Girl Meets Plus One || BOOK 2

We Meet The New Teacher

IDINA

I am so late. I'm missing part of our first period, God, I'm so screwed. My head still aches with excruciation. My sunglasses distort my view, making my eyes open a little more, feeling somewhat comforted. I grab my purple striped pencil bag from my locker before slowly walking to class dizzily. Is this what being drunk feels like? I feel like throwing up. As if a thousand bricks are banging against every angle of my cranium. I slowly walk into the olive classroom.

"Sorry Mr. Garaboski," I mutter before quickly taking my seat in the front next to Riley. I look forward seeing my old, crusty teacher has been replaced with a slick, biker chick.

"Oh, Garaboski's sick? He's never sick," I add.

"He retired," Riley replies.

"I'm Harper,"

"Hello, Ms. Harper,"

"Please, just Harper,"

"Okay Just Harper,"

"Hello Idina,"

"You know my name?"

"I know all of your names. Mr. Matthews told me all about you guys," Harper replies to the class before leaning on my desk close to me and whispering, "Headache?"

"Migraine," I whisper back pointing at my sunglasses, "these babies are the only reason I'm here."

"That's quite alright, no tardy for you," then she goes back to the front of the class, handing books down each row, "Frank Miller, the dark night returns,"

"This is Batman," Farkle replies.

"A future Batman," she points out.

"What's the difference?" Lucas asks.

"This story is the continuation based on an original series of characters. Do you guys know what that means?"

"Um, aren't you supposed to be teaching us the important books?" Riley timidly asks.

"Mmm, this graphic novel was as important to its style of literature as any book you can think of."

"What's it about?"

"It's in a world that's become so tough that Batman fights superman. You will tell me why he does that."

"You're gonna start by teaching us a comic book, Miss Motorcycle?

"When is this due, please?"

"Hi, Riley."

"Hi."

"How do you like having him here?" she implies that she means her father.

"It's terrible."

"It's wonderful. My father gave me my love of books."

"Did he?"

"He's why I became a teacher. It's why he named me Harper. You'll figure it out."

"Riley, Idina, stop me right now," Maya begs.

"From what?"

"I can't like a teacher, I'm Maya."

"It's a good day, Maya. School got better and now nothing bad is ever going to happen again." Just then as if on cue, Mr. Yancy, our horribly strict old-school principal walks in. I slouch down in my desk, trying to be unnoticed.

"So, I'm passing by your classroom on this, your first day, and I can't help noticing that somebody has a comic book... that everybody has a comic book."