They're Not That Bad

24 - The Unexpected Question

Chapter 24

The Unexpected Question

After the dinner party with Mr Tee and Dixson there were other gatherings such as lunch at each other houses and even a evening out at a restaurant. The events always had the same atmosphere; awkward. 

Though Dixson's and I had reduced our snide comments in fear of our parent's glares and the consequences after we got home. However, I was trying to talk more to Mr Tee but Dixson refused to make any progress with either of us.

Sooner or later I told my friends the new drama to my life about my mother dating my music teacher and who his snake of a son was.

The reaction could have somewhat gone a lot smoother. After Alice spat her drink out and a fly flew into Kyle's open wide mouth they bombarded me with questions about how I was feeling. I told that I was fine for now but dealing with Dixson was another story.

Oh and another thing! 

It seemed that yet again I was in the dark about something. Of course everyone except me knew that Dixson dad was Mr Tee. I suppose it was because most people had been living here way longer than me and it was an 'everybody knows everybody' situation, but still!

I was pretty sure that Dixson would've told his gang by now or they've would've found out soon enough. Kyle told me later on that Blake overheard me telling Alice and Kyle at his house, so now he knew too.  Although I was sure that the school population was unaware and  frankly I wanted to keep it that way for now.

*

On my way to school it began tipping it down with rain. Extra heavy. Like big water pellets attacking the Earth. I, of course, had forgotten to bring an umbrella with me and knew I was going to be soaked to the bone.

Truth be told, I could've gone back and grabbed one from home and still made it to school on time, but I was almost halfway to school and most importantly, I couldn't be bothered.

Suddenly, the rain stopped crashing on my head but I could still see it pouring down around me. I realised that I had a bright blue umbrella covering me. I was about to thank the kind soul when another umbrella covered me from my other side and also shields me from the rain. I looked at the two people flanked on either side of me carrying the umbrellas.

Caleb Jones had the bright blue umbrella and William Wicket had the pale red one. Both of them looked embarrassed but neither one moved away.

"Don't worry Caleb, she can share my umbrella you can go." William said as a matter of fact.

Caleb wasn't going anywhere though as he said, "It's cool Will, I was here first. She can share my one."

Ah. They were both from opposite gangs. So I guess neither of them was going to back down and I certainly didn't want to see a brawl start here in the rain.

"Why don't I take one of your umbrellas and you two can share one together?" I asked innocently.

They looked at each other then turned their heads to me and gave me the 'is she really that serious?' kinda look.

I shrugged my shoulder, "Just a thought."

In the end I was somehow sharing both Will's and Caleb's umbrella to keep them both happy as the three of us walked in a line to school, with me sandwiched in the middle of the two. The atmosphere was dead and quiet as all we could hear was the cascading rain. You know I hate silence so I decided to fill it.

"So, Caleb...how are you finding the new topic we've started in Maths? Do you think you can get the grade this time for Mr Tally's end of topic test?"