She Needs Love

Chapter Six

Song: Numb by Max Jury

Mrs. Thatcher had her eyes on the students. She lifted the stack of graded math tests off her sacred desk and began her usual round around the classroom.

One after one she handed out the papers. Marked with red letters that would define their future. She had said it was worth half their grade. Worth half their life.

Daniel could feel the unease reverberating through the room. A classroom filled with students who were petrified that someone would discover the grades they were so ashamed of.

He didn't have to look up. He could already sense the teacher's closeness. Suddenly the old lady was towering over him. She placed a weathered finger on the desk and slid the single sheet of paper towards him. She narrowed her eyes and peered at him through her thick glasses. Giving him a displeased look before walking away.

He didn't hesitate when he picked up the paper and curled it into a ball. Without shifting his body, he threw it across the room and watched it land in the trashcan. Mrs. Thatcher shook her head but didn't say a thing. A silence fell over the room, as anxious students analyzed their papers. Daniel sat there, staring into the emptiness.

Without warning, the classroom door flew open and an unbothered student casually entered the room. Ten minutes later than he was supposed to. The loud sound that the door made as it slammed shut behind him caused everyone to turn their heads.

Without offering the angered teacher a glance, he strolled to the back of the classroom and plopped on the chair beside Daniel. His gaze was fixated on the phone in his hands.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Thomas. You must have a different schedule than the rest of us?"

The careless boy looked up at the teacher. "You know that I prefer living life on my own time, Mary." He flashed Mrs. Thatcher a charming smile, showing off his infamous dimples. The whole class was amused and relieved by his comment. Grateful that someone could distract them from the pieces of graded paper on their desks.

Mrs. Thatcher grimaced. "Quiet. Open your books," she exclaimed furiously.

• • •

The cafeteria was crowded this time of day. Filled with hungry students who were trying to get to their designated table. People who had never spoken a word to each other stood crammed together in line. Waiting to get their hands on a warm meal.

Daniel and Thomas were sitting at their usual table. Sharing their thoughts on the lunch lady. An obese woman in her late-forties, wheezing around in the kitchen.

"It doesn't make any sense. How can she afford to stuff her face with junk every five minutes, when she has a job that doesn't pay shit?" Daniel laughed, amused at his own comment.

"The woman can cook though, I'll give her that."

Thomas was munching on a mouthful of french-fries when something caught his immediate attention. He quickly swallowed his food and frantically chugged a half-bottle of water before opening his mouth to speak.

"There she is!" He exclaimed a little too loudly.

Daniel's head turned towards the blonde-headed girl who had just entered the cafeteria. She was walking towards the food-serving counter and grabbed a tray. Even from where they were sitting, they could clearly see her deep blue eyes that were glued to the floor in front of her. She was completely unaware of the boys who were surveilling her from afar.

"She's pretty, I guess," Daniel said unconcernedly. "But nothing I haven't seen before."

Thomas' eyes widened. "Dude, I think you might be blind because you're clearly not seeing what I'm seeing."

Just then, Ida lifted her eyes from the floor for the first time since she had entered the swarming room.

"Hi, Ida! How are you today?" The lunch lady couldn't help but smile when she saw Ida. Undoubtedly happy to see her.

"I'm good, Edna. Thanks for asking."

Daniel raised an eyebrow at the peculiar girl in front of them. "And she's friends with the lunch lady? Seriously?" He said in a questioning tone. "You should probably stay away from that, Thomas."

Thomas rolled his eyes at his friend's demeaning remark and did the exact contrary of what he had suggested.

"I've been friends with a jerk like you for seven years and I'm doing great."

He walked up to Ida who was busy loading her tray. Without warning, he put a hand on her shoulder and easily guided her over to their table. Startled and confused by the unexpected approach, Ida nearly dropped her tray to the floor and looked at the two boys in front of her with wide eyes.

Thomas sat back down in his chair. "You can sit with us. We can get to know each other better."

Ida's eyes doubled in size and her jaw nearly dropped to the floor when she realized who she was standing in front of. The two people at this school that everyone admired and worshipped. And the few who didn't, hated their guts. Ida knew they had every reason to.

Thomas looked at his friend who was sitting beside him. Daniel was uninterested in the situation that was unfolding before his eyes. Still eating at his food as if nothing had happened.

"Is it because of him?" Thomas asked and pointed at Daniel suggestively. "He can leave."

"You idiot," Daniel muttered under his breath. "She's the one who should leave. It's not like she isn't used to being alone," he replied bluntly.

Thomas glared at him.

Ida opened her mouth for the first time since she had been dragged into this mess unwillingly. No longer looking at the dirty floor beneath her, she lifted her stare with certainty.

"No, thank you. I'd rather not sit with either one of you."

It wasn't often that someone declined an offer to sit at their table. In fact, it had never happened until now.

Thomas was baffled at her response. Even Daniel was taken aback by her bluntness. He hid his surprised expression by nonchalantly chugging down what was left of his cold coffee.

And with that, Ida turned on her heels and walked away without any further explanation.

Thomas wouldn't give up that easy. "Come on, Ida!"

The very second Thomas uttered her name, Daniel nearly choked on his drink. Liquid was spilling from the corner of his mouth and he was no longer able to maintain his cool façade.

Thomas looked at his friend as if he had gone mad. He wasn't used to seeing his friend so unsettled. Especially not because of such a simple statement.

"Did you say, Ida?" Daniel asked. Deplored by what he had just heard. "Her name isn't Ida Nelson?"

"Why would I know her last name? It doesn't matter." When he looked up, Ida was gone.

There was only one way Daniel could know for sure if this girl was who he thought she was. Without thinking twice, he abruptly got up from his chair and followed her out the door.