Dream Diary - What Goes On Behind Closed Eyes -

Don't Go To The Woods With A Stranger

I press the heel of my hand harshly against my forehead in a futile attempt to block out or even just tolerate the noisiness of the classroom. 

The teacher is trying to hush the class, but nobody's listening. I almost feel bad- scratch that, I do feel bad. These kids really ought to learn some basic respect, otherwise I don't know how I'll survive the year.

I heave a sigh of relief once we're finally released for lunch, and make my way to the bench against the wall facing into the grassy field with numerous trees scattered about. It reminds me of the woods in the movies, with the copious amounts of trees that seem to go on forever.

It's a little later now, maybe about 10 minutes after I began to eat my turkey sandwich, and an older redheaded woman in a slightly faded green sweater takes a seat beside me. I turn my head to her at first, thinking maybe she'd come from the office to tell me something, or simply engage in conversation. But, it becomes apparent she simply wanted to sit on the bench silently, so I turn my attention back to the food in my lap, eternally relieved that I won't have to smile through an exhausting, no doubt uncomfortable conversation with a stranger. Bullet dodged.

I'm not finished with my chocolate milk by the time I'm expected to get back to class, so I toss it in the trash regretfully, already missing the dollar I'm going to have to spend to buy another drink later. 

Once I'm seated in class, I do my best to pay attention to the math lesson, but I can't help but let my vision go blurry as I wonder if I'll have time to finish reading that chapter of fanfiction before my mom makes me clean the living room. I hope so; I have a feeling the two main characters are finally getting together soon, it's been 11 chapters already.

Before I get the chance to explore those thoughts further, however, the door to the room opens, drawing my attention. When I turn to see who's at the door, I'm only slightly surprised to see the redheaded woman from earlier. I still don't know her name, but she looks like she'd be called something like 'Mrs. Hendrickson'. Maybe that's just me.

The teacher only nods at the woman once she's entered, and continued to teach the lesson that I may or may not have completely missed (but that's not important).

The woman kneels down slightly beside my seat at the back of the classroom and tells me that I'm needed for something outside. I feel a slight tick of annoyance at this, seeing as I really needed to start paying attention in this class if I wanted to get a good grade (who am I kidding, I was only going to keep thinking about fanfiction).

But, I couldn't just ignore an adult like that, especially since it seemed like she worked here at this point. I nodded politely and stood from my seat, leaving my books at my desk, but not forgetting to slide my phone into my back pocket quickly. 

I have a strange feeling about following this woman when she grabs hold of my arm at the elbow lightly and walks beside me, leading me away from the class. She doesn't feel like a teacher or office assistant, but who am I to question her authority? That would be rude, nevermind the fact that I'd rather not speak until it's necessary.

My hopes of not having to engage in conversation with this woman are crushed when she starts talking. At this point in time, I've failed to notice that we are not headed in the direction of the office, and maybe that should be cause for slight alarm or at least confusion.

I hardly notice that we're actually headed in the direction of the woods, the notion is more like a faint acknowledgment in the back of my mind.

"You're such a pretty young girl, do you know that? You're lucky," The woman says to me, and it's only now that I really take notice of our linked arms and register it as somewhat strange; but I don't mention it.