64 Degrees And Cloudy

Mr. Falk

I sat in my classroom the next morning fixated on drawing doodles of demons drinking with hot girls. I ignored my teacher's warning of an upcoming pop quiz. When the bell rang I waited five minutes. My enthusiasm to leave as soon as possible had been diminished by the presence of some hotshot rumored to be Quinn's new boyfriend.

Somehow, my teacher, Mr. Falk, had caught on to this new me void of enthusiasm. I figured this as I began getting up to put my notebook in my bag. "Not gonna lie Robert, you've got one hell of a talent," he said in a relaxed voice. I winced. I hated being called Robert.

"What do you mean by that," I replied, avoiding eye contact. Falk shuffled his papers on his desk and leaned back in his chair. "I mean your art," he said, nodding towards my notebook, "what you lack in listening skills you certainly make up for in creativity". I cocked my head and smiled very slightly. "Thanks sir," I muttered. I slung my bag on my shoulder quickly and began to head for the exit when I heard his swivel chair move.

"Tell me something Robert, and be completely honest. How have you handled this whole Jeremy situation?" Falk said. His eyes never moved to me; he was staring at something far off outside of the realms of school. I inhaled. "I've been fine," I finally said after a moment. "Look, I think everyone wants me to believe I was affected by this so then they can have another friend on the bandwagon of pity," I continued. Mr. Falk chewed on his pen and glanced at me, "what do you mean by 'bandwagon' Robert?". I sighed. Too many damn questions.

"I mean they feel their going crazy for being in tears over a kid they never knew, so they wanna drag me down with it and know in their heads they aren't the only ones who went ape shit over this. They find...ah fuck what's the word...Solace. They find solace in knowing they have more and more people there just like them. It boosts their confidence".

Falk didn't say anything, but the look on his face remained inquisitive. He spoke after a few taunting moments of silence.

"I guess you can look at it that way Robert."

"Alright then," I said, beginning to move again.

"You have a speech due on Wednesday," he said from his book that he had become engrossed in reading. My back was already to him.

"I'll remember."

"Of course you will Robert," he said with a voice that made him sound way damn older than he really was, "of course".

I smiled a little again. Falk didn't see.