Finding Home

Chapter 2

Finishing my story I abruptly stopped talking because I'd noticed that we were the only two left on the bus. AJ on the other hand had not noticed. She was just starring at me with her mouth gaping open. Before she or I could say anything, the bus driver cleared his throat and said, "You girls gonna get off anytime soon?"
I snapped my head up and quickly nodded, embarrassed to have been told to get off. Scrambling, I grabbed my bag and pulled AJ out of the row and into the aisle. I murmured a small, mouse-like thank you to the nice driver and descended the steps. The minute my feet hit the pavement the headache-provoking bell roared. AJ and I took up a swift jog to our lockers.

Unluckily, our first period of the day was with Mr. Rolando who only had one rule, no tardiness. We skidded into his room, panting and out of breath. Mr. Rolameo, as most of the kids called him behind his back, was writing the algebra questions from last night's homework on the board. AJ and I scooted quietly to our desks, hoping that he would keep his head facing towards the board until we were safely in our seats. I was rarely ever late and I really didn't want him to give himself a reason to think I was becoming a tardy student, but of course, no such luck.
Cameron, one of the by far most irritating, vexed, unmannerly and downright mean boys I'd ever met hollered out for the entire class to hear, "Look who the tide washed in!". The whole class erupted into a volcano of laughter. Mr. Rolando spun his head around and focused his eyes on AJ and I.
I'd never really been stared down by a teacher before, by a parent and apparently future parent, yes, but those were never like this. He just stared in a way that made my insides want to curl up into a dark corner of the galaxy and stay there for eternity. I was terrified, worse than terrified. I later tried to look up a better synonym in my thesaurus, but there was nothing that summed up all my emotions in that moment. Tardiness was not an exception to me. Mr. Rolando was furious. Tears began trickling down my already rosy splotched face. All the crying had made my face look like someone had dumped three pounds of Mama's blush that she puts on every morning before work all over me. Kids began to quietly laugh, whisper and point. My head drooped and I started to bawl harder. I couldn't help it, getting yelled at by my only family member, possibly being taken away from her and getting in trouble with my teacher all in one day was too much, my emotions couldn't handle it.
Unexpectedly, someone's hands took hold of my arms tightly, but not so tight it wasn't uncomfortable. I was almost reassuring. I breathed out and raised my head to face whoever had hold of me. It was Mr. Rolando. Clearly he'd changed his mind about punishing me for the moment. From that stare I had thought I was headed straight to Principal Rose's office just from being two minutes late. He whispered something to a girl named Tasha who sat beside me too quietly for me to hear. She briskly ran out of the room and down the hall. Mr. Rolando sat me down and turned to everyone else who had now grown very still and silent after Tasha's fast exit. Mr. Rolando gave the class instructions to individually turn to page 216 and 217 of our math textbook to review what we'd be doing today quietly. After he finished talking, the kids all began speaking as noisily as if the bell hadn't rung yet and they were waiting for class to commence. Mr. Rolando lifted his head and yelled, "I. Did. Not. Say. With. A. Partner. - You. Will. Review. SILENTLY!!!". After that room became completely mute and he turned back to me. He instructed me to breath deeply and focus on only that.

Several extensive breaths later in the now calm classroom, Tasha burst open the door and scooted rapidly to her desk. All that girl ever seemed to do was move quickly, like she would always be late. Maybe that's why Mr. Rolando liked her so much, because she was never tardy. Following Tasha was Ms. Lewis. Ms. Lewis was possibly the best person who worked at Seaburrow. She was one of the English teachers for the older grades and the school councillor. I'd spent more time with Ms. Lewis then any of my other teachers, including my Humanities teacher in grade four who'd moved away last winter. Ms. Lewis was where I spent so much of my time when AJ wasn't around and that happened a lot. Other than being my only, true best friend, AJ is extremely popular. She knows she is, however she doesn't let it go to her head. That's one of the things I like best about her. She's very likeable, but not selfish and cruel like the other populars. The only downside of her being so likeable is during lunch, after school and almost any other time we're not in school, AJ has clubs and parties and hangouts. So may people love her and want to spend time with her.
So Ms. Lewis is like my second best friend if teachers could be best friends. She knows everything about me and my "situations" at home, as she calls it.
Ms. Lewis walked up to me and took my hands in hers, "Everything is going to be just fine Anna. Come and let's take a short walk to my office, get you some water and talk it out.". I nodded, whipping my runny nose. Ms. Lewis whispered something to Mr. Rolando and he nodded with a pained expression on his face. Ms. Lewis reached down and took my hand in hers and in the other she grabbed by binder and bag. I followed her hand out of the classroom not looking up in fear I'd start crying all over again.