Drifting

Chapter 4

"Oh, Mr. Helser, how nice to finally meet you. I'll assume you've been sick?" Mrs. Kelley said as Michael walked into his first room the next morning.

"Haha, sure, keep thinking that." Michael snapped back bitterly. Mrs. Kelley looked surprised, but kept a smile on her face anyways.

"Well, there's only one seat left, so, go ahead and sit next to Mrs. Taylor Samuels." Michael audibly groaned as she spoke, but took his seat anyways. He could feel Taylor tense up as he sat down next to her, but neither of them said a word. Tension filled the room like a thick fog as the students became hushed as all the students already knew that the two polar opposites didn't get along well. But, Mrs. Kelley, apparently oblivious to the nearly choking fog, began her lesson anyways.

"Mrs. Samuels, Mr. Helser, please stay here." Mrs. Kelley said at the end of class. Michael wondered if she had finally picked up on how uncomfortable they were sitting together, but quickly noticed that her body language suggested otherwise.

"Mrs. Samuels," she said when they reached the front of the classroom, "would you be able to help Mr. Helser catch up on the notes he's missed?" Michael had a nearly uncontrollable urge to punch her in the face just then, even if she was a teacher.

"I don't know ma'am, I don't know if I can. I mean, I'd be happy to help and all but. . . ." Taylor said, but she couldn't even finish her sentence.

"Perfect then, I'll try to give you two time in class, but I would prefer if you could catch him up on a majority of the notes outside of class."

"Ma'am, I really don't think it's a good idea for me to be the one who catches him up."

"Nonsense, you're the best student in my class so far, who else would I choose, besides, you sit right beside each other."

"Screw this." That's all Michael said before he stormed out of the classroom leaving Taylor with a very startled science teacher. He didn't really care what his teachers thought of him, so she was the last thought on his mind as he stalked down the hallway. But, he barely even noticed as people rushed out of his way. His mind was flooded with dread while he thought about being anywhere near Taylor again for very long. Then he had an idea.

"A schedule change? What's wrong with your current classes Mr. Helser?" exclaimed the school counselor. 

"They just aren't working out. Okay?!" Michael exclaimed a bit too loudly.

"Look, the schedules are finalized on the first day of class. I couldn't change your schedule even if I wanted to." She said calmly before adding something under her breath, "Not that I would want to with that attitude."

"Look, I really didn't mean to yell, I just don't think I can handle my current classes. Isn't there anything you could do Mrs. Stanton?" Michael said with his best fake smile, and she seemed to soften.

"I really don't think so, Mr. Helser, but if you still feel this way in a week you can come back to me and I'll have a talk with some of the teachers to see if they'd be willing to have you join their classes, okay?" Michael still wasn't sure, but he nodded anyways and Mrs. Stanton herded him out of her office.

It took Michael a few minutes to realize what he'd agreed to. He would have to wait a whole week, in which he would have to go to his classes with her, so that he could possibly get moved to different classes. What was he thinking? He knew he couldn't do that. . . but then again, what other choices did he have? That was the worst part, there was nothing he could do about it, and that made him feel weak. There was always something he could do, there was always something. So, he decided he would do something, but he would need help from her.