Sunrise and Sunset in Florence

Chapter One

"Okay, Raymond, give a difference between a base and an acid."

The teacher's voice shot though my ears like an arrow, arousing me from my dream state. I quickly turned my gaze from my object of focus and faced the teacher in front of the class.

"Oh, not again," I muttered quietly in my throat, slowly rising from my seat.

Mr. Osas, our chemistry teacher, always finds a way to embarrass me in class, and to think it was today of all days. I had not been paying attention in class again but this time it was due to something different, something new. Something had caught my eyes. It was that thing at which I was staring before the voice of the teacher brought me back to earth.

"Uh- Sir, the difference is that-," I began, fully standing now, my right hand scratching the back of my head desperately in search of an answer. My eyes glancing down towards my friend Michael who was sitting close to me, like I could get the answer from his eyes. "The difference is that a base... A base is...," I stuttered and the whole class burst into laughter.

"Just sit down, Raymond," the teacher cut in with his thunderous voice. His fiery eyes burning through the lens of his glasses. "You seldom have the correct answer to whatever question that's thrown at you. You better pay attention and never let me catch you looking elsewhere until my class is ended."

I have never felt so ashamed in my life as I felt that moment. I would have given anything to have the earth open up its mouth to swallow me. I was the happiest man on the planet when about fifteen minutes later, I heard the bell go. It was break time.

Everybody except myself and Michael moved out of the class. The usual noise of excitement of the younger students, having gained their forty minutes of freedom, rang through out the school building. I was usually the first person to rush out during break. There's nothing like having some nice fun time with your buddies during lunch break to just eat, crack jokes, laugh and prank each other but I wasn't feeling like it today. Not after what just happened during Chemistry class.

"Hey, Ray, you not going out to grab some bite at the canteen?" Michael's voice broke through my thoughts.

"No," I replied.

"Sorry about what just happened back there but man, that wasn't the first or second time. Come on, get over it why are you feeling like it's the end of the world?"

"You won't understand, Mike."

"Don't go cryptic on me now, Ray. Come on I'm your friend you can talk to me."

"I know," raising my head up and softly tapping my fingers on the hard table.

"Wait, is it what I'm thinking? I saw how you were gazing towards the left row right before Mr. Osas threw you one of his plethora of questions. Don't tell me its because-oh my God."

Michael got up with his hand to his head with a big grin which was quickly turning into a laughter of mockery. He then sat on the table so as to face me.

"So its the new girl, huh?" he said with a smirk.

Bingo! He caught me again and I blushed. I don't know how he does it but he always knows what's up with me.

"Did you notice how beautiful she was?" I replied, no longer bashful. "The way she walked in with those pretty slim legs and an aura of confidence. This girl beats Kim Kardashian and I just couldn't help staring at her. It's not just her beauty anyway, there's something about her that arrested my attention, something I've never come across before."

"Hmm, my guy has fallen in love at first sight," Michael replied in a fit of laughter.

"She's cool, I admit. But is that why you were that embarrassed?"

"What's there not to be embarrassed about?" I retorted. "Don't you know what they say about first impression, huh? I was planning to talk to her during lunch break but now I've made an idiot of myself and I don't think I can summon the courage to walk up to her anymore. Curse Mr. Osas! He sure knows how to ruin my day!"

"Yeah, I see your point. I guess you just have to find a way and still talk to her since you like her that much. Afterall your dad's got the dough and you know these girls like a guy who's got a rich dad so I bet she'll surely get to like you, blah blah blah," he teased.

"Oh stop it now, will you? You know I don't like it when you talk about wealth and all that. See I know what I'll do. I'll start reading alot so I can start answering questions in class."

"Hahaha... Come on dude," laughed Michael, "you know, that should be the ten thousandth time you are saying that and you never keep to your word."

"You sure know how to encourage someone," I sighed with my eyes closed and head bowed.

"Okay sorry you got your bubble busted but I'm feeling a bit hungry now so come lets go grab a burger and some cold drink. What do you say?"

"I don't know. You can go, I'll be here."

"On the contrary, I think the air outside will help lighten your mood. Come on, giddy up."

"Fine, if you say so. Let's go."

"You're buying."

"That's not a problem, Mikey."

"Now, that's my man," he said, patting me on the shoulder and standing up.

We both walked out of the Classroom. I felt somewhat better.

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(Thanks so much for reading this first chapter. Please VOTE and comment. Thanks once again as you move on to the next chapter)