Finding Family

Chapter 5

"Amy, Amy wake up!"

"Go away." I said throwing a pillow at the voice.

"Ok one, ow. Two, we slept through breakfast and class starts in seven minutes." Rory said as she pulled her pants on.

"Shoot." I said hopping out of bed and changing my clothes. I ran a hairbrush through my hair and tossed a granola bar in my bag. We stopped in the bathrooms on our way out and brushed our teeth.

We ran down the stairs, out the door, and all the way across campus to our first period english class. "You're late." Said the teacher straight faced as we entered the room out of breathe. I tried to talk but he stopped me. "Take your seats, this is the first day, so I'll let it fly, but never again. Rory, sit towards the front, and you are?"

"Amy."

"Amy, you go on the right in the middle." I sighed that we couldn't sit together because we were late. I took my seat and the teacher began.

"My name is Eric Daniels, I will be your English one teacher this year. Do not think that because I'm young, you will be able to get away with more. Now let's go over my policies..."

Mr. Daniels continued but I stopped listening and just let myself stare at him. Not only was my new english teacher young, he was hot. He had blonde straight hair that was parted and looked slightly disheveled, a square jaw, blue eyes, and a kind smile, that he seemed to be trying to hide. I continued to stare until a paper was placed on my desk. I read the top and it said Pre-test. I groaned and began. Nate had always been so good at school, but it had never been my strength. I was ok at math and science, but english was impossible for me. I barely scraped by middle school english, and there was no way I was going to survive this class. The first section was to read a passage and answer some essay questions. I tried to understand it, but I just didn't get what was going on. The questions were too confusing. I tried to scribble out some answers, but I couldn't explain what I was trying to say. The other sections were equally as hard and I barely answered any of it. Before I knew it the bell was ringing. I handed in my test and avoided eye contact with Mr. Daniels. Rory had science and I had math, so we split ways.

The rest of the day was a blurr, but it finally ended. I started to head back to my room to get ready to ride, but heard my name being called. "Amy, a minute of your time please."

I looked over to find Mr. Daniel standing by an open door. I took a deep breathe and walked into the room.

"Take a seat. I wanted to discuss your pre-test today. I..." Mr. Daniels rubbed his eyes as if he was tired and annoyed. What did he have to be annoyed about? I was the one who was about to get yelled at. "I know I told you I wasn't going to grade this test, but you still needed to try."

This made me so mad. My whole life, people had just been telling me I wasn't trying, little did they know I was killing myself to try and do better, but nothing works. "I...I did try." I said quietly and looking down.

"You tried? Really? You showed up to class late, you didn't pay attention at all as I talked, and then you answered less than half the questions on our test, and the answers you did write don't make any sense. So what do you want me to say? Good try? Do better tomorrow?"

I felt angry tears fill eyes. I didn't know what to say to this teacher who already hated me on the first day. I wiped a hand across my face, trying with every bone in my body not to cry.

Mr. Daniels slapped the table. "Fake tears, really?" When he said that I lost it, and ran out of his office. I covered my face in my hands trying to quiet my sobs. I walked as fast as I could, until I bumped into someone. Great. I looked up and saw Ben staring me with a concerned look on his face.

"I'm sorry I bumped into you, I should've been looking, I..."

"No, no, it's fine, don't worry, are you alright?" I looked at his kind face filled with concern. I shook my head no as I started to break down again. He looked at me with pity, and pulled me into a hug. I felt his warmth wrap around me as I pressed my face into his chest. He rubbed my back soothingly and I felt myself relax. "Bad first day?" I nodded against him and laughed. "C'mon, I'll walk you back to the dorm." Ben said as he put his arm around my shoulder and guided me back the way I'd come. We walked as I explained what had happened.

We passed Mr. Daniel's office just as he was leaving, talk about timing. "Amy, we need to finish that conversation, meet me tomorrow before class." I felt myself tear up again and leaned closer into Ben.

"You know what mate, why don't you just back off alright." Ben said accusingly.

Mr. Daniels looked at the fear and pain in my face and guilt crossed his own features. "I didn't mean to, I, 7:30, tomorrow morning, my office. We'll find a solution that will work for both of us." Ben glared at Mr. Daniels then looked at me to see if that'd be alright. I nodded at him and we walked away.

"What is with that guy? He is such a jerk."

"You only had one conversation with him."

"Amy, you were just crying because of him, he's a jerk." I looked down at his mention of my melt down. I was in high school, I shouldn't be acting like such a baby. He noticed my embarrassment and pressed his hand against my cheek and pulled me to look him in the eyes. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You..." He said staring at me our faces just inches apart. I could feel his breathe on my skin. His gaze was so intense that I felt paralyzed. "You have the most blue eyes I've ever seen." He moved his face closer to mine.

"Ben?" We jolted back to reality and saw Peyton and Sabrina approaching us. Sabrina glared at me then walked over to Ben. "Baby I thought you were gonna wait for us outside the classroom." Sabrina said accusingly yet flirtatiously at the same time. How she managed that, I have no idea.

"I was.. but we had this thing, and that guy, and and then we, because she." Ben tried to explain but made no sense.

"Why don't we let you guys talk and meet you back at the dorm?" Peyton asked. Sabrina nodded and we walked away. I over heard Ben saying something about me being like his little sister and frowned.

"So..." said Peyton. "Are you alright?" She said referring to my puffy eyes. She sounded genuinly concerned but had an odd tone to her voice, like she was agitated with me.

"Ya I'm better now."

"Then stay away from Ben?" She said flatly.

"What?" I said, shocked at how harsh she sounded.

"I wasn't trying to sound mean. It's just, Sabrina's had a really rough past few years, and Ben has been the one constant. If you mess that up, I'll be mad, but Nate, he'll never forgive you." I nodded and we finished the walk in silence.