A Year To Remember

Chapter 2: The Swap

I sat down on the first empty seat in the second row of the classroom. I had biology first period and I had Mr. Hartsock. He was my brother's former teacher, and that's bad news for me, seeing how their relationship wasn't pretty. So yea, he's probably gonna be biased against me.

We were so alike personality wise. According to Devon's stories, I honestly wasn't surprised about why Mr. Hartsock hated my brother's guts. I knew I seriously wasn't lucky to get Mr. Hartsock out of all the biology teachers.

So, there goes the wish I made just last night. Anyways as the seats around me were filled with high school students, I felt time slowing down. I was staring into space until I heard the loud annoying tardy bell ring.

A few seconds later our teacher, Mr. Hartsock came with a large briefcase. As Mr. Hartsock positioned his briefcase on the huge desk in the front of the room, I quickly shuffled through my not-so-organized bag in search of a notebook and a writing utensil.

When I finally found a brand new pen that wasn't broken and a clean unused composition notebook, I started writing down what Mr. Hartsock said, "So when we have..." Mr. Hartsock rambled on about some science safety stuff. I couldn't paying attention to what else our teacher was saying about biology because I was too busy doing math in my head.

The sheet said forty-one students were in the biology class first period, but I counted and recounted and there were only forty students.

I guess I've been distracted for too long that Mr. Hartsock noticed me not paying attention to his lecture. He looked at me with a worried look on his face. He was probably just scared that I was Devon's sister because we resembled each other too much. Though the weird thing is, I'm adopted so why do I look so much like Devon?

That is a mystery that shall never be found. Anyway Mr. Hartsock looked at the paper on his desk and his eyes widened. That's right, he saw the name Carper. Personally I think he shouldn't hate me just because of my brother, but everyone's different and Mr. Hartsock probably didn't see it the way I did.

He looked straight at me and said, "would you, by any chance be related to Devon Carper.. Miss Rebekah?" Mr. Hartsock asked pointing at me and said in this 'please no' voice. I smiled confidently and replied mockingly, "yes sir". Mr. Hartsock sighed, "Carper, are you writing what I'm saying?" asked.

"No sir." I answered simply answered.

"Well if you're not, Ms. Carper, you ought to because biology in my class isn't undemanding and effortless. Somebody paid a large amount of money to get you into this exceptional school so let's not dishearten and upset them and work hard shall we Ms. Carper? I know none of you would like to take notes, but the text books wouldn't come in until next week, so for the time being, you all are going to have to take notes." Mr. Hartsock said a little annoyed.

"Yes sir." I saluted him.

He rolled his eyes, "good, now start writing what I said earlier. We don't need to go over this again now do we, Ms. Carper?" Mr. Hartsock instructed all of us eyeing me. "No sir." I said as I saw him glaring at me out of the corner of my eye.

When I was finally able to focus on what Mr.Hartsock was talking about, the door to the small yet comfortable class opened revealing a blonde haired, 5'11'' guy I thought I saw earlier.

"Oh, so this is the infamous Mr. Hartsock's biology room," the guy stated obviously. Did I mention he had the hottest British accent ever?

"Excuse me, but who are you to simply walk in and interrupt my lecture without knocking, young sir?" Mr. Hartsock asked with a frustrated expression on his face. Guess he was annoyed enough.

"Eric Kingston sir, and I do apologize for interrupting your class. But sir, this was my first day and I was a bit lost, so please pardon my rudeness. I promise next time I will attend class on time." Eric said in his best "I'm sorry" voice. Oh god I seriously loved his accent.

When Mr. Hartsock heard the name Kingston, he smiled and glanced at me for a second. "Oh Kingston, you don't need to be sorry. It was just a little reminder for the class. Not really a lecture." Mr. Nguyen said eyeing me, again (he eyes me a lot). "Ok, so class, this is Eric Kingston and I'd like all of you to welcome him warmly," Mr. Hartsock announced.

Eric made his way to the front of the class and started talking, "Hi, my name's Eric Kingston and I'm kinda new around here and don't know a lot of people, so.., where should I sit?..." he wondered aloud in his really cute accent.

A bunch of girls raised their hand. Man he's gonna be popular with the ladies. I think I know why, he is a little... ok, I'll be honest he was actually really cute plus he has that even cuter accent of his.

"Ok, um Kingston will you please have a seat now?" Mr. Hartsock asked as if his lecture has been delayed long enough. Eric walked to the second row and slipped into the seat next to this really annoying snobby girl that I knew from eighth grade. She was one of the people who raised their hand when Eric asked who wanted to be his friend and when Eric sat down, she batted her eyelashes and tossed her hair. I rolled my eyes; that was totally Katharine.

I saw one of the girls behind Katharine sigh dreamily. Girls, so weird (even though I am one doesn't mean I'm all ... like one, most people say I'm a tomboy which I don't disagree to because that's just the truth you can't really deny the truth).

Mr. Hartsock of course, continued his lecture, "So, as I mentioned earlier...." Mr. Hartsock babbled on about some science mumbo jumbo. I looked at Eric who caught me looking. He smiled and winked at me. I rolled my eyes. Then Katharine looked at me and flashed this nasty smile I seriously disliked.

I dozed again until the bell rang. "Class, don't forget to look over your notes about lab safety and don't forget to bring a notebook and pen, class dismissed." Mr. Hartsock reminded us. I put my pen and notebook into my bag and I zipped it up. I slung the bag over my shoulder then I grabbed my binder that was on the floor and walked out the narrow door.

I saw a bunch of girls look up at Eric when he stepped out the door. I turned around and looked for my new locker. When I finally found it at the far end of the hallway close to the vending machine, I put my thumb on the detector and the machine scanned my finger (this is not a school for spies, this school is just very careful and secure).

A few minutes later, to my surprise, Eric came and did the same thing I did at the locker next to mine. When my locker finally recognized me, I opened it and put my biology stuff away (which was only my notebook because the text books wouldn't come until the next week).

Eric put his stuff away to and closed his locker. I was walking away until Eric asked, "Um... hey, you're from my biology class right?"

"Yup." I answered because I'm not the social type and I don't go very deep when I'm in a conversation.

"You didn't raise your hand when I asked who wanted to sit next to me, so you don't want to be my friend?" he asked. I glanced at Eric's face amused for a second and answered, "Do you really think I'd waste my energy just to raise my hand?"

Eric made a face; I guess he wasn't used to girls answering like that. I actually didn't feel that guilty. I was walking away until I heard Eric yell over to me, "Oh, what can I call you?" he asked.

"Bex." I yelled back. I kept walking until I heard Eric call me, again.

"Oh by the way Bex, can I see your schedule?"

"Fine" I answered and walked back annoyed. (I wouldn't have if I weren't supposed to be "nice" to all the new students here because I've made a deal with my mom to not bend any rules in the first day like what my older brother did and I'm pretty sure beating up the new kid in the empty hallway and then stuffing their body in their locker is frowned upon).

Eric looked at my schedule and made that same mischievous smile he flashed at class. I knew he was up to something. He gave me my schedule back, or so I thought he did. I looked at it and saw it was the same and I knew it was because I have photographic memory, except the paper said it belonged to Eric Kingston. It said I had French instead of Spanish.

I turned around to get my schedule back, but Eric was already gone. The bell rang again. It was time to get to my next class. I knew I was going to see Eric.