I hadn’t been able to get in touch with Lexi for days. It was really bothering me. I swallowed hard always shifting uncomfortably while on my computer staring at the IM box waiting for a miraculous message to appear. But it never did.
I groaned awake and got sick in the toilet like every other day. Then I got ready checked my sugar levels took my insulin and ate breakfast. I packed up my things. It felt weird. Getting ready alone. Usually Lexi would sleep over my house or I over hers on the first day of school. For good luck. I guess this school year was really going to be different. I sighed walking out of the house waving goodbye to my dad who was in a usually grumpy mood. Josh walked me to school even though I insisted him not to he didn’t listen. I stopped complaining. He was being nice and actually doing it on his own merit and not an order from dad.
“How you feeling?” he asked as we walked the familiar path to school.
“Scared,” I replied honestly. He nodded.
“You’ll be great,” he said. I nodded and smiled up at him glad I have him as a brother. He dropped me off and I ran to my locker frowning at the girl who was next to it.
“Um, that is someone else’s locker,” I said. She glared at me.
“Whose?” she asked.
“Lexi’s,” I said. She literally laughed in my face.
“Lexi Vega has been missing since like Friday,” she said.
“My Momma says she’s dead,” said an eavesdropping girl. I tensed.
“That’s impossible,” I said.
“Police are after her,” a girl said. I gritted my teeth.
“Lies,” I said.
“Yeah that’s what you hope,” the girl said and rolled her eyes walking away with her friend. I sighed. What if they were right? I swallowed hard as worry built up in me. Where was Lexi Vega?
The rest of the day went smoothly. It was the last period of the day and I got a chill up my back. This teacher. This class. Latin. Something was wrong. Something was off. I felt something odd. Just thinking of the word. Latin. I swallowed hard. It was always Lexi’s favorite subject. The other teachers were okay with me. They didn’t really think of me as an asset to the classroom. But Latin. I had wanted to take that language since forever. I’m taking Junior Latin in the high school building. I was the only eighth grader, besides Lexi, there. It was a new teacher. He was young. Dark hair fair skin crystal blue eyes. He was…well…hot.
“The name is Xavier Anderson,” he said. I nodded as if he were speaking to me. His eyes. Him. The name. Xavier. It sent some familiarity through me. He looked twenty four. Definitely young for a teacher but still amazing. “I’ll be teaching AP Latin.” Then he went into what we’d be covering and the two trips to Rome we’d be taking. My eyes lit up. I always wanted to go to Rome. I smiled happily.
The rest of the class went on amazing. He reviewed our previous materials quickly and we even read a few medical book passages as well as ancient Roman passages and myths.
The whole thing interested me. Unfortunately class was over way too soon and sure enough I had to leave. But something sparked in my mind about him. I slowly packed my books looking at him.
“Do I know you?” I asked. He shook his head.
“Not that I can recal,” he said. He sounded sincere. Not that he would lie. Would he?
“Yeah. Because you’re new here,” I said smiling. He nodded giving a soft chuckle.
“Ah yes, the new teacher jokes. Try to be good, alright? You know the deal. No pladjurism no cheating,” he said. I nodded.
“Yes, I know the rules. Thank you for telling them to me again though,” I said, He nodded with a smile.
“Of course,” he said. “You’re welcome. You did very well reading aloud today.” I blushed slightly and shrugged.
“Latin’s my passion,” I said nonchalantly. I had done my best to impress him. I didn’t know why…I just did. He nodded.
“It’s mine as well,” he said. He smiled going back over to his desk. He was so hot. He was sorting through his papers and I saw his eyes sparkle as he laughed at one. I walked over to him my bookbag slung over one shoulder.
“What?” I asked confused. He smiled holding up one of my papers. I blushed feeling embarrassed.
“These…” he said looking for the correct word. Horrible? Treacherous? Terrible? My heart sunk, my face fell. I felt a wave of nausea and moaned softly. “Are amazing.” I blinked in shock.
“Really?” I asked questioning him. He nodded.
“You’re like a writer in true Latin. You do all these twists and turns.”
“Wait a minute…those are my English papers!” I exclaimed shocked. He nodded smiling.
“I know. I have a sample from everyone. Though she gave me most of yours.” I blinked shocked. Someone actually liked my work? Wow…
“Thank you,” I said blushing. He nodded smiling kindly.
“You should probably go. I don’t want you to be late to going home,” he said. I smiled and nodded.
“See ya tomorrow,” I said. I walked to the door and looked back at him smiling. He meant what he said and wasn’t politely rejecting my company. At least those were the readings on my radar. He seemed nice. Yet mysterious. I shrugged it off going to my brother’s last classroom waiting for him to walk me home.
