H.I.C.C.

Chapter 17: As a Matter of Time

L gnarls: "What are you doing here Michael?!" He shrugs. "This is still my school. I haven't been kicked out." L is puzzled. She looks to the floor. Her eyes jerk around as she searchers for a sassy reply. "So they just let you go back to class after all you did?" Michael leans against the wall and chuckles, hands in his pockets. "But I personally didn't do anything." L gapes at him, mouth open. "DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?? YOU ASSISTED IN..." She looks at Jen, who just follows the conversation, completely frozen. Michael sees why L is struggling and smirks. "Assisted in what Elisabeth?" L grabs Jen's hand. Michael starts walking towards them. More kids are coming to school and pass them to enter. Some look at the scene, but continue to walk in. "Say it, Elisabeth, or are you too afraid of what everyone here will think?" Suddenly Jen squeezes L's hand. She gulps. "I'm scared of him. Keep him away." She begs with a very faint and trembling voice. L feels the shiver that passes through Jen's body. "Back off Michael." He grins. "Or what? Are you gonna kick me? Go ahead. Everyone here'll think I'm the victim. You've got nothing to use against me." L suddenly smiles, trying to remain focused. "We have witnesses." Michael looks around. "Where?" L is starting to get nervous. She wants to just pass him. She spots a gap. Just a few more seconds. "Where, L?" He says in a mocking manner. "Right here!" She smiles and pulls L between some other students, out of Michaels sight. "HEY!" He tries to run after them, but the wave of students is too big to just pass. "Fuck!" He kicks a can. But wait. L's in his class. He'd get his chance.

I change my shoes with shaking hands. W-who was he? I can't remember him. But I felt super uneasy when I spotted him. He scares me. Why? I part with L and go to my class. She told me not to worry about it, but I can't do that. I enter the class room. Most of the eyes rest on me. I feel uncomfortable. Why are they staring? "Welcome back, Jen..." "Hey Jen, doin' better?" "How was the hospital Jen?" These questions fill the room. I'm puzzled. I don't remember most of the faces, just that this is my class, and what our subjects are. A boy comes towards me. "Why aren't you going to your seat?" I try to avoid his gaze. "I-I'm not sure... Because all of you were staring I guess..." The boy turns around for a sec. "Uh, yeah, sorry about that, all we heard was that you were hospitalized. That made us think about some things, you know?" I look at him. "Us?" Some other kids come closer. "Yeah, because, how to put it... Most of us weren't exactly nice to you in the past." I tilt my head. I pull it back up. "What... what do you mean?"

The classroom died. That's how silent it suddenly got.

Summer. Jen's wearing her brand new uniform. Her dad is wearing his too. He's smiling. "Excited?" He asks. His daughter tightens the grip on his hand. "N-nervous.." Elias chuckles. "Come on sweetheart, it's only middle school." Jen shakes her head. "It's not only middle school Papa, it's my FIRST DAY of middle school... I don't know anyone!" Elias starts walking. "You'll meet new people, that means you'll get new opportunities. A new school, a new start!" Jen looks around the giant courtyard. "It's a big school!" She exclaims. "Yeah, well, only the best education for the best daughter." She punches his calf. "Dad!" Elias laughs. The entrance to the school is just a few steps away. "Well, princess, think you can handle it from here?" Jen looks at her dad. "I guess so." He lets go of her hand, squats and grabs her cheeks to pull her towards him, then kisses her forehead. "Have fun on your first day." He says. She nods and starts walking towards the doors. Elias stands up. Before she opens the door, she turns around and waves. He waves back. As soon as she entered, he turned around and left.

The lesson ends. Mrs. Arna closes her text book. "That concludes today's history lesson. See ya tomorrow, class." "Bye Mrs. Arna" echoes through the room. As soon as the teacher left, the class starts chatting, laughing and moving. Jen's still packing her things, as someone moves closer. "Hey, I'm Sophie." "J-Jen." She's nervous. It was the first time she was noticed or spoken to.

Sophie tilts her head. "Are you that nervous? You haven't spoken at all so far. Not even during the lesson!" Jen gulps. "W-Well, yeah. It's my first day here and I admit I'm a bit jittery." Sophie chuckles. "I'm sure that'll die down. But uh..." Jen's already expecting it.

"What's wrong with your eyes?"

Everyone is looking at Jen. They are shocked by what she just said.

Nina is looking at her little sister. "What's wrong sis?" Elisabeth tightens her grip on her skirt. "I... I don't wanna go." Nina gets on eye level with her sister. "Oh come on, L. We talked about this!" Elisabeth looks at her sister shyly. "I told you to stop calling me that." Nina rolls her eyes and stands back up. "But ELISABETH is too long to say!" Elisabeth is looking towards the school again. She sighs and bites her lower lip. Nina suddenly squats down yet again and takes her hand. She speaks in a very gentle tone: "Are you worried about this?" She strokes Elisabeth's hand. She doesn't feel any skin though. She smiles gently. "They look cute on you." Elisabeth blushes. "Don't just say that!!" Nina laughs melodically. "Come on. Go to school sweetheart." Elisabeth nods and walks through the gates.

Elisabeth walks into her class. A few are already there. They are just talking animately to each other. She just sits down at one of the free tables with no name tag stuck to it yet. She quickly makes her own. She notices a few glances shot her way. She decides to ignore them. But then a girl walks up to her. "Why... why are you wearing gloves?" She asks carefully. Elisabeth tensed up. "I... uhm.. I just like to wear them?" Her voice started going higher to the end, so the sentence sounded more like a question. The girl's look seems distracted. "So you're not hiding burns or bruises?" Elisabeth starts to feel uncomfortable. "No.." That seems to tick something in the girl. "You're weird. You're so weird." She turns around. "Check it out! She's wearing gloves for no reason." Elisabeth wants to retort: "It's not for no reason! I-" She's cut off though:

"What a freak!"

Elisabeth returns home. Nina opens the door for her. "Heeeey! How was the first day little happy sister?" She looks to the floor. "Not too great." Nina's face turns to extremely worried and she immediately hugs her sister. "Oh no, L, what's wrong? Tell me what happened?" She gently strokes her back.

A loud Clap of thunder could be heard then.

Jen opens the door. "Ooooh there's my girl!" Her mother comes down the stairs. "Hi mom!" Jen replies happily. Her mother hugs her and kisses her forehead. "How was your first day in middle school my love?" Jen smiles proudly. "It was great!" Her mother smiles and nods. "That's great honey." "I'm going to go upstairs and wash up for dinner. Or Sir will be angry." The mother nods in agreement. "Go ahead." Jen does as she said and goes into the bathroom. She locks it. She bumps her head against the door and slides to the floor. She pulls her legs to her chest and buries her face between her knees.

"Cup'o'blast...." She mutters to herself.