That time I got rejected three times on the same day!

Chapter 12

I didn't expect to see Neris again that day, but it seemed that fate had other ideas. Well, fate, coincidence, or something more sinister. After arriving at the storage shed, we carried chairs and desks for the better part of an hour before returning to our class. I caught Neris looking at me once or twice, and she also caught me trying to catch a glimpse. My one-sided interest had turned into a mutual interest. I still wasn't happy about messing up my confession, but at least she was aware about how I felt. When our class returned to the classroom, Mr.Devlin launched into an accelerated 40 minutes of social science covering the Medieval Renaissance period to make up for the lost first half of class. I thought it was a waste of time. He was going so fast too learn anything.

Our daily school schedule was split into six classes of 40 minutes each and eight classes on the long days. For convenience most classes were double periods. We had two lunch breaks. The first, called morning break was half an hour at 10:25, and the second, lunch break, was an hour starting at 12:20. Today we had three double period classes, social science in 1st and 2nd; mathematics in 3rd and 4th; and English in 5th and 6th. The class schedules were very different from the school in the country I immigrated from. I was waiting patiently for the morning break to start. An early lunch meant I could use the 'lunch break' to read or use the computers in the lab. Mother always packed out lunches. I didn't mind. There was a cafeteria where you could buy food, but it was really expensive. Behind the eastern part of the school, beyond the eucalypt forest, was a corner shop that had much better prices. Kids weren't allowed to leave school grounds during breaks, but many would sneak off through the forest anyway. They had posted a teacher there at one point, but kids still slipped through and the posting was scrapped. I didn't often go to the corner store; there were too many ways to get ambushed in the forest. It was common knowledge that a particular group of year 10 bullies assaulted kids to get their lunch money.

I was staring out the window when a hand slapped down hard on my desk. I jumped in fright. Mr.Devlin was looking down at me with agitation.

"Mr.Knight, is there perhaps something more interesting outside than my lesson?" he said.

Some of the kids in class laughed, more so at me getting caught not paying attention then what Mr.Devlin had said.

"No sir."

"If that's the case, could you please review what I just discussed in the last 10 minutes."

I wasn't paying attention, but that didn't mean that I didn't know what he was talking about. Thankfully the teachers had a strict outline of their class plans which were given to each kid in the class at the beginning of the term. I liked to read, so I would just do some general reading about that class' theme to get an idea beforehand of what was going to be covered. Not that that helped with exams, I still failed those.

"You were discussing the effect art had on the Cultural Revolution between the 14th and 17th century. You were focusing particularly on Leonardo Da Vinci, also a famous inventor, Michelangelo, and Raphael, whose works were of special importance during that period."

A hush came over the class. The other kids were waiting with baited breath for Mr.Devlin's retort. I wasn't very good at math or science, but I had a penchant for obscure facts and history. Even though I didn't enjoy Mr.Devlin's teaching style, I did love social science. Mr.Devlin was about to open his mouth, but he was interrupted by the electronic chime of the school bell. He closed his book with a thud and spoke to the class.

"No homework, but please review the material for the next class."

The class replied in a droning unison.

"Yes sir."

He returned to his desk, dropping the text book haphazardly, not bothering to put it back in the shelf. I bit the inside of my mouth. Why couldn't he just put it back in the shelf.

All the other kids had left the classroom for break and I was about to leave as well.

"Henry," Mr.Devlin said.

He was sitting at his desk, his reading glasses propped up on the bridge of his nose. He was looking over them at me.

"Yes sir?"

I grabbed my lunchbox and walked over to him. He continued staring at me, as if he could already discern the answer to the question he was about to ask.

"My desk has a strange habit of rearranging itself, and sometimes locked drawers unlock themselves. You wouldn't happen to know how this keeps happening?"

I shook my head. He smiled, a malicious smile, he was up to something.

"Well, that's fine. If you do learn anything please tell me."

I nodded and turned to leave when he pulled out another book and dropped it on his desk. I should have let it go, just turned and left, but I couldn't stop staring. He took out some papers from one of the draws and placed it on the book. Then he took his pen holder and upended it onto the desk, sending pens and scissors clattering everywhere. He was making a mess, and it annoyed me. Then, he started mixing all the carefully ordered papers together.

"Sir," I said.

He wouldn't stop, he kept messing everything up.

"STOP SIR,"I shouted.

He looked down at the chaos and back at me.

"Stop what?"

"Stop making a mess!" I said.

"Why?" he replied.

What you mean why! Because it's going to be a mess! How did he not get that! This man was vexing me. It took all my willpower to turn away and stomp off toward the door. I heard his laughter behind me as I left. Damn that man. I would have to come in early from morning break to clean it all up again...