Tree Whisperer

Chapter 4: Nathan

Chapter Four: Nathan

"Hey, hey wait up!" I called.

It was the girl. I knew it was. It had to be. I grabbed her arm. "Did you not here me call you?" I sounded mean and stupid already. I tried changing the topic, unsuccessfully.  

"Our bus was coming around the corner when I saw you and thought you were waiting for the bus stop. So are you? Because you can get on now. Just to warn you for next time though, the bus stop is at the next corner to your left," I said. When I was on the bus, I had asked the bus driver to stop because I had accidently let my homework fly out the window. It had taken some convincing, but he had eventually stopped.

We walked together to the bus and climbed up the steps. The door closed behind us with a thud as we sat down in a green seat. I moved my backpack to the ground and watched the girl do the same.

"Thanks. Hi, I'm Brenda. What's your name?" She sounded nervous. I took that for a who-the-heck-are-you sign. Maybe that meant she didn't remember that day in the hall where I stood there like an idiot with Alex. And when Alex hadn’t been able to see her.

"My name? Oh, my name is Nathan," I said. "So, why can I see you?" I went straight to the point. If this was some kind of practical joke I was going to kill Alex.

She inhaled sharply, as her eyes grew larger. She then tried to run out of the seat. Well, that was a dead give-away that something wasn’t quite right here. I grabbed her arm swiftly. She was not getting away from me again.

"No, I need answers. Now."

She whispered softly, “Because I'm a human?” For some reason though, it sounded like she was trying to convince herself rather than me.

I chuckled, "Seriously though, I know nobody else can see you, why can I?"

"How do you know?" Brenda whispered, so I could barely hear. I just remained silent.

She grabbed her notebook out of her bag and a pencil. Why would she be studying at a time like this?

"No..." I was cut off when she finished writing and handed me a piece of paper. Well I guess it did make more sense that she was writing me a note.

Written on it in her perfect little script was, I can't tell you right now. You have to trust me when I say meet me after school. I'll explain then. Maybe.

I finished reading the note and her eyes were pleading. Was she about to cry? I hoped not, I had no idea what to do with a crying girl. I couldn't refuse her, though. She looked guilty, but scared. I hoped I wouldn't get her into trouble. I finally found her. The girl with the brown hair, who can disappear into thin air.

"Please," she whispered. I nodded. I believed her. I don't know why, it was just one of those moments where I went with my gut feeling. And my gut was telling me to trust her, though I was probably an idiot for that.

Now I just had to get through the school day.

*****

The bell rang and I headed to class. Why did school have to last eight hours? Why not just an hour everyday including weekends? It would be a lot easier!

Brenda. The name rolled around in my head. It was a great name. A beautiful name! How many classes had I been to already today? Oh, yeah. This was still my first class of the day.

"Mr. Grumboth, I asked you a question. Where is your homework? Or did the dog eat it this time?"

"Uhhh, my homework? Um, yeah.  I-I have it. It’s right here." I pulled a random piece of paper out of my desk, and handed it to Mrs. Meridan.

"Mr. Grumboth. This paper is blank. I guess the dog did eat it.”

Mrs. Meridan droned on ahead me.

When the bell finally rang for the next class, I practically ran out of the room when Mrs. Meridan called, "Nathan Grumboth. I need to see you for a moment please.  You missed these last two assignments, today. Is something bothering you?"

Something was, but was Mrs. Meridan an okay-candidate to tell? I decided against it. Why would she be the person to tell? I mean, if I was going to tell anyone it would be Alex, which I obviously could definitely not do.

"Nah, I’m fine. Thanks for asking." I started walking away again.

The day was so slow. Too slow. If it went any slower, I think I might start pulling out my hair. Each class was a disaster, each time a teacher asked for homework, I just ended up saying I didn't have it, instead of, you know, getting humiliated by a teacher in front of the class.

By the time I was finally in my last class, my teacher, Mr. Corig said, "Young man, the principal would like to see you." I raised my eyes, actually listening for once.

"What?" I mumbled, half objecting, half confused. I hadn't done anything wrong but miss a couple homework assignments.

"Now that I have everybody's attention, Nathan, and because you were listening so well, I'd like you to recite all of the states and their capitols."

"Mr. Corig, no offense or anything, but we learned that in, like, fifth grade."

"Then, like, you should know it exceptionally well. Stand up when you recite them, young man,” Mr. Corig mocked.

I stood up and started speaking, "Nebraska, Lincoln; Ohio, Columbia..." Everyone started laughing. Mr. Corig did not.

"That is enough, Mr. Grumboth. I will see you after class for after-school detention!"

"Oh. I can't, I have to be somewhere after school." Apparently that was the wrong answer.

"You do, do you? It isn't a funeral is it? I'm guessing not. I'll see you after school today and that is final."

And that was why Brenda stood waiting after school for three hours.

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