Voiceless

Chapter Three

I shivered slightly as a brutal wind ripped through the air. I, along with many other walkers, slowly approached the depreciated building labeled as Varence Middle School. The difference was that I had a personal bubble; all of the other walkers knew that something wasn't quite right about me and so kept their distance. Most of them were younger, maybe fifth or sixth-graders. As an eighth-grader who was tall for my age, I towered over them. I stretched and saw one student's eyes grow big. All it took was one glare before he crossed himself. Several students giggled at this, which caused a lopsided grin to appear on his face. Rolling my eyes, I focused on getting to school before I was late. Again.

Eventually I crossed through the doors, where it was a little warmer but not by much. I hurried to class and made it to first period just in time, the bell ringing as I dove to my seat. My teacher narrowed her eyes at me from behind her spectacles, and she cleared her throat. She rose from her desk and slowly walked to the front of the class, high heels clicking on the floor. Her pencil skirt and bright red lipstick did little to hide her age; gravity was winning in the battle of youth. Her hair was tied back into a severe bun. The wrinkled corners of her mouth twitched, and she spoke.

"Silence."

The single word instantly ceased all conversations and forced all eyes to fix themselves to the front of the brightly-lit room. She placed her hands behind her back and held them there.

"We're continuing radicals today, so please open your textbooks to page three hundred and twenty-nine." I paled, realizing that I had forgotten my book. The first lesson we had learned was to never forget your book. My teacher zeroed in on me like a hawk. It seemed she could smell fear.

"Miss Williamson, might you do me the kindness of pulling out your textbook?" She asked sarcastically. Her malicious eyes looked secretly delighted, and for that I hated her. She was the only teacher I had ever had that had to prey on her students. And I was the next victim.

I gave the slightest shake of my head in response to her question, and she stood up straighter. All of the students were staring at me, and I caught a few guys sniggering in the corner. If I'd been anywhere else I would have shown them why you don't laugh at someone who's taller than you, but now was obviously not the time.

My teacher spoke again, jerking my attention back to her. "Miss Williamson, I expect all of my students to bring their textbooks to class every day, and you are not exempt from this rule. If you don't have it with you, I'm afraid it will result in detention." I felt perspiration begin to drip down my neck. My record was almost clean, save for a few late arrivals to school. My record, grades, and artwork were the only things I prized.

"Wait! I found Vera's book, ma'am. It was right here on the shelf." Everyone in the room turned towards the speaker. She was pale, with a freckled face and luminous green eyes. She had a mop of curly red hair that reached down to her waist. And she was holding up a book--my book--triumphantly in the air.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I was saved...for now.

A/N: Hello, readers! Since so many of you are silent (but still appreciated nonetheless) I just thought I'd remind you guys to vote if you liked the chapter. Votes are free, they don't cost you a thing, and each one makes my day. :)