Little bird

Teaching others to fly

88 days before my last flight.

I nervously sat at my desk. I messed with my brown hair a little before checking the time. 8:05 class starts at 8:25.

Sophomores. Hormonal. Smart mouthed. Immature. Pimpled faced. Rude. Sarcastic. Impatient sophomores.

I may be 19, but I've got myself under control. From what I remember, sophomore year was the worst.

I have freshmen in the afternoon, but they are to scared to do anything rude...at least I hope.

I glanced down at my outfit, self conscious about it. I wore khakis that were pretty much skinny jeans, but different material. A dark red blouse that was just the right length to where their was no tank top underneath it needed and my shoes were just plain black flats.

I finally stood up and started pacing the music room that wasn't even close to how I would want it. The one thing that I did like out of all of it was the grand black piano in the middle of the room. It was the one thing that looked to be in the right place considering more fold up chairs were placed in a circle around the piano than they were placed in front of my desk, or the teachers desk where they probably should be, considering that is where the teacher teaches, right?

I moved aside some chairs to make a aisle leading to the piano. I sat down in front of the beautiful instrument before placing my small fingers delicately on the keys not pushing down just yet.

I began playing. My grandmother taught me to play ever sense I could start talking. She taught me until she was diagnosed with skin cancer. I was asked to play at her funeral...I refused.

I played one of the sad songs my grandmother taught me. It was one of my favorites, despite it's sadness and sound of loneliness, I loved it because it was always able to make me feel something, I felt sad of course, but I loved the fact it could make me feel that way without any words or gestures.

I continued playing until I noticed eyes on me. I abruptly stopped mid note and looked around.

I was surrounded by teenagers who were staring at me or whispering to their neighbors. They looked at me as if I was the child in the store who was crying because he didn't get what he wanted. Their eyes showed pity and as quickly as I had stopped I began playing again. I knew I was probably supposed to do something else, but I wanted to finish and then I would face them. Plus it's not like they didn't enjoy it. Hopefully.

Once I finished, I turned around and gave them a small smile, only some smiled back. There was about 26 or 27 of them all together.

"Hello." I made myself say. It came out as a whisper, but it was loud enough to where they heard me and answered with a 'hey' or a small wave.

They were all tired and groggy looking. Then again school started only a week ago and they are probably still getting into the routine of sleep.

"So, what do you guys usually do?" I asked to no one in particular.

"We could do nothing and just stare at you, not a bad sight I'd say so myself."A guy in the back said loudly. His friends giving small chuckles at his remark.

I felt my cheeks warm up and before I could say something back a girl sitting in the front with long blonde hair snapped around and stood up with a fierce look on her face.

"Maybe you should keep your mouth shut before that 'sight' of yours is beat out of you." She spat at him with venom.

He suddenly stood up roughly 6'1. He was handsome in a jerk sort of way, with black hair and brown eyes.

"Listen here princess, shut your mouth before I say something for you to cry about." He grinned a crossed the room at her. Everyone stared in silence watching them, including me.

"The only thing that may make me cry is probably your tiny dick. I won't be crying out of sadness, more like out of laughter!" She yelled with a small smirk on her pretty face.

Everyone 'Ooohed' to that.

That's what made the boy clench his fist. His face was full of rage now.

"Shut up you emo freak! Maybe you should go home and slice your wrist some more!" He yelled.

Everyone froze. The girl stood there silently now, her hands clenching the end of her longed sleeved t-shirt.

I finally stepped in.

"Both of you go to the office." I said in a worn out way.

They boy turned to me with a angered expression, he was mumbling curse words under his breath as he walked out. The girl was just about to walk out when I gently grabbed her by the shoulder.

"You don't have to go to the office. I lied." I calmly said with a small smile. She turned around, her arms folded a crossed her chest. She was a little taller than me, I was about 5 foot barely which means I'm the short one in most situations. She was crying. I felt my heart sink and I felt like crying with her.

"Would I be allowed to hug you?" I asked quietly.

She nodded and I hugged her. She cried more, but I wouldn't blame her. She reminded me of a child who got frightened of thunder.

The rest of the period was spent with everyone simply all talking. I was the lead of the conversation so they usually directed there questions and answers to me or to the girl sitting next to me on the piano bench, which I found out her name was Alice.

We talked mainly about suicide or self harm. Once in a while it would wander off to other things that were similar to the problem.

We also all decided that it was best to say that the kid who went to the office, Devin was his name, we decided it was best to say he insulted me and was disturbing the peace, we left out that Alice stepped in.

My day at that school ended normally. I was glad to know the kid got suspended for a day. I gave Alice my number just in case she ever needed someone.

That was my first substitute job. I've been doing if ever sense.