Succumb

Chapter Five

Vivian

 "Vivian! Please come here."

I look up to see my teacher, Mr. Johnson, waving me up to the front of the classroom. He is sitting there with two people I hadn't given much notice to when they walked in. Mr. Johnson had given our class a free period as we were ahead of his other periods and I was focused on finishing up the homework I'd been assigned from my past few classes.

Setting down my pencil, I stand and walk up to the front of the classroom. "Yes, sir?"

He smiles up at me and says, "Vivian, meet Patrick Mercier. He is new to our school."

I look over at the pair. One is a guidance councilor I don't know well. Beside her is a tall - and I mean tall - boy who at closer inspection I can't believe didn't make me double take when I first saw him. Aside from his height, his very attractive features make him stand out. Patrick's eyes are a vivid green, even more so than mine, and rather large for a boy's features. His nose is narrow and slightly pointed like his ears beside his crewcut of pale gold hair. His jawline is severe, mostly because he is so skinny. He has the basic boy muscles, but with nothing added to them, not even fat. Frankly, he looks like he could blow over at the slightest wind.

He extends a hand politely. "How do you do?" His voice is soft, yet not especially feminine.

"Quite well," I reply automatically, unintentionally picking up his posh-like infliction. I cringe slightly. "I'm Vivian Ackerley. It's nice to meet you."

"Vivian," Mr. Johnson says. "I would like you to please show Mr. Mercier around the school for a tour. Mrs. Louis is quite busy and since he will be in our class and you are my best student, I hoped you wouldn't mind showing him around."

I blush a little at the praise. "Of course, Mr. Johnson."

"Great," Mrs. Louis says, leading us out the door. When it shuts behind us, she continues, "Patrick, you can tell Vivian what you've already seen and any questions about your schedule and courses. I need to go now. Good luck." She walks away without looking back at us: the stereotypical "guidance councilor," everyone.

We stand in silence for a moment before I take charge. "Can I see your schedule please?"

"Sure." He passes the pink slip to me.

When his fingers brush mine, I feel a slight tingle. A shiver goes down my spine, but I ignore it and look over his paper. "Mhmm... Hey, we have several classes in common." I look back at him. "So, do you know where all of your classrooms are?"

"Ah." For the first time, he looks a little embarrassed. "No. I found my first period just fine, but um, the room was, ah, occupied."

"Really?" I'm not exactly surprised. Just a little bemused by how blatant they were. I'm glad my little sister would never do anything like that, nor I.

He grins sheepishly. "Yeah. I decided to wait to find my classes later. One of the girls was really scary."

"Well, I'll show you where your classes are," I say. For some reason, something he said bothered me, but I can't pinpoint it. Whatever, it isn't important. I start in the direction of his second period. "We might not be able to meet your teachers, but at least you will know where they are."

"Thank you, Vivian," Patrick replies with a grin. "You're a good guide."

"I hope so," I say. I'm taking extra long strides, but he is walking totally normally. "Only Mr. Johnson would ask me to give a student a tour."