Navigating Life, Called Claude

Chapter 1:

The bell signals a lot in a high school student’s life. It means food, freedom, relaxation and my least favourite thing, the start of a school day. Unfortunately for me this is exactly what the annoying ringing sound is saying. Move your butt and get to class. Naturally I am late for first period. Again. I grasp the handle preparing to open the door and just slip inside without getting noticed. I have no such luck. The moment my body enters the classroom, nineteen sets of eyes dramatically turn my way as if it is the most unnatural thing to see a student walking through the classroom door. Mr Greene, sensing the class’ undivided attention, swivels around to face me whiteboard marker in hand, prepared to strike. 

“Ms Bennet, how nice of you to-“

“Join us” I finish in my head.

Mr Greene really had to get some new material, it was getting beyond the point of sad. I stare at him expectantly, waiting for the announcement of my ten minute detention after class.

“I’m sorry Claude but that’ll be fifteen minutes detention at recess.”

My mouth pops open, is he serious?!

He smiles shyly at my apparent look of dismay, “You have been making a habit of it lately.”

I solemnly accept my punishment and trudge over to the unoccupied seat next to Bailee Knott, my head bowed in shame and guilt and as soon as I am out of the teacher’s eyesight, flash her an award winning smile and return her air high-five. A surprising turn of events right? I guess I should probably back up a bit and explain.

You see, Dale Greene is completely and utterly hot. I have never seen anyone like him and I might add that it is very distracting when I am trying to learn. His hair is as deep as the earthy tones of damp tree bark, it is smooth and delicate and is styled to flick over the top of his head. His eyes are like lashings of dark chocolate, they are enhanced by the oversized glasses that are perched stylishly on his nose. Sorry, I realise that I am getting a bit smooshy but I can’t help it. Mr Greene is insanely cute and I admit it. Yes, I have a teachers crush. But before you think I’m a sick, psychopathic weirdo, stop. I am not in love with my teacher if that’s what you’re thinking. I just think he’s ridiculously hot.  

I lean back against the table, my chair propped up by one leg. Apart from having an insanely handsome teacher my music class also wins the award for my most liked subject. I adore music, thanks to my keen interest in drums. I have been drumming since I was five. The feelings that rush through you when you lose yourself to music are incredible. Your mind numbs and your heart beats against your chest, imitating the sounds echoing from the drum sticks. It was clear the moment I stepped into school I was not going to be able to tell you what x equalled or describe the difference between a noun and an adjective and explain why the symbol for potassium is a k not a p, so I turned to something that I could do. Music.

That is where Bailee comes in. With a waterfall of layered hair as bottomless as coal, profound green eyes and a small, petite figure, Bailee is the most caring person I have ever met. Like me she turned to music for support at an early age however Bailee’s reasoning’s were a little different to mine. At the age of ten, Bailee lost her youngest brother Coby in an accident at a creek. It tore her to pieces and the only way to smother her anguished feelings was to release them through music.

“Hey babe, we were just about to start our music assignment” Bailee informs me.

“Great” I reply enthusiastically.

“Just waiting for Kale, he’s late again. I swear you guys could be twins.”

It is true Kale Jones, my other only friend, is in some ways a lot like me. I picture his tall, skinny frame and mop of curly hair, I imagine the light dusting of freckles over his nose and his peculiar eyes, green with a ring of brown around the pupil. In appearance we are completely different but in personality we are almost exactly the same. According to everyone around me, Kale and I are joined by a link that cannot be ignored and it is inevitable that we shall face each other one day staring deeply into each other’s eyes and daintily whisper the words ‘I do’ whilst a single drop of tear rolls down our faces. However I can assure you that the feelings that spring up when I am around Kale are nothing more than pure friendship and occasionally a burst of irritation.