Wisdom Is The Power #Wattys2016

Kane

I walk quietly to my first hour, Geometry. I avoid eye contact, not wanting any attention to myself. And really, who wants to pay attention to a girl who lives by herself and has a part time job at age 15?

I get into my seat as the other students walk in. I look at nobody for a good five minutes. Then the late bell rings. I now look around. One desk is empty.

"Good morning everybody. My name is Mrs. Jenkins and I'll be your math teacher this year. We will focus on shapes angles lines...and so and so." she smiles, her dull white teeth showing. "But first, I have to take role." She then starts calling out names that come in one of my ears and out the other.

"Jessi Li?"

"Here." I reply, not looking up from my desk. I hear her scribble something on her clipboard. Then she continues.

"Kane Liu?" Mrs. Jenkins looks around, staying quiet for half a second. She's about to scribble on her clipboard again but someone shouts running in through the door.

"Here!" He yelled loud and clear. Now I look up, my attention all on him. He's panting, two drops of sweat on his forehead. He was unexpectedly attractive, with the darkest shade of black hair I've ever seen. His eyes were chocolate, but it like those eyes could go into another world. He catches me staring and smiles. I look away quickly, not smiling, not a single hint of emotion on my face. I can't get distracted. I twirl my dark brown hair from its ponytail, my focus is all on the whiteboard behind the teacher. I hear Mrs. Jenkins talking to Kane.

"You are tardy, Mr. Liu."

"I'm afraid I'm new here and I didn't know that a bell tells somebody's late. You called my name and here I am." is the reply she gets. I hear her sigh.

"Alright, Kane. But don't do it again. I'm sure other teachers won't be as understanding as I am. The seats are in alphabetical order." She reads the paper on her clipboard, "You may take the spot behind Jessi."

"Where's Jessi?" I know he's not asking Mrs. Jenkins, he's asking the class, for Jessi, for me. I glance at him as I raise my hand ever so slightly from my desk. When I look at him, he's looking straight at me, like he has been for a while. Then he walks to the empty desk behind me and sits down. Mrs.Jenkins keeps on calling role and then begins class. During the small review lesson, I glance behind me. His eyes are so focus on what she is teaching. He nods in understanding but never stops listening. I turn back around. I go back to focusing on the lesson, even though I know all of it. And it hits me. That boy, Kane, is almost like me.

When the lesson ends, every student quickly start to leave with the bell still ringing. I get up slowly, swinging my violet backpack over my shoulder. I reach the door but then someone crashes into me. My side hits the floor. I hear gasps and laughter. I look up to see who ran into me, expecting someone who wanted to bully or so. But I don't meet a face of laughter. I see a face of concern and shame. I gasp. It's Kane.