Over Time

Chapter six

"Welcome back Brook!" My teacher Mrs. Nallesten said to me excitedly. She smiled her sweet old lady smile of hers and clapped as everyone else joined in.

I know that she was just being nice and was no doubt glad to see me again. I mean I was glad to see her again as well considering she was one of my most favorite teachers of all time, but I hate attention. I just don't like it when the spotlight is on me and she's known this for a while now. I just didn't know if her welcoming me back was that necessary.

"Now...Let's get started, shall we?" Mrs. Nallesten asked as she turned around to write something on the board about the next chapter we were to read in my book.

I groaned knowing I was not caught up with the book at all. I had to be at least nine chapters behind plus a couple of tests behind as well knowing Mrs. Nallestan, she most likely gave out a few tests as I was away.

"Don't worry, I can help you catch up" I heard someone beside me say, as though they had suddenly read my mind. I looked over to see a cute freckle faced boy beside me, giving me a cute little smile.

I gave him a confused look, I had never seen him in all the time that I had gone to school here and I have been going here for a long time. Almost four years.

The boy held out his hand and smiled "I'm Tatum" he introduced himself to me.

I took his hand in mine and gave him a smile back "I'm Brook"

He nodded "I know. You've kind of been on the news a lot. I'm sorry about your boyfriend by the way. I know how it feels to lose someone" Tatum said as his smile quickly faded away, remembering something from his past.

"Thanks, and I uh...don't really need help though. I can get it done."

Tatum glanced up at me then gave a light chuckle "You're not going to be able to get that done in a few days tops. You need my help and beside" he said "I don't mind helping someone in need. It's what I like to do."

I chuckled "Well then...sounds good with me. Maybe you can come over tomorrow?"

He nodded and began writing in his journal, every now and then glancing up at the black board "Sounds okay to me" he gave a sideways smile.

For the rest of the first half of the school day I focused hard on my work, trying really hard just to get caught up a little bit, but it was hard. People all round, some I knew, some I was friends with and even teachers kept asking if I was okay just as I had predicted would happen when I had found out I was to go back to school. I was tired of people asking me such a question as if that was the only question that could be asked. How about someone ask me if I would like to join them for lunch or maybe if I would like to go see a movie with them this Friday night, something happy and would take my mind off of things, not upsetting and making things worse. But for the most part I did okay nodding and faking the best smile I could obtain. If this were a movie or some type of messed up TV show I would nominate myself for the best acting of the year, because my nodding and smiling worked and warded off their further questioning for a while and left me alone, in which I was elated to be.

Lunch rolled around and I quickly rushed through the hallways of the school pushing past people such as earlier. I was to meet Leesha, Miranda and a couple of other friends at lunch in five minutes.

When I got to the cafeteria I hurriedly snatched up a slice of pizza from the pizza line before dashing off to the table where my friends were now sitting.

They all greeted me with a "Hey" and a smile as they munched on small pieces of fries and mini burgers. I seated myself in between Nathan and his girlfriend Shayla then started gulping down some of my soda.

"You're back!" Shayla said from beside me.

I peered over at her with pizza cheese dripping from my mouth and leaving red grease stains on my chin.

I gripped a napkin in my fists before wiping my face in it. "Yeah" I said "I am."

Shayla grinned. "How's life?" She asked looking into a hand mirror, applying more lip gloss to her already fully plump shiny pink lips.

I shrugged "Good I guess" I answered honestly.

I looked away from Shayla and saw a figure in the corner move slightly. I gawked at it, recognizing the familiar face and structure of the body. It was that guy. The same guy I had seen at the mall the other day. The funny thing was, I had never seen him here before. Maybe he was new like Tatum.

I frowned and tilted my head to the side and watched him closely. His eyes met mine for a split second, his eyes seemingly piercing through my soul. He sauntered slowly towards the opening doors that lead to the hallways, never breaking eye contact until he had fully disappeared behind the doors of the hallway.

"Was that necessary?" Nathan asked Shayla with anger raging in his voice.

Nathan since I could remember had always been very protective over me especially when I was at my weakest points in life. He didn't care too much about who was saying it to me, he would lecture them about me until they almost broke down in tears.

"Yes it was. I just wanted to know" Shayla furrowed her dark brown eyebrows together, her lips pulling up into a pouting motion.

"It's fine" I interrupted their slight argument and smiled as I gazed at both of them in the eyes, trying to make them understand me before things got out of hand.

They both nodded and went back to eating and small talk as I kept repeating the boy in my mind walking away and into the halls.

I was curious as to who he was and when he had started going to this school. He looked mysterious like the boys you would only dream of in fairy tale books. His emerald green eyes, dark brown hair and beautiful facial structure, not to mention his slight stubble bearded face, making him look like he was nothing but trouble.

I finished lunch, got up and threw away my trash then headed to my next class of the day, wanting nothing more than this day to be over and for Friday to come quickly.