Scarlet Dreams

Chapter 4: Fellow Anomaly

Scarlet

It had been barely a day since my amazing visit at ZYNOTECH. I was still shivering from excitement every time I remembered the people I had met and meetings I had been allowed to attend. More than ever, I wanted to create something like that company, which was why I was planning to raid the library when I got the chance. Some extensive research was acquired to do what I was thinking. And I knew my next steps wouldn't be easy. Another thing was that I still had high school to finish.

But until then, I had to deal with this micro problem at hand. I let out a frustrated sigh.

It was no use. I just couldn't do it. Trying to fit an elephant through the eye of a needle had about the same possibility of success, maybe even more.

"What are you doing?"

I looked up, seeing nothing but a blurry outline of a person, or people—I wasn't completely sure. Pushing up the glasses that had slid down my nose, I found Simon and Ben, the quiet one among my small group of friends, both looking at me with conflicting expressions. Simon was pressing his lips together in an effort to not burst out laughing while Benjamin looked just interested.

"Nothing, at least not anymore," I sighed, abandoning my efforts to fit my earring that had fallen out back into its place. I could swear the hole in my ear had shrunk in seconds.

Sitting down at the desk behind me, Simon leaned over. "What's with the glasses? Decided to finally start looking smart?"

"Sure, about time I started living up to my colossal brain, just like you," I said, rolling my eyes. "I lost my last pair of contact lenses. The new order will only arrive on Wednesday."

That was in two fricking days. I was already annoyed after three hours of pushing the glasses back into place. My nose was feeling uncomfortably itchy also—I was probably having an allergic reaction to the plastic glasses supports.

The sound of the classroom door closing pulled my attention. Mr. Williams walked into the classroom and the chatter died down instantly, as if someone had pressed the mute button. This teacher was an interesting anomaly among his colleagues, one actually respected by the majority of students in this school—or in some cases, feared. He was the kind of teacher you didn't want to mess with, since no one wanted to fall victim to his sharp tongue. Even poking a sleeping lion seemed a better option.

"Good morning, students. I'm very happy to see everyone has made it to my class today..." he began, letting his cold eyes travel over the class. "Watson!" His sharp shout made everyone turn toward the back of the class where the group of football players was sitting. Keith, the quarterback of our school's team, sat ramrod-straight in alarm, looking like he'd just been woken up – which he probably had, judging by his guilty look.

"What are you up to at night?"

A tense silence followed Mr. Williams' words; only a few suppressed giggles could be heard. Keith was turning red in the face. I also couldn't stop an amused smile appearing on my lips. Still, I felt a bit bad for him. Having to discuss his nightly activities in front of thirty students meant hundreds of kids would know everything he said by lunch.

"I sleep, sir," he said. Sure, you do, I thought, actually finding the situation a bit funny.

"You don't say. I wouldn't have guessed from your behavior. But let's see if you can show me your well-rested brain can follow today's lesson. To the front, Mr. Watson." His tone left no room for discussion as he pointed at the empty chair next to mine.

Wait, what? What did I do to deserve having my spare desk space stolen?

Grudgingly, I moved my textbook from the free table and slid it across to my own. The chair next to me was pulled out and Keith wordlessly plopped down on it. He sent me an apologetic smile, his ears turning a bit red. I returned a much tighter version of it.