Branches of Our Tree

Chapter Nine: I Am Not Stupid

Merida

Immediately after the bell released a tirade of squealing agony, my body hunched over with a jolt, my shoulders rising to crush against my jawbone in a very uncomfortable way. As my body rushed forward, the gleaming surface of the licorice-colored desk came closer to my eyes, nearly brushing against the bridge of my perky nose. Stupid school bells, I thought, straightening to my normal position, a well-defined slouch. Every single one of those metal devices bolted to the walls set my teeth on edge.

Thankfully, the bell's end meant that all of the students that were in my second period Physics class were on their way now. My ears perked at the sound of the louder-than-average timbre of the teenagers that were milling around in the hallway outside the classroom. A few seconds later, several of them slipped past the thick wooden door, eyeing an empty desk before agreeing upon it.

I sighed, running my fingers straight through my visibly red curls, removing the strands that hung down in my face for a moment. The room was presently quiet, but gradually getting noisier, which was a gift to my tightened nerves. Silence bothered me.

In fact, this entire room bothered me. The second I had stepped onto the spotless tiled floor, my mind could register just one fact: there was too much white. The square pieces beneath my feet glowed, the rough cement walls sparkled, the rectangular slabs of whiteboard gleamed...It was as if I had left the world for this white-washed wonderland. The only other splash of color I could see were the desks, with their midnight-hued tops and inky blue chairs, and the Expo markers that perched on the ledges underneath the whiteboards.

Look at me. I released the tension in my neck, causing my head to drop back so my gaze was fixed to the equally-white ceiling. I'm letting this room worry me.

'Then what else should you be worried about?' A tiny voice broke free from within the recesses of my mind, prodding at me with a great deal of annoying energy.

A small puff of air escaped from between my lips, giving flight to the fiery curtain of curls that was drawn over my eyes.

'Come on. I have an idea.'

My eyebrows dipped, pressing my eyelids so that they were narrowed.

'How's Hiccup been lately?'

I buried my face deep in my arms, relishing in the slight dimness that came forth from forcing shadows into my line of vision. Shut up.

'Don't you wonder what happened to his leg?'

Please, keep your little invisible mouth shut!

'I mean, he's an amputee now.'

He's still Hiccup.

'Half of his leg is metal.'

He's still Hiccup!

'He's a cripple.'

The anger that was festering inside me, becoming a tight balloon as my emotions continued to relentlessy pour, shattered, the skin stretched far too wide. It seemed as if the blood that flowed in my lips had frozen all of a sudden, numbing my entire mouth as I pressed them together. Without a moment's hesitation, I curled my fingers into a tightly-packed fist, imagining the bleached yellow coloring that would fade into sight.

"Merida?"

Oh, God. The muscles that were taut and filled with tension, begging to be allowed to move, now refused to hint at any action. I'd have to speak, though. "Who is it?" I called out, my voice muffled and heavily blocked.