Falling for the Fallen

Chapter Twenty-Five

I couldn't focus in class all day. I was exhausted, and I felt drained. It has been officially two days since I saw Matt and when he...yeah. Luke left as soon as I felt better, but he still didn't show he was interested, and my friends kept bugging me last night on web cam chat to tell them about the babysitting date, but I refused to tell them anything.

I sighed heavily in history class, wishing that this Monday would fly by already. I tried to take notes on the traditions of China, but I just couldn't. I wanted to cry, but for some reason, my heart wouldn't let me. How could a guy that I thought I loved so much try and rape me? I mean, it really isn't called rape when he's your ex-boyfriend but...I didn't expect Matt to behave the way he did.

"Can someone tell me what the ancient Chinese fortune tellers used to tell the future?" My teacher's eyes scanned the classroom in awe, and no one raised their hand. I stared blankly at my blank sheet of paper, which was supposed to have notes on it. The teacher's eyes had met mine, and I cursed in my thoughts. "Ah, Cecilia, can you tell me what they used that made them so unique? And while you're at it, please explain how the materials were used." He gave me a soft glare, and I knew that he knew that I wasn't paying attention or taking notes.

He just wanted to embarrass me. He continued to wait, and so did the other students who had their eyes on me. I darted my eyes to my paper, like the answer would magically appear. "Um..." My voice trailed off and I stared back into my teacher's eyes. I felt like I was being attacked mentally. What do I say? "Fortune cookies?" I finally blurted out.

Mr. Simpson sighed and walked back to the power point, and students started snickering at me, turning back to their desks and meeting eyes with their papers again. "Incorrect Miss Torres," Mr. Simpson let out in a hard voice, turning to the next slide in the power point. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"They used oracle bones. And the strength of the future was based off the size of the cracks in the bones. Fascinating, isn't it?" He asked all of us, his eyes wandering around the classroom to see everyone's reaction. Some students were sleeping and others were groaning and staring off into space, probably thinking about the weekend when it was no where near. Mr. Simpson turned back to me, "Pay attention, Cecilia. Or you will fail my class. You want to go on to your senior year, don't you?"

"Yes." I groaned out, laying my head on the desk.

He narrowed his eyes at me, "Then do as I ask. All I ask is for you to pay attention. I give you a power point and ask you to copy down the notes; not many history teachers grant their students this offer. They have them prepare their own notes through the text books, which is what you'll have to do in college. You hear me?"

I nodded and rolled my eyes, and he went on with explaining more about ancient China. I hung my head loose on my desk and closed my eyes, hoping to go to sleep. Lunch was right after this and I didn't feel the need to pay attention any more in school. In fact, my parents won't be here until Friday, so why don't I just leave early? But then I'd be skipping. I sighed and went back to drifting off.

***

"You've been acting strange, Cecilia." Sarah mentioned as she ate her salad. Well, I wouldn't call it salad. She had NOTHING on it; only lettuce and more lettuce. Bleck.

"Yeah," Lindsey agreed on while eating an apple slice, "First you were acting strange on web chat and now you're acting strange now." Jenna nodded her head, agreeing with Lindsey.

"I'm just...tired." I declared softly, hanging my head down.

"How can you be tired? You just spent an awesome date with Luke and now all of a sudden you're so down; what's up with that?" Megan asked with a smile. It's too bad her smile wasn't contagious, because even I didn't smile back at her. I'm tired of them calling it a date! It wasn't a date. It'll never be more than that, ever. And that's part of the reason I was so down.