Wild Life

Nine

"Listen, if that fanged bugger did anything to you, I'll send his arse flying" John whispers in my ear as we walk up the steps of our school.

"Oh, hush John. It was a nice date and George was sweet, that's it. Okay, can you drop it now?" John was starting to get on my nerves about this date.I was carrying the painting I made the other night, I hadn't realized how heavy it was till half way to school and instead of helping me, John kept asking me stupid questions about the date.

There were a couple of students lined up around the entrance of the school, handing out flyers to everyone."I wonder what stupid circus we're having now!" John hollered to all the people around him. Some of them chuckled, but most people ignored it.

"A swing and a miss, Lenny," I laughed.

One of the students handed me the flyer.

COME TO THE MASQUERADE BALL THIS WEEKEND AT THE TOWN HALL!

"Jesus, Cyn's gonna want to go to this thing isn't she?" John says, his face red with embarrassment. "Would ya go with us, Val? I promise it won't be like a third-wheel situation. Hell, you can bring George now can't ya?"

"Yeah, maybe. I don't know. I mean I need to find a dress and everything, I don't think I have time with the schedule I have now," I say, running out of breath from the stairs.

"Oh please! I'll pay for your ticket, just please come, it won't be any fun without you, just don't tell my girlfriend I said that."

"Fine, I'll go but Cynthia's gotta go help me pick out a dress because I have absolutely no sense of style for formal events."

"Are you gonna ask George to go with you? Not that you have to bring him, I'm just guessing the dinner bill would be cheaper with another member in our entourage."

"Yeah, yeah why not," I say hesitantly. It took me a second to give in.

After I dropped off my painting in the art room, we arrived at our first class, English Literature. Ms. Asher is the teacher, she has long fire-red hair and nice porcelain skin. She was also very thin. Which made me extremely insecure, but I try to not let her obvious beauty bother me.

"Hello, Class," she spoke softly and smoothly. "Today we'll begin analysing The Great Gatsby, one of the most prestigious books of all time."

John let out a loud snore, which set the whole class with laughter. I hit him on the shoulder and sent him a sharp glare which meant, "Shut up arsehole". He hissed back at me and giggled under his breath, as did the rest of the class.

"Now, you all may see it as just a book now, but I promise you all will learn to love it." Damn, even in a childish environment like my senior class, she still looks completely unbothered and nonchalant. I kinda hate that but love it at the same time.

The class went by slowly, and surprisingly, John was paying his full attention to the lesson. After class, John and I walked to the courtyard where we would usually hang out with Cynthia and her group of friends for a bit before I head back to art class.

"Hey, I forgot to ask, but when can you start my guitar lessons? I can do it today after school or tomorrow as well-"

"Oh, shit, Val. I can't do it. I have band practice and Cynthia wants to hang out every damn night, I just don't have the time. Sorry, Val," He says as we reach my class and he begins walking towards his. "Maybe ask George! I'm sure he'll drop everything even to teach you to piss standing!" John yells down the hall. A teacher snarks at him and he just laughs it off.

The rest of the day goes by at lightning speed, and before I knew it, it was time for music theory. Before I entered the classroom, I stopped by the restroom. I feel my palms become slippery as I struggle to take out my lip balm and perfume. I spray once on my neck and then on my wrist. I rush to put on my lip balm and I look at myself in the mirror for just a few seconds. I am not about to embarrass myself in front of Paul or George at any time, so it was important for me to take a couple precautions before entering the danger zone.

I step through the door and like clockwork, the bell rings to the start of class. Paul turns his head from the chalkboard and gives me a dead stare, almost like I wasn't even a person, just a thing. I stand at the door for a split second, collecting myself from all the possible situations that could happen. Anything from talking to George about the ball, to Paul even telling me to do something in class, can end with me screaming at the top of my lungs from the stress.

"Please, take your seat Ms. Hollaway," Paul says with such a stern tone, it sounded like a robot. I rushed to my seat in front of John who raised an eyebrow. I tried to avoid making direct eye contact with George in the seat next to me, but he shot a toothy grin at me so I couldn't resist giving him a short smirk back.

"It's not like you to be late to a class, Holla. What's all that about?" He reached over his desk to whisper in my ear.

"I wasn't late, I walked right through at the bell. There was a long line at the restroom, okay," I rolled my eyes at him, but he knew I was bending the truth. Everyone in class was still chatting as Paul sifted through all his paper.

"Hi, Valerie," I rotate my body towards George, who was holding himself up from his knee, leaning in to close the space between us. "How was your weekend?" He asks flirtatiously, sending a small wink my way.

"Uh, it was pretty good, y'know. I went out with a nice boy, I think you might know him." I say this out loud but in my head I was screaming DON'T LEAD HIM ON VAL, YOU'RE SO STUPID. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! But it was too late. "Listen, I was wondering if you'd teach me guitar soon, I'm free after school all this week."

"Uh, I don't think I have this week free, Me and John's got band practice for this week and next. I'm sorry, love, I wish I could."

"Oh, that's alright, I'll find someone else-"

"Alright, class! Everyone quiet down, please!" It seemed as if Paul was right next to my ear, I almost jumped out of my seat. My pen drops on the ground and I feel my face go red with embarrassment. I pick it up and immediately make eye contact with Paul, which made my face even more flushed. "Now, for some announcements. We need a band to perform for the ball this weekend. It won't be for the whole time so you'll still be able to dance with your lovely dates. So, if you know anyone in a band or are in one yourself, please sign up. And if no one does, I'm going to have to sing, and it's only gonna be old boring 40's music," He smiles widely at his little joke. No one else laughs, but to see him make a cute smile afterwards, I couldn't help myself to smile as well.

I try and stop smiling, but Paul sees it and clears his throat to go back to his serious voice. "Anyways, You'll continue with the poetry project, but today you can work with anyone of your choosing.." He shoots a quick glance at me as if to say, "I don't care about you anymore. Fuck whomever you'd like."

I ended up working with both John and George. We didn't get much because the two children I was working with kept making paper airplanes and shooting them at the girls across the room.

I don't know who else I could ask to teach me the guitar. The only two people who I actually talk to in this school aren't available because of their little boy band rehearsals. I felt faint as I realised what my only option has come out to be. I have to ask Paul- Mr. McCartney to do it.