Helpless Witness

Chapter 4 : The day drags on...

Rrrriiiiinnnngggg

The bell rings. I hand over my test paper to Mr. Cooper. I'm failing algebra. It was a test of ten problems and I attempted one which is probably wrong. I couldn't focus. I was blank and my mind kept wandering. I wanted to just...leave. Sigh. One down just 7 more to go. Whoppee.

The second period was Biology. It wasn't as bad as math. After class I walked to my locker. I had already met and talked to Callum, Sabrina, Samantha and Nick. I will be seeing all of them and the rest of the gang this period. Great. Just great. I've been trying to keep my fake smile on but let me tell you this. It's fading and it's fading fast. I couldn't keep it up for a whole period. I wonder what Mr.Hensley will make us play today. He has a weird selection of songs. Last class he made us play 'I will always love you' by Whitney Houston. I mean, come on, how can someone play that with an electric guitar and drums. I was playing guitar and the drums was done by Robin...

No. Forget Robin. I can't think about her now. I don't want the whole school to see me crying on the floor. I shook it off and walked to the music class with my book of chords. I wonder who will replace Robin. There was no understudy for the drums since Robin was the only one who could play drums and didn't take Art. I would have taken art too since all you had to do is listen to Mrs. Burgundy talk about strokes and Picasso and Degas and blah blah blah. But the gang wanted to be together so we all took music since very less people were there for music and art class did not have enough empty seats for all of us. Music wasn't that bad though. It was actually quite fun. Mr. Westlake was our music teacher and he was pretty cool and young and bright. So it was fine. But I'm taking art next year because the last thing I want to do is play the electric guitar for the Winter Musicale to 'I will always love you'.

I walked into the class room. Mr. Westlake was there and no one else.

"Ah, Miss Stewart. You're early. I noticed you were on leave for the week. I hope you are feeling better now."

"I'm fine Hensley. In fact, I feel pretty good.", I said, with a big smile on my face. That was a total lie. I felt horrible. I did not want to see or talk to anyone and the last place that wish will come true is school. Groooaaaan.

We called Mr. Westlake,  by his first name Hensley sometimes because he was pretty young and he preferred it that way.

Mr. Westlake was about to say something. But Jennifer Carlton walked in, thank you Jennifer. She looked surprised. Then she broke into a smile and said,"Wow, Julia, I didn't expect to see you here. I didn't know you even came to school today considering you were on leave the past week. It's a pleasant surprise. Nice to see you again. Oh, and good morning Mr. Westlake."

I smiled at her.

"Good morning, Miss Carlton. Good to see you girls here bright and early."

Then she walked to her seat, sat down, opened her book and starts learning the lyrics.

That was just plain weird. Jennifer was in my Biology class. I can't believe she didn't see me there. She even came early. She's usually late to class because she'll be busy talking to her friends. She probably came early to be with Mr. Westlake. I know she thinks he's hot but he's surely not a pedophile. Eww. Checking out a teacher is the last thing I want to do.

The second bell rings and students start filing in. I took my electric guitar and sat down in an empty seat at the far end. Sadly, Bree took the seat next to me. Now I would have to talk to her. She started talking about things that happened between her and Nick. Bleh. I didn't want to listen to that Glubber shit. I wish I could shut her up.

Like it was fate, Mr. Westlake said," Bree, that's enough now. We need to carry on with class. Now 'The cool club' singers take your place. Lauren, piano. Julia, guitar. Callum, base. Jessica, violin. Take your place everybody. Let's go. Chop chop.", he said clapping his hands.

I know. 'The cool club' is a lame name. Mr. Westlake picked it. Peter used to skip music class frequently so Mr. Westlake, once, asked him why and Peter said that it was because the other kids teased him because music class was not cool. So Mr. Westlake named us 'The cool club'. I bet Peter is probably being mocked at more than before. I went and took my place on stage. I whispered to Callum,"Who's playing the drums?"

"Mr. Westlake.", he said and took his place. That's wrong. Teachers can't participate in the Winter Musicale.

"Ok, boys and girls. Today we're going to try and learn a new song. We'll be learning 'My heart will go on' by Celine Dion...."

Are you serious? Electric guitar + Celine Dion = total giberrish.

"...so it's G then E minor ok? Now let's take it from the top."

Groooaaan. We learnt half the song when the bell rang.

"Ok, boys and girls, I'll see you in two days. Remember, practice makes perfect. Class disperse."