Dragonborn

From One Torture to Another

"Okay are you ready?" Mrs. Lindley asks. "No," "Don't worry you'll be fine, after all high school is only the hardest level of ... I'm not helping am I?" "No you're really not," "Well doesn't matter anymore because we're here. I'll pick you up at three. Bye!" 

I look up at the building. Of course the building is three stories. I walk into the front office and the secretary sees me. "Oh you must be Miss Lindley-," "Winters," I correct. "Oh, um, of course. Family name?" she asks. "Something like that," I mutter.

"Well here is your schedule and as you can see you have math, science, after that you have a free period because you can't take athletics do to ... certain things. She looks at my leg braces that I have on and I glare at her.

"Sorry then you have, ELAR, Social studies, lunch, library aide and last you have Spanish," she finishes quickly, "Here is a map of the school have a nice day," she hurries to get away from me. I look at the paper and make my way slowly to first period. Math perfect.

As I walk through the halls I hear people pointing and whispering. Suddenly I get pushed into a locker. "Oops! Didn't see you there shorty." A senior, I assume, exclaims. "I'm not that short," I reply looking up at him. He is six feet tall and who knows how many pounds. "I'm five feet tall and a quarter of an inch!" You just couldn't keep your mouth shut could you Rose?

"Back off Nelson!" I hear someone say. Looking up I see Jake and Jack walking towards me. "What are you gonna do if I don't Frost?" The jock snarls. "Want to find out?" Jack replies glaring. The other students slowly start to leave in case a fight breaks out. The senior, now named Nelson, sees them and follows their lead. "Whatever," he says walking away.

"I didn't need your help," I say. "Yes because you were handing it so well," Jack says. "Look Jack," I say, "I'm not some helpless little girl. I can handle myself," I say quietly, "Now I have to get to math," I turn away from them and leave.

When I get to the class room the bell rings. I walk in and sit in the back. The teacher, who is a tall, skinny woman, with freckles all over her face, notices me instantly. "You must be Rose. Welcome to algebra one my name is Mrs. Crawford and I hope you will enjoy your first and only week here until after Christmas break."

Mrs. Crawford then walks to the front of the class room. Looking at the entire class she announces, "I'm going to write a problem on the board and I want you to solve for g," She writes 22 (g-1) = 2g + 8. I instantly raise my hand. "Rose?" she calls on me trying to hide her surprise. The other students who are working the problem out on a paper look at me bewildered.

"g = 1.5," I respond. Her eyes widen in surprise. "That is correct. Where is your work?" she asks. "Um, in my head I guess," Mrs. Crawford nods and says, "Class just get out your books and read for a bit. Rose may I speak to you?" She leads me out into the hallway.

"I-I-I'm sorry if I did something wrong," I lean against the wall as she closes the door. "No- no you didn't do anything wrong I just wondered how you knew that," "You wouldn't understand, you would think I'm crazy just like they did," I respond quietly. Her eyes widen as she relies who I'm talking about.

"No I won't think you're crazy, I don't care what those two monsters told you-," "I'm not talking about them I'm talking about the doctors. They all thought I was crazy when I got this high in school," I cut her off. "Well can you still explain to me?" Mrs. Crawford asks. I hesitate before answering. "As soon as I hear or see an equation it plays out in my head giving me the number instantly."

I try to back up expecting to be hit. Instead Mrs. Crawford hugs me. My entire body tenses up. I think she noticed, and I swear I felt my shoulder get slightly damp.