Metanoia, a Ghost Bird Fanfic

Sugar for the soul

His grey orbs meet mine and I'm instantly lost in their intensity. He has a perfect mask that isn't disclosing any of his thoughts or emotions, but I instantly felt drawn to show him mine. I'm scared he'll find out all my secrets, but more than that I'm afraid of him not liking who holds them. I feel like his clever brain will easily unravel my persona to the marrow of my bones and expose all my secrets and imperfections. I quickly looked away before that happens.

I look anywhere but his eyes and try to ignore the urge I have to let him into my mind. The pull I feel to him because of how amazing his clean scent smells doesn't help either.

I try to focus on the music instead, remembering all the dips and crescendos I memorised years ago.

Mr. Blackbourne seems to follow my thoughts as he asks, "Do you know this song?"

I speak so I don't keep him waiting, "Yes, it's Winter, by Vivaldi"

I glance at him, he looks way too young to be staff, hardly older than me.

"Do you play music?" He inquires.

"No unfortunately I've never been able to."

"Do you want to?" He asks, looking down to shift some papers on his desk.

I don't hesitate to answer, "Immensely"

The corner of his lips lift. It's a tiny millimeter smile, I might not have caught it without my superhuman eyesight. It changes his whole look to be far more welcoming. I relax a little. "Who are you?" he asks.

"My name is Slate Sorenson" I answer, the lie bitter on my tongue. I've never felt so uneasy about lying as I do under his stare.

Mr. Blackbourne silently types on his computer, bringing up my school files as he says, "Looks like you're taking a lot of AP classes, that's unusual."

"Yeah, since those classes have less people in them than the rest I'm allowed to take a lot, something about evening out the population enrolling for the easier classes..." as I talk I notice Mr.Blackbourne texting rapidly.

"I'm putting you in violin, replacing your homeroom. You'll now be going to music room B for third period starting tomorrow." He looks up into my eyes, "That is if you want to."

"Yes! I would love that!" I blurt out after my small pause, more loudly than I mean to. "Err that is.. Thank you Mr. Blackbourne I appreciate it."

"Great," he writes on a piece of paper and hands it to me, along with a new copy of my schedule "I'll see you there. Give this paper to your first period teacher, you won't be marked as tardy."

He's letting me go? I thought I was in trouble because of the incident with Jade. I just take the papers and thank him again before I start walking to my first period class. Classes have already started, the halls are completely empty, a stark contrast to just a few minutes ago. My worn shoes hitting the cement floor is the only sound resonating through the area, but I can sense the amount of commotion happening behind these walls. Classrooms stacked with students, I feel the buzz of energy whenever I pass a classroom. I think of the spring soap fragrance that so strongly lingers in my memory.

I look down at my schedule and sure enough I have a new violin class, replacing my study hall. Its taught by Mr. Blackbourne, for some strange reason I'm eager to see him again.

Homeroom Room 135

AP English - Trailer 10 - Ms. Johnson

AP Geometry - Room 220 - Ms. Smith

Violin - Music Room B - Mr. Blackbourne

AP World History - Trailer 32 - Mr. Morris

Lunch