I act like I haven't noticed half the class turn to glare at me. Mr Traven's always makes sure no one forgets that I still have my reflection, that's nothing new, but suggesting I'm something to be feared? That's a new low.
"It's always simple minds who fear the unknown." The entire class turns collectively to look at whoever was dumb enough to take on Mr traven.
"What was that?" Mr Traven asks incredulously even though we had all heard him.
"I said simple minds have been known to fear the unknown since the beginning of written records. When people with low IQ's encounter something that they can't understand immediately they are very likely to become scared and try to get rid of whatever it is, whether it be skin colour, different religions, different genders, different sexuality's. There's quite a lot of evidence sir." Michael peters. Who would have thought that someone as quite as he is would have enough guts to say that to anyone, let alone Mr Traven's. If I had to describe Michael peters the first word I'd use would be brown. Mousey brown hair that falls just above his dark brown eyes, skin the colour of slightly over cooked toast, or cinnamon. I hadn't really payed attention to him since he got suspended in the 4th grade for biting another kid. He came back a week later quite and reserved. My attention was pulled away from him though when Mr Traven made a noise like a tea pot. I couldn't help but laugh, he practically had steam coming out of his head. His face whipped round and his eyes focused on me. Just then the bell wrung, but we weren't quite saved by the bell.
"You!" He pointed his knobbly finger at me. "And you!" This time it was Michaels turn to have the air in front of him aggressively punctured. "After school detention." He smiled at us, a slow creeping smile that would make a baby cry and I stumbled over myself collecting my things and getting out of there.
"Hey! Slow down!" Jake came stumbling up to my locker. "That was super harsh! I can't believe you got a detention for laughing after the mean shit he said about you." He ran his hand threw his short gold tinged hair. "Seriously rough break."
"Yeah. Totally worth it to see Michael rip him a new one like that though." I smiled at the memory of Mr Traven looking like the human equivalent of a volcano. "I can't believe he said what he did." I shut my locker and turned to face Jake just in time to see a group of grade 8 girls walk past looking at him like he was a giant ice cream on legs. But of course, he was completely oblivious.
"Yeah. Seems to me you have a secret admirer. I mean even I wouldn't protect you from Mr Traven. That shits a death wish. A bear? Maybe." He starts mock wrestling a bear in the middle of the hall, giving me a peak of his arms and flashing little grins at me as he went. Damn.
"Can you pretend to be civilised while we're in doors please?" I rolled my eyes. The last thing I needed was a reminder of how big his arms where. I'd nearly gotten over my stupid little crush without ruining our friendship, but he was definitely not making it easy on me.
"Probably not. See you after school?" We didn't have any more classes with each other today. "Mums making taco's and she said to invite you over."
"If momma is making taco's I'll be there for sure." He laughed and ran off, jumping and sliding and high fiving people as he went like only Jake could.
