All My Sins

An ocean

On Sunday evening when Maureen's parents got home. She had felt shame.
It felt like she was too big for her shoes all of a sudden.
Nonetheless, when she at last came to face her loving father, she wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him tightly.
In spite of the unthinkable run-in with Mr. Mathers, while in her father's arms, she felt safe and like herself again.
But there was an almost saddening feeling looming in the back of her heart over the fact that tomorrow... She would once again meet Mr. Mathers face.

[]

It was Marshall's second time reading over Maureen's essay.

"Despite the unavoidable coming and ruin of what appeared to be a hopeful future for the two men. George, in the end, remained the best friend that he could be to Lennie. No matter how bitterly cruel George's actions may have seemed, by killing Lennie, he indeed saved him."

Reading her analysis of the story made Marshall want to know it himself. Clearly, it was inspiration enough to prompt her into writing about it. He figured that if her writing about it was this beautiful then the story would be too.
The window of his apartment was open, even though it was close to freezing outside.
These newfound feelings for this remarkably mysterious girl were warmer.

He wanted her in such a fashion and way, that he no longer felt like himself.
To have these feelings... Each and every one was unpleasant, uncomfortable.
He would rather have been at his desk, watching her. Watching true magic happen before his very eyes, as her pen glided against her paper.
The weekend had seemed to last far too long.

-

Maureen felt the comfortability of her weekend at home fade away as she pulled into her same old parking spot in school. Stress was swarming over her like an ugly black bird circling a dead carcass. And that's exactly what if felt like to be there.
Dead against the pavement.

She knew that it was cold outside, but the heat coming through her vents was warm. There was another ten minutes before the bell would ring, so Maureen reclined the driver's seat back and closed her eyes.
It took no time for her to soon drift away.
She was exhausted for a day yet to come.

[]

Marshall bounced his leg impatiently, waiting for Maureen to walk through his classroom door. Once the late bell rang, Marshall decided to take roll and count her absent.

"Anyone seen Doc today?" He asked aloud.

"Her car was in the parking lot this morning." The same blonde girl from Friday spoke up.

He became furious with her, wondering if she did this on purpose to provoke him.

-

There was a knock against the window. Maureen flinched out of her sleep, immediately realizing that she had fallen asleep completely. She had no idea as to what the time was or how long she had slept. That is until she saw a familiar wave of students flooding out of the front and side doors of the school. Some leaving on busses, and some in their cars.

The knock had come from Kendall Shannon. An airhead blonde from her fourth period.

"Oh my god! Did you sleep in here all day?" Kendall asked in an entertained disbelief. Maureen rubbed her eyes that were just beginning to once again adjust to the light of day.

"Oh my god..." Maureen felt her stomach begin to twist. She knew that the school had to have called her parents to notify them that she was absent. Surely she would be in tremendous trouble. 

She pushed the door open and slammed it hard,  to which Kendall scoffed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"