Silence

Chapter 6 - Notes

We walk over to the front office to get Carter's schedule. It turns out that he has four out of our six classes with me. The other two I have with Lauren so he isn't in any of her classes. First period, second, third, and sixth are with Carter. I have fourth and fifth with Lauren.

We walk him over to his locker which just happens to be about five down from mine. I never thought much about it before but new students are always assigned lockers near mine because everyone who knows me requests a locker far away from me when we choose in the beginning of the school year.

He puts a blue bag in the locker and we start walking to our first class.

"I have to get to my first class and it's across school. Talk to you at lunch Emma. It was nice meeting you, Carter." Lauren waves her hand and gives me a wink as she heads to her first class.

"So, are you ever going to talk to me or are you quiet around most people?" he asks but not in a mean way. More of a way like he is hoping that i will talk to him but accepting that I may not.

I shrug my shoulders but at that moment I have a small urge to talk to him, though as soon as it's there it's gone again. I wish Lauren would still be here, then they would be able to hold a conversation or she could at least tell him that I just don't talk. I don't say anything and look down.

He smiles as we walk into class. I go to my usual desk in the back ignoring everyone I have to walk by and watch as Carter makes his way towards me. No one ever sits near me. I'm surrounded by empty chairs. He takes the seat across from mine and sets his backpack down.

"Anyone sit here?" he asks, even though it's clear that no one does.

I shake my head no and I can feel a few stares directed towards us.

"Class, it seems as though we have a new student with us," says Mr. Wright. The entire class turns to look at Carter.

When they realize that he is sitting next to me they all turn their eyes to me and then back to him as he says, "Hi, I'm Carter Rhodes," with a small wave of his hand.

He seems so calm. I would definitely be nervous on my first day at a new school. The rest of the class watched him a little longer then they turn back to face the board and Mr. Wright. I try to concentrate on the lecture when I see something white from the corner of my eye. I turn my head to to see a piece of paper folded up a few times at the corner of my desk. I glance at Carter but he is just writing his class notes.

The front of the note says: I hope you can write.

I open the note while Mr. Wright isn't looking.

They don't seem so bad. Is what's written on the inside.

I smile and write back: Just wait.

I hand him back the note. He reads it then smirks. He scribbles something and then hands it back to me.

Oh thank goodness. I only had a few more options to get you to talk to me. I was wondering if I could sit with you at lunch.

The bell rings and I stand up. I tuck the note in my backpack before looking up. Carter is looking at me, waiting for an answer. I smile, grab my bag, then nod my head when I look back at him. I wonder what he was planning to do if I couldn't write notes.