In Plain Sight [mxb]

3. longeque

 SONG - BLAME - BASTILLE

My heart sunk down to my gut for the forty minutes I sat down to write that test. Being unprepared was not something I liked in any form or shape. There were far too many things already that made me feel inadequate. Flunking a test I was not prepared for was not what I'd have liked to add on to the list.

"Time's up," Mr. Charleston announced and I think the entire class was far too miserable to even let out a collective groan. Instead we all shared similar expressions of utter disdain. Something told me that in the one period we'd just met our new teacher, any chances he had of gaining a fan club had been stomped without hope of revival.

Mr. Charleston went around each row to collect the quiz papers. His eyes didn't meet mine when he came to collect my half-filled quiz but in the moment it was hard to feel particularly disappointed. He reached Gale's desk who practically threw her paper to him like he was some servant and she was the Victorian mistress of the house. He wordless collected it not even saying anything about her manner, glanced at it and pounded it against her desk making a very loud thump echo through the class.

"Why didn't you write a single word Miss. Howard?" He asked in a low voice. He sounded like he was tittering somewhere on the edge of collectedness and complete madness which made me slightly scared for Gale. But the offender herself remained nonchalant.

"I didn't feel like it."

"You didn't feel like it?" Mr. Charleston repeated. It was still only his first day yet I'd seen his neck bugle with veins twice now.

"Technically I don't have to. You can't make me to do it. And if I fail this then oh well, there will be other tests to make up for it won't there?" She replied simply twirling the tip of her hair around her finger with a smile on her lips. Gale was all about the technicalities. Strangely enough it wanted to see how he would get out of this one and what his solution would be. Simply fail her? One failed test wasn't going to make Gale cry afterwards. She wouldn't care. That was her one advantage.

Mr. Charleston sighed; but it sounded like the sigh of one who pitied another not actual frustration "I originally planned this quiz to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the students in the class to know how to improve ourselves during the following weeks but since you Miss. Howard have proven that there are far too many smart asses than I'd like, I've decided that this single quiz is going to make up 10% of your final grade. Same goes for every single person in this class." Sounds of outrage burst through the classroom including myself. How could he? I was completely sure that I'd failed that test and that was going to bring my grade down from the pleasant state where it had been orbiting in.

"You can't do that!" She shouted red faced and caught off guard. "That's against the rules."

He cocked an eyebrow "Ah don't be misunderstood my dear. I make the rules. I decide how many tests will be added to make up your final grade. And since you were magnanimous enough to give your very best on this test then I'll make sure your hard work is severely rewarded." In one move he'd upturned her. I would have been impressed if it wasn't a sentence that would affect me too.

"Let it be known class, your fate was sealed by Miss. Howard. You have her to thank for your fortune," Mr. Charleston stated. Numerous anger filled murmurs permeated throughout the classroom. Gale scowled and tried to act unaffected by it but I could see the discomfort pour from her pores.

"Fuck you Gale," Bennett said unpleasantly.

"Shut up," She shot back helplessly. Mr. Charleston watched the exchange and made absolutely no move to chasten them for swearing. His expression seemed bland but I could see the smug satisfaction threatening to rise from beneath the surface. He had managed to hit her in her most vulnerable spot. There's nothing worse for a teenager than being generally known as the cause for the misfortune of your peers, especially when you're popular.