purchased Louisiana?"

A couple of chuckles went around the room and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment. The teacher, who's name was completely beyond me, was not amused.

"Would you care to elaborate?" She asked.

"Uh, right. The Louisiana Purchase?" I asked her.

She nodded.

"Right, okay. The, uh, Louisiana purchase was." I bit my lip and tried to think. "Something with the French, or-"

I stopped talking when more laughter came. The teacher shushed them and sent me an encouraging look.

I sighed heavily. "Um. Can you use it in a sentence?"

Everyone laughed and my teachers face reclaimed it's unamused look. She couldn't comment though, because the bell rang. I let out a relieved breath.

"Thank God." I muttered. I grabbed my backpack and Cole and I made our way to the exit.

"Oh, and by the way, Natalia," I paused and looked back at our teacher. "The Louisiana purchase was literally the purchase of Louisiana by the United States from the French. You could really excel if you just apply yourself."