Curious Georgia |✔

•2 - Curiously Concerned•

  The class seems to just drone on and on and on. I love English, but honestly, this subject just couldn't get any more boring at the moment. I don't even know what Ms. Cobb is talking about, and I'm sure that I probably have a zoned out look plastered on my face.

  Coincidentally, the curly-haired boy from yesterday sits right in front of me. My curiosity nearly gets the best of me, but I decide not to bother him. Still, I have such the urgency to tap his shoulder, get his attention somehow. I want to ask him questions. Why was he in the tree yesterday? Did he know I was there too? Did he see me watching him?

  "Ms. Cook," Ms. Cobb says rather irritated. "Are you paying attention?"

  "Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry for looking disinterested," I reply quietly. The boy had turned around and glanced at me as I apologized, and for some reason, it had gotten me nervous. Like he was secretly judging me in his head.

  "Georgia Cook and Adam Collins, to the office please!" the speaker buzzes before Ms. Cobb has anything else to say.

  Ms. Cobb walks back to the front of the class and waits for me to exit. "Well, Mr. Collins, are you going or not?"

  I thought she was talking to me, so to make sure not to be rude, I stop at the door and give her my full scrutiny this time. I find that it wasn't me who she was talking to. It was the boy- Adam. He responds to her by slowly rising from his seat and marching to the door with me. I open it for him, and he continues down the hall without a word. I let the door swing closed and follow him.

  When we reach the office, he holds the door open for me, which I thank him for. He just nods.

  Well he sure is not a person of many words, is he? I think.

  Principal Houston is writing on some papers when we walk into his office. As if he had eyes on the top of his head, he continues to write, yet he speaks to us. "Do you two think it is alright for you to just bow out of your detention? Are you even aware of the consequences?"

  Adam nods. I contemplate whether or not I should make any gesture of response. The man isn't even looking at us when he speaks. "Yes," I barely say.

  "Then why in the world did you skip detention?" Now Houston is looking up at us. Glad to see he finally has his priorities straight.

  "Because," I say at the same time Adam replies, "Reasons." The principal's eyes are definitely judging.

  "I hope that the both of you don't have any beef because you'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on."

  Both Adam and I look at each other. I look at him just to see if I can judge this book by his cover. Maybe he won't be so bad to be around. Then he rolls his eyes with a grimace on his face, and I think otherwise.

  "I'm not sure of what punishment it will be, but just know it's coming, and the both of you might dread each other's company when it's over. You're dismissed."

  Adam is gone within a matter of seconds. Me on the other hand, I stand in the office an extra two seconds, quickly taking in what Houston just said.

  Adam is walking painfully slow, to my surprise, when I finally come out of the office. I catch up to him for some reason, but I guess I have something to say.

  "I'm sorry... For this. It wasn't your fault. I should have said something. I'm sorry," I peep.

  For the first time, he actually looks at me without a frown on his face. He didn't smile, but he didn't look mean. And for the first time, I hear him speak a full sentence. "It was just as much fault as mine as it was yours." He picks up his speed and walks to class. I open the door for him, and he says thank you.

*~*~*~*

  Our first punishment was to actually attend detention, so that's what we did. It was the longest two hours of my life, but thankfully we got the nice teacher. Instead of demanding us not to do a single thing, he allowed us to do our homework. My issue was I finished most of my homework at lunch, so after I finished that last two math problems, I had nothing to do but sit in detention and do nothing.

  My tree was definitely in need of some use by the end of the day, but I was so worn out. Instead of climbing to my usual branch, I set my backpack down next to my tree and walked around. Even after many times of searching through the thick of this forest, it never ceases to amaze me. Every tree has a story that I'm very curious to know of. And that's just one of the reasons I explore them so much.

  I hear a sound of movement behind me. I think nothing of it; it might just be a wondering animal. Then it goes a second time, but it's louder and closer. And the steps its taking are too heavy to be just some animal. Even a bear is stealthier. My first instinct is to run, but I hide instead. I'm guessing the thing that's following me does the same. I peek out a little from around the tree, and a head with brown, curly hair does the same. When he realizes I'm not a threat he steps out completely and shakes his head.

  "You can come out now; I'm not gonna hurt you," he says barely loud enough for me to hear.

  I step away from the tree, but I don't walk very close to him. It's now my turn to be silent.

  "What are you even doing out here? It's not safe for someone as small as you."

  I scoff and roll my eyes. It seems as if Adam and I have changed places. He's talking and is concerned about my well being, and I'm being antisocial. But wait. He's concerned about my well being, and my curiosity couldn't be any more spiked than what it already was.

  "You should go home," he suggests.

  "No, you should go home. I found this place first. I know it backwards and frontwards. If there's anyone who's in danger, it's you," I tell him.

  "Okay then. Fair enough. Would you mind showing me around then?" Why is he all of a sudden so social? He didn't seem like he wanted my help at school today.

  "I can't. I have to get home."

  "Cook, do you really think I believe that? Just a second ago you were wondering this place like you didn't have to home for hours, and you're just now in a rush to go."

  My cheeks flush. Although, it should be him who should be embarrassed. He's just admitted to watching me.

  "Stalker much?" And he does blush at that. "I didn't notice how late it was. I was caught up with the scenery. Maybe another time, but not now."

  "Honestly, if you really have somewhere to be and something to do, you would have been gone earlier."

  Why does he want me to stay so bad? Wouldn't he be fine on his own? He found his way to school just fine yesterday.

  "Why are you talking to me now, and why do you want me to stay so bad?" I ask exasperatedly.

  "We're going to see each other a lot now. Might as well get to know each other."

  Now was my chance to grasp the opportunity to answer so many questions. I am so curious to know everything there is to know about this quiet boy who sat in the tree across from me. And yet, I push it away for no reason at all.

  I say, "What's the point if we're just going to detest each other in the end?" And I leave him standing there without a chance to answer as I walk back the short distance to my vacant home.