Adding Shadows

Alive

Monday morning was a better morning than a few of the previous mornings. Roman was out of the hospital, but was on bedrest, meaning Virgil would be going to school alone.

Patton dropped him off at the beginning of the day, telling him Remy would pick him up after and take him to see Roman.

Virgil just nodded without a word and headed in. His first class was Math, awful first period in Virgil's opinion.

But the feeling of dread got worse when he remembered they had a new teacher that day too.

Virgil opened the classroom door and went to sit in the back when I calm but firm voice came from the teachers desk.

"Where are you going?"

Virgil turned slowly and met a cool stare. The man had dark brown hair and brown eyes, similar but not the same as Virgil, and wide rimmed glasses that were exactly like Patton's.

His black button up and blue tie were perfectly straightened, making him look like an intimidating professor.

"Uh.. the back seat?" Virgil answered dryly, blankly staring at the new teacher. He had purposely arrived earlier so he could sit down before the rest of class.

"What is your name?"

"Virgil."

"Virgil..?"

"Just.. Virgil."

"Ah, I see." The teacher said, looking at a list of students and circling a name "Who sits there?" He asked, pointing at a desk in the front. Virgil gulped.

"Racer Court, Sir." Virgil responded, not exactly liking where this was going.

"Well, he can sit in the back in your old seat and I'll move you up here." The teacher states matter-of-factly.

"No!" Virgil yelped without thinking, the adult raised an eyebrow "I mean.. my friend Roman Phillips sits back there next to me.. I don't want him to be alone.."

The other person nodded and pointed to Hunter's chair, the one right next to Racer's original seat.

"Mr Phillips can sit there. And whoever sat there can sit next to Mr Court."

"Hunter Langs.." Virgil told him. This new teacher was making him more and more scared for the other children to arrive.

Doing as he was told, Virgil went and sat in Racer's chair. Looking at the empty seat next to him he sighed. This would be a lot more durable with Roman there.

Kids started filing in after the first bell rang, and Virgil had never seen Racer look more angry than when he was told Hunter and himself were being moved to the back.

"Good morning, students. As you may already know, I am going to be your math teacher for the rest of the semester."

A chorus of disgruntled good mornings echoed through the class.

"My name is Logan John, but you will address me as Mr John, understood?"

The class nodded, a few of the teachers pets gave a smile and "Welcome, Mr John." But Logan ignored them all and got straight to the lesson, not caring to learn anyone's names.

After class the kids left, except Virgil was called back to talk to Logan.

"Virgil, your friend, Mr Phillips, was not here today. I was not told what happened. Care to fill me in? For practical reasons."

Virgil paused. He wasn't sure if this was information he should share. Logan kept watching him expectantly.

"His dad hurt him, he was in the hospital but now he's on bedrest till Wednesday.."