another side

chapter three

I began Tuesday feeling relatively content because I knew I had English that morning and I had spent all of Christmas break working on an essay to impress Mr Fry. I may have slightly neglected my other subjects for it, but oh well. Excelling at one thing is better than doing decently at three things in my opinion. I was about to throw my bag down on my beloved, yet lonely desk by the window when Mr Fry cut everyone off in their tracks.

"I'm trying a new system this term." He boomed. "From now on, you're going to sit in alphabetical order in the seats which I will choose for you. I'm doing this with all my classes, so don't feel picked on. I just think it will create a much better atmosphere for learning."

How exactly does putting us beside people we hate create a better environment, exactly? Then it hit me. Who's name was right next to mine in the register? Shit. Mr Fry started sitting everyone down starting at the top of the role. Brian Adams, Sarah Archer and there was no B's so then came the C's. Mr Fry's classroom had those desks made for two people – I had prayed that maybe things would work out so that I was next to Georgia Daniels, but no such luck. One seat of the desk in front of Fry's desk: Carmen Chavez. The other: me.

I begrudgingly slumped down in my chair and Carmen seemed to lean purposely away from me. Nonetheless, I could still smell her gorgeous floral perfume – it was high quality stuff that seemed to envelop you in its scent and immediately think highly of the wearer. However, knowing who the wearer was made it a different story. It smelt just as stuck up as she was.

We sat in uncomfortable silence as the rest of the class got their seats. Everyone seemed pissed. As much as I loved English, Fry had a way of turning it sour. His methods didn't agree with me – or anyone, besides himself, actually. I respected his intelligence, but he was the sort who liked teaching just to hear the sound of his own darling voice. If you gained his respect he might give you a little bit of praise or hold your opinions more highly than that of the rest of the class, but that tiny drop of encouragement would be all you would get from him. That was why I was desperate to impress him. I never had to prove myself to the other English teachers, but he was much harder to crack. I wouldn't let having Carmen beside me hinder me – I could hate it, but it wouldn't get in the way of my work.

"Now I think I should make my second announcement." Fry said, once Kelly Yetman had taken her seat near the back of the room.

"You're not pregnant too, are you?" David questioned, receiving a chorus of giggles and high fives from those around him.

"No, David. I am not." Fry grunted, glaring. I had a feeling this seating plan wouldn't last long. Then again, no matter where you put David he'll still have a loud mouth. "The second announcement is that your first project of the year will be in pairs."

The class groaned even louder at this announcement than the seating plan. Fry really was cementing his status as public enemy number one.

"Do we get to choose our pairs?" Brian asked.

Please say yes. Please say yes. Please, for the love of God, say we can pick our pairs.

"No."

Fuck.

"But why sir?" someone whined amongst the chaos of students babbling and freaking out on all corners of the room.

"Because I am the teacher and I say so." Fry grunted. "I think it will be good for you to work with someone you never worked with before. Maybe you'll make some new friends."

"We're seventeen, sir." Kelly said through the bursting of her bubblegum. "Our window for making new friends in high school has closed."

"Yeah sir!" David added. "And its hardly fair I mean, what if someone happens to be next to their friend in he alphabet while someone else is next to their worst enemy? I mean, look! Eva and Rachel are twins, so of course they are beside each other! How is it fair if they get to work together while the rest of us could be stuck with someone they hate?"