Cheshire Girl

Ch. 4

My next classes were the same.  Like, almost exact.

                In Algebra II, I told the class that my father was away on important business, so my mother and I moved here.  A boy asked if it was government-related.  I said that I could neither confirm nor deny.

                History was the only class I confirmed the truth, that my parents were divorced.  I knew that class was going to be boring anyway, so it seemed fitting that my backstory should be too.

                I didn't want to go into the cafeteria for lunch.  It was too big a crowd to try and ignore.  I had a feeling that Cynthia Connor was going to be there.  I didn't want her coming up to me and inviting me to her table, and the same went for those boys from English.

                I managed to slip into the line for the patio "café," which really only held the unhealthy stuff like chips and soda.  This didn't require me to go into the cafeteria at all.  Unfortunately, all I got was a bag of chips and soda—locally marked; not Pepsi or Coca-Cola.

                I opened the bottle and bag and hid them in my backpack.  Then, as inconspicuously as possible, I speed-walked to the library.  I hoped I could hide in the farthest aisle and eat in peace.

                It was like I'd walked into another world, void of sound.  No one was inside—well, the librarian, but she was in the back office.  Through the window, I could see her talking on the phone with a book open on her desk.

                A boy was by the magazines, sitting on the small couches.  Two girls were on one of the computers, but they were quiet.  I walked by and they minimized shirtless pictures of Taylor Lautner and Channing Tatum.

                I made my way to the aisles... walked slowly like I was looking for something... and then I went to the farthest aisle and sat down in the corner and ate quietly.  I wasn't sure what aisle I was in—nonfiction I was certain—but a few books caught my eye.  The Salem Witch Trials had five books followed by censorship books and constitutional rights.  Did those three subjects go together?

*

In the end, I checked out a Salem Witch Trials book.  What possessed me to do it, I don't know.  Maybe I didn't want to leave the library empty-handed.  I'd used it as my own personal cafeteria; I was not going to eat in the bathroom like Lindsay Lohan.

                I had biology next.  Magazine Boy was in there, and the only seat available was next to him since I had the teacher sign my attendance slip at the beginning of class.  He—Magazine Boy—didn't care though.  At least he didn't try to ask me questions like a few other kids.  Thankfully, the biology teacher just plowed on through the lesson without a care to me.  He was a little elderly, but that worked out in my favor.

                For some reason, I was put into choir for fifth period.  I hope this doesn't come across as braggy, but I can sing, I just don't do it often.  Magazine Boy was in there too.

                Mr. Thomas Charles was probably going to be the only teacher that would be close to being my favorite teacher.  Heck, he was already my favorite teacher.

                "Right on time, Ms. Ford.  Let me see your slip."

                "My what?"

                His eyes widened.  "The paper all your teachers are signing?"

                "Oh—right."