Jacqueline || BWWM

Chapter Twenty Four

The class bell rings before I'm satisfied with how my picture looks, so I really don't blame myself for the quiet groan of distaste that leaves my body as I put the piece of paper into my binder. 

The whole class copies my actions with their own junk but at a much faster speed. It's like someone lit most everyone's butts on fire the way so many people jump out of their seats after they pack up. All rushing to the door at the same time, they shove each other in the apparently very thrilling rush to be the first one out.

Just looking at the group makes a huge part of me tempted to sigh, but I somehow manage to hold it in. If this is what a classroom of only thirty kids looks like in a rush, I really don't want to imagine what a hallway of a thousand is going to be like.

"Isn't it pathetic how they all try to go out at the same time?"

I look to my right to behold the amused face of what looks to be an Asian girl. She has short black hair cut to her shoulders with a thin purple strip running through it. Her eyes are like beads, tiny and bright, no makeup to enlarge their size, and a pretty hazel color. She stands at an average height of five feet five inches, give or take one inch. Her plain and simple attire consists of a cropped grey Adidas hoodie paired off with ripped back leggings.

I nod as my reply and hope that'll be the end of that.

No such luck.

"I'm Hazel."

She doesn't hold out her head for a shake as we enter the hall, but it's clear she expects me to say my name back.

"Jacqueline."

"Nice to meet you." Hazel smiles brightly, the small act making her whole body glow. If we were in a movie, she'd have that golden angelic glow and hallelujah music would be playing in the background.

"You too."

I doubt she hears my mumble over the roar of the teens, but she smiles as she does before waving bye and turning into a classroom.

What a nice girl!

My next class isn't too far, so I reach it in a minutes walk. Even with that short amount of time, I'm still not the first one in. A blonde haired girl is. She seats in the very back corner of the room. A black beanie covers her long locks, and a book occupies her full attention. She doesn't look up book from her book when I enter, and I don't make any show of getting her attention. We stay in a comfortable silence until the teacher, a short woman with chestnut brown hair, and the rest of the class arrive.

"Welcome to what might be your last year of science, Seniors. I'm Mrs. Nayions. It's spelled with a 'y' but pronounced with the 't'. Nations in case you care."

She goes on to explain to us a little about what the class will be about before leaving us to complete the get to know sheet.

I finish mine with ten minutes and pull out my phone to reply Anaya.

Anaya: It was boring. Hours upon hours of doing absolutely nothing!!!!
_Delivered 9:15, and read at 9:43 am.

Anaya: On another note though, how's your life? Found anything useful?
_Delivered at 9:17, read at 9:43 am.

Life is pretty amazing, right now. My new parents are still amazing and it's been two weeks!
_Delivered at 9:44 am.

I've found a few things, actually. I work at the library I went to as a kid, I'm bound to find something there. I met up with Whitney a couple of weeks back, she told me a few things. And today I met this lady named, Rosario. She might know a few things too.
_Delivered at 9:47 am.

With the time left over, I finish the drawing I started. Luckily for me, I actually get time to finish it this time, and even five minutes to look at the so interesting white ceiling.

Mrs. Nayions dismisses the class right as the bell rings.
Just like in Garst's room, everyone rushes to be the first out. Again, I wait for the chaos to end before leaving my seat.

Spanish, Math, Lunch.

The Spanish class I was put in is only a few doors down from my science class. My teacher for this class is young, looking no older than thirty at most. She's a brunette and so cheerful.

Once the class is seated, She introduces herself in a song. It's short and sweet. Describing the things we will learn about, and a few things about herself. Like all the teachers before her, she passes out a get to know you sheet and lets us work on it while she plays Spanish music in the background.

The bell rings way too fast for my liking. No one else feels my sorrow at leaving the fun class as they push out the door. I don't judge them for this: I felt the same way about Spanish ninth grade year. Weirdly though, I already like it this year.

Crazy how having a fun teacher can change one's opinion.

I really don't know where that deep thought can from, but I agree with it nonetheless and stumble my way to my next class. When I arrive in the plain white room, unlike my first three teachers, the teacher is actually already seated at his desk. A middle-aged man probably somewhere in his late thirties, Mr. Mozer gives off a strict vibe, even with the little smile on his face. Simply being in a room with no one else but he makes me instantly uneasy.

Note to self: always take a detour before this class.

After I've settled down and even got out the stuff I'll need for the class, he walks over to me and sticks out a hand. "Welcome, Miss...?"

"Jacqueline."

He simply nods his head. "I'm Mr. Mozer."

I shake his hand as quickly as possible. He's about to say more when a few kids bounce in. To my great fortune, he forgets about me and hops over to them, introducing himself.

The next couple minutes go on like this, Mr. Mozer hoping from student to student, until the whole class is here.

"Alrighty class, Welcome to AP math. Please fill out the get to know you sheet for the next thirty or so minutes."

I do as told and complete it with ten minutes to spare. Anaya hasn't texted back, so I listen to music while twisting all the facts I know about the fire that killed my family in every way possible.  I focus solely on this until Mr. Mozer draws everyone's attention to himself.

"Before you leave this class, I'd like to have our new students introduce themselves, and then the rest of you can introduce yourselves." He pauses for exactly three seconds to let the class, including me this time, groan in protest. "I know what you're thinking, but believe it or not, this isn't to torture or bore you. Knowing each other is important, you should now that by now." He again pauses, not to let the class groan, but to glare at us and make sure we understand his point. "Miss Hathway, please go first. Stand tall, and tell the class a few things about yourself."

The room falls into a deathly silence, and for the first time today, I don't appreciate it. I hate it. I hate how my mouth becomes dry as the Syrian desert. I hate how my knees lock so tightly, that standing up is almost impossible. I hate how twenty-five pairs of eyes travel throughout the room and land on me. But most of all, I hate how much I hate being in this situation.

Because if I was normal, if I was Jackie or even Lin, I wouldn't feel this way. I would be fine, and all because of one simple factor: I wouldn't have to be Jacqueline.

_________

Hi! Thanks for reading! Please vote, comment and share if you liked this chapter.

I know it's been slow, but so you know, I do have a plot that I'm building up to. This book is a whole new writing experience for me in many ways, so in many ways, I don't know how to write it. But I'm trying. I really am. All ask from you is your patience.

Thanks for understanding, Liv~

DP: Oct.14.17
WC: 1,344