shy ; l.hemmings

deux

the bell rings and everyone runs out of the classroom in relief. this is our last period class, so everyone leaves the school within a minute.

i gather all my stuff and put it in my backpack as i think of what to tell Mr. Dean. i absolutely cannot do this speech in front of the whole school. this is so stupid i could puke. so that is why I am going to his desk right now and tell him i could just maybe just read him the speech alone.

i start to walk towards his desk. i push up my glasses and reach his desk. he looks at me with his eyebrow raised. i open my mouth to speak until someone cuts in front of me and starts to speak.

"m-mr. dean i-" he continues to say but he starts to mumble quietly. mr. dean confusingly tries to understand what he says but it seems like he couldn't.

i stand next to the boy who cut me and realize it is luke. he fumbles with his hands and he starts talking very fast and quietly. mr. dean holds his hand out.

"wow wow, hey. mr. hemmings slow down. and you miss," mr. dean turns to me.

"what can i help you with?" he asks. i take a deep breath and i look at him.

"mr. dean, i would like to not do my presentation in front of the whole school. i was just wondering if i could i could do my presentation in front of you, if that's alright." i say. luke looks at me with his shiny blue eyes and turns back to mr. dean.

"m-me too. i can't do speeches in front of e-everyone." luke stutters. i look at him in awe. i never actually knew that he stutters. well, i mean how should i know, i've never talked to him ever in my life. i've known him since last year, but we aren't really friends. we both just know each other.

mr. dean looks at both of us and gives us a sad look.

"i'm sorry to you both, but our principal encourages you all to present. i'm sorry, but you two have to present." mr. dean says. i blink and look at luke. he is taking heavy deep breaths like he is about to faint.

"m-mr. dean, i r-really can't-"

"i'm so sorry luke, you all have to present your poems." mr. dean interrupts and he gathers all his papers, getting ready to leave. mr. dean stands up and luke nervously looks towards me.

he gives me a look saying, "help me." i sigh and look back to mr. dean.

"what if we like, me and luke can present together? i mean, we both are still presenting." i suggest. i hear luke suck in a breath as our teacher stops and looks at both of us, thinking.

"hmm.... presenting together?" he says out loud. he waits a few minutes thinking until he finally speaks.

"oh alright, fine. both of you could present together." he gives in. i smile a little and look at luke. he weakly smiles at me back.

"but, you two have to make this presentation unforgettable. you two have to find a way to make this poem original. i don't want you both to just read the poem, but make it your own." he tells us. i nod understandingly. luke looks down frowning. mr. dean looks at us with sad eyes.

"oh come, guys. you two are the shyest out of our english class. make the most out of this assignment and try to get out there. it'll all be worth it in the end." mr. dean promises. i nod.

"thank you, sir. we appreciate it this so much." i tell him. he smiles and shoos us away out the door.

luke and i walk side to side as we walk out of the classroom and into the hallway. i let out a breath. i take off my stupid big glasses and wipe them.

"this assignment will be the death of me, i swear." i tell him, trying to start a conversation. he says nothing and nods. i keep wiping my glasses as we walk out of the school. only a few people are here so its very quiet.

"do you need a ride home?" i ask him when we stop right by the school benches by the school driveway. he shakes his head and looks down when we sit. i sigh when he still doesn't talk.

"look, luke. i know you don't talk. i don't really talk either, but if we are doing this project together i suggest we both try to." i tell him. he says nothing and looks at the parking lot right in front of us. his light blue eyes stare into nothingness and i sigh and give up. i guess this means i'll be doing this project alone. great. i am where i was in the beginning.

i hear a car honk and i see my mom's car pull up. i stand up and face luke, pushing my glasses up a little. curse these big ass glasses that are too big for my frickin face.

"it was nice uh, talking to you luke." i awkwardly say to him. he looks up at me and looks down. i slump my shoulders and turn around and start walking towards the car.

"i like y-your glasses." i hear a quiet voice say behind me. i turn around and see luke standing, smiling a little and blushing. my lips curve into a smile. i wave to him and go inside my car. i see my mom smiling at me. she looks outside towards luke. he still stands looking at me and smiling.

"who is that lovely boy out there?" my mom asks, smiling. i look back at luke and smile a little.

"just a new friend."