When Night Falls

Chapter 6

THE FRENCH SECRET

Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the door when I walked in. A few students who were in my science class whispered to their friends animatedly keeping their eyes on me. I quickly made my way to Mrs. Frasier, gave her the excuse note, and dropped in my seat next to Audra trying to draw as less attention as possible, but every eye was still on me. Soon the whole class would know why I was late and where I had been. I did not look at anybody but at Mrs. Frasier and hoped she would continue on with whatever she was doing. I glanced over at Audra and saw her self-portrait out on the table. I went to the storage cabinet and retrieved mine.

"So nice of you to join us," said Mrs. Frasier smiling hugely at me. "We are continuing on self-portraits. Carry on, class." Then without another word, she turned on the spot and entered the art closet.

I wasn't working long on my project when I was interrupted by Audra. I did not feel like explaining what happened four different times and I hoped she wouldn't ask about it, but I knew better.

"Where were you?" she asked twirling her pencil with her fingers.

I lowered my voice so that she was the only one who could hear me.

"I was in the nurse's office."

"Why?" she asked startled.

"Well," I said, and I explained everything that happened in science to her; everything except the part where I saw the girl. It would lead to questioning about my dreams and I did not want any of my friends thinking I was a freak.

"Wow," she said. "And you don't know what happened?"

"No," I said.

"You were gone for a long time," she said.

"Huh?"

"Art is about half-way over." She pointed to the large clock over Mrs. Frasier's desk. "Does anyone else know about this?" she asked starting on her project again.

"Yes," I said mimicking her. "Kirsten, Andrew, and the whole science class know," I said heatedly. I just realized that by the time the day is over, everyone will know that Zachary Smith passed out in class.

Lunch time came around and Andrew's first words were-

"What happened?" he asked as soon as I joined everyone at the lunch table. He had the most curious look on his face, Kirsten had a look of worrisome, and Jayden looked baffled. Audra was the only one who did not have much interest knowing that the answer would be-

"I don't know what happened," I said once again and hoped it would be the last.

"What is the problem?" asked Jayden. Kirsten and Andrew explained everything. I nodded in agreement with what they said. "Interesting," said Jayden. "You can't remember anything?"

"Hardly," I answered.

The rest of lunch went on as usual as if nothing ever happened with me, but trouble did stop by our table.

"Iz zis seat taken?" asked André arriving on Kirsten's other side. It just so happened that on the other side of the empty chair sat Audra. My immediate response was no, but before I answered, I thought, be friendly . . . be friendly . . . However, it was not I who answered André, it was Andrew.

"No, you cannot sit there," he said hurtfully.

"Oh," said André. "I'm sor-"

"Of course you can sit here," said Kirsten and Audra at the same time. He sat down awkwardly, purposely missing Andrew's evil glares. The girls, on the other hand, could hardly stand to look away from him, hoping not to miss anything he said or did. He ate in silence and everyone at the table became less talkative than usual. The only person André seemed interested in talking to was me. I was as friendly towards him as I was in English, and once again it became quite easy to talk to him and like him. Andrew moved his evil glares away from André and directed them at me instead. Jayden was the only one who did not seem to notice or care what was going on, but kept glancing around the room; obviously hoping to find René.