Strangers With Memories

Three

3 • When he helped
Maria point of view
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⠀⠀⠀They all stare at me, I love attention, but not this kind of attention. The bell rings and everyone runs into class leaving me outside lost.
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⠀⠀⠀I take a deep breathe and walk in the empty hall. “Are you lost?” A familiar voice asks.
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⠀⠀⠀I turn around and see that man I talked to on the airport. “It's my first day.” I whisper looking at the floor.
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⠀⠀⠀”What grade are you in?” He asks.
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⠀⠀⠀”Sixth grade.”
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⠀⠀⠀”What a coincidence, I'm going there right now. I'm the math teacher.” He explains taking me there.
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⠀⠀⠀He walks in leaving me outside nervous. He looks around trying to find me only to realize I was outside hiding.
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⠀⠀⠀He walks up to me and kneels down making us the same height. “You're nervous, huh?”
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⠀⠀⠀I nod.
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⠀⠀⠀”There's no need to be. I know people can be judgmental, but you can't let it keep you from going to school.” He tries to calm me.
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⠀⠀⠀”I guess you're right…” I sigh walking in.”I'm Maria, by the way.” I continue.
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⠀⠀⠀He smiles. “I'm Mr. Garcia.”
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⠀⠀⠀Garcia...That name isn't new to me. Maybe he's famous or maybe he has a famous family member.
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⠀⠀⠀•••
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⠀⠀⠀School is over. I'm just waiting for my mom to pick me up. It's been an hour, though. Maybe she forgot…
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⠀⠀⠀The janitor tells me to go wait outside and that maybe she was there. I sit on a bench alone waiting for her. I grab my homework and start doing it, I'm bored to the point of doing it.
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⠀⠀⠀”You're alone?” A girl asks sitting by me.
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⠀⠀⠀I look up at her and nod. “Yeah, my mom probably forgot me.”
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⠀⠀⠀”My nanny always comes here late. She's usually with her boyfriend somewhere in town. At least she's nice.” The girl complains.
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⠀⠀⠀”I'm Maria. What's your name?”
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⠀⠀⠀”I'm Delilah.” She informs.
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⠀⠀⠀A car parks in front of us with a girl and a weird guy. “Come on, Delilah, let's go!” The girl shouts.
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⠀⠀⠀”Bye.” Delilah waves goodbye leaving with those crazy people.
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⠀⠀⠀I sigh. I'm all alone now. What if I get kidnapped? It happens sometimes. Maybe my mom is getting here. She's probably stuck in traffic.
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⠀⠀⠀”Oh Maria, your mom didn't show up?” Mr. Garcia asks making me look at him.
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⠀⠀⠀I shake my head.
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⠀⠀⠀”Oh that's a shame, I wanted to talk to her about you.” He sits by me.
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⠀⠀⠀”M-me? Did I do something wrong?”
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⠀⠀⠀”No, of course not. It's just a normal talk.” He informs. “It's almost been 2 hours, don't you think it's time to call her?”
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⠀⠀⠀”I tried, she told me her friend was coming and that she was busy with work.” I sigh.
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⠀⠀⠀”I could wait with you here, I have nothing better to do at home.” He suggests.
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⠀⠀⠀I smile and nod. “I'd love that, I'm scared of staying out here by myself.”
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⠀⠀⠀I hear a car door close and my mom comes right at us. When she notices I'm talking to Mr. Garcia, she stumbles a bit, but continues walking up to us.
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⠀⠀⠀A/N- who's curious about all of this?!!