Safety Within Mr. Payne (Teacher/Student Liam Payne)

Chapter Two

When I'm distressed, I tend to crush what I hold in my hands. Which is why I'm having a hint of difficulty not crumbling up the printed out schedule that is held neatly on my palm. I lightly grip the paper in front of me and trace the top rims of the paper. I then lock my hold onto it like that. Almost like a trap for myself. I inhale deeply, and then sigh as I read through the different organized blocks that is filled out like a chart.

In my old school, we used to call each of our classes "blocks". But whenever I brought it up to any of my cousins who in a different region, they'd turn their heads like a dog and ask me why that is. In their schools, they call them "periods". That does make more sense; I'll try to call them periods for now.

"Sylvia?" A woman in a white shirt and a black pencil blouse asks me. She holds a small stack of papers in her hands. She looks lovely.

"Yes?" I say lifting my head from the concentration face I had towards my schedule.

"Do you know what homeroom you're going to be staying in?" She asks.

"Homeroom? Like, an advisory?" I ask.

"Yes." She answers.

"I believe," I say pointing towards the printed text under my name. "Mrs. Pierce."

"Oh," The woman says relaxing her grip on the stack of papers, "She's very nice. Mrs. Pierce teaches English."

"When do classes start?" I ask.

"The bell rings at seven-fourty. I'd recommend getting to the class five minutes before." She says smiling.

"Okay, thank you." I say standing.

"You can call me Mrs. Fay." The woman says giving me a calm bow of her chin. "I'll see you later."

Mrs. Fay turns and leaves into the corridor outside of the office. I'm left alone with silence and the soft sound of printers and typing. I look back down at the wooden bench I made my disperse from.

"I should probably head to the cafeteria for breakfast." I mumble aloud. I have a hint of direction of where this large room is. Once I show up there, it's loud with riddled conversion and laughter. It's bright white, almost like a hospital room. My insecurity gets the best of me and I try to casually speed walk to the serving kitchen. I pick up a warm chocolate chip muffin. As I walk out of the serving kitchen, I feel my anxiety pricking at my muscles again. My eyes flick to a couple empty tables that are in a lonely row and I walk over to them and carefully take a seat.

I find myself only eating half of my muffin before tossing it into the trash. My thoughts jerk towards the upcoming first class I will be attending. I quickly walk back out into the lobby outside of the cafeteria avoiding any eye contact. I fling my backpack from my shoulder onto the long wooden bench that is right in front of the window that displays the outside drive-in. I pull out my unfolded schedule and read it.

Day A: | Math | Biology | Academic Study Hall (ASH) | French |

Day B: | World History | Health |  English | P.E. |

I rest my back against the brick edged-wall that ends on one side of the wooden bench. My backpack sits still as I press my feet against it. My eyes scan over my black yoga pants and I place my hand on my thigh. I look back at the schedule in my other hand. I silently hope that today won't be a complicated day.

I look up at the clock.

7:34.

I stand up from the bench and pick up my bag in my hand and toss it over my shoulder. I then look back down at my schedule.