After an agonizingly long first period, which she slept through, Lauren was relieved to hear the dismissal bell to second hour. She was the first one out of the classroom as she bolted to her locker.
While pulling some books out of her locker, she felt someone come up beside her. Looking over she saw that it was none other than her best friend, Kat. Lauren made no move to greet her friend as she was pretty groggy from sleeping through her first class.
"Damn. Someone's not feelin' school today," Kat said with a chuckle. Lauren just rolled her eyes and shut her locker.
"I slept two hours last night," she leaned against her locker. "I'm still on break mode."
"I can tell. You look awful," Lauren glared at her playfully. "Anyways, are you still performing next week?" Lauren furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "You know..." she paused, giving Lauren a second to think. "My dad's charity auction? You said you'd sing..."
Lauren's mouth formed an 'o' shape as she slowly nodded. "Oh, right. I did say I'd sing, didn't I?" she bit her lip.
Lauren and Kat first became friends in middle school. When Kat's father hired Lauren's father to manage the Sea Island Country Club he owns. Which means he's got a lot of money to put on his workers' paychecks. He owns the most successful country club in Miami. Both of their fathers mean business which means, if you do or say anything to make them look bad, they'll go off. Which also means that Lauren has no way out of this now.
"You better not be thinking about backing out of this because I already told my dad you'd do it and he'll be really upset if you don't," there was a hint of fear in her tone.
"No, no! I'm doing it, I'm doing it, don't worry," she reassured her friend. Kat composed herself and nodded. Just then, the bell rang and kids started splitting off into their classrooms.
"Alright, I've gotta get to class. I was already late to chemistry and I can't afford two tardies in the same day," she laughed and began gravitating towards her next class. Her and Kat parted ways and headed to class.
Lauren got in the room just as the students were all taking their seats. Great. This was a full class. Lauren sighed and looked around for an open seat. She caught sight of the girl she just saw not too long ago. Even in a crowd of thousands of people, she couldn't miss those eyes she envied so much, yet, found so enticing.
"Miss Jauregui," Mr Cooper called. Lauren's head shot up as she was brought back to the reality she slipped away from for a moment. "There's a seat right up here next to Miss Brooke," he motioned to a seat right in the front of the classroom. Lauren dragged herself over and plopped down into her seat as Mr. Cooper began teaching.
Staring down at her desk, Lauren felt someone's eyes on her. As if on cue, the girl next to her leaned over.
"Tired?" the girl asked. Lauren raised her eyebrows and nodded slowly. "Don't worry, I heard we just watch films in this class so it'll be a good time to get some sleep," she then turned to sit back in her previous position.
Lauren just watched as the girl refocused her attention back up at Mr. Cooper. 'Well that was weird' she thought to herself.
"So this year, I'm changing up my curriculum a little bit," Mr. Cooper started. "Rather than starting at the films of the early 1900's...cough, cough Charlie Chaplin," he paused. "and making our way up, we're going to start with a film project," there was a string of moans, groans and sighs throughout the classroom.
"Yeah, yeah you all would rather just sleep through two hours of Star Wars instead of actually learning things. I get it. But, as your teacher, I'd rather you learn things and you do that by doing. So no, this class isn't just a free sleep period," a couple of students groaned.
