Sign of the Times

Chapter 2

The building had to be at least a hundred years old, built from the same wood as the town itself. The windows didn't do anything to keep the heat out. Everyone Will came into contact with looked ready to melt into the floorboards.

Percy interacted with everyone they passed. A wave, nod, handshake, maybe a word of greeting or two. A girl named Clarisse slapped him upside the head. Twins named Travis and Conner tried stealing his wallet. Percy took all of this in good fun. Will wondered how he had so little respect for peace.

He was always doing something one way or another, always staying social even if it involved being made fun of. Will wanted to step in whenever the "jokes" got too serious. He never did. Percy never stopped smiling.

Fake. That smile had to be fake. Right?

First period was English 3. Percy sat in the back of the room, leaving Will no choice but to also sit in the last row of seats. Drawings covered the ancient desks. Percy took a pen out and started to play with it. The blue ballpoint matched everything of Percy's, even his energy. Blue.

The teacher walked in just as the bell rang. He was a man in his thirties, with salt and pepper hair and kind eyes. His clothes were appropriate for his teaching position. Most of the kids seemed to respect him.

His eyes landed on Will. "You must be Will Solace," he smiled. "I'm Paul Blofis. Would you like to step into the hall for a quick talk?"

All eyes landed on Will. He felt like an intruder for the first time.

"Sure," he squeaked.

Chuckles erupted around him as he followed Mr. Blofis out into the hallway. Once the door was closed behind them, the conversations broke out behind the door but were unable to be understood.

"I wanted to properly introduce myself and welcome you to Frostford," Mr. Blofis said. "I know it can be scary being the new kid, and the teens around here don't take to new things, including people. So if you need anything, just let me know."

He took a paper from his pocket and handed it to Will. "Here are the phone numbers and addresses of all of your teachers. All the work you've missed won't count against you, but we'll start grading you on everything here on out. Are you trying to get to college?"

Will took the paper and pocketed it. "Yeah."

A flicker of something in those eyes. "I'm so glad to hear it. I've been trying to get Percy to...he has so much potential...all those wayward friends of his do. They just...they hurt, they have problems, they don't see life in the long run. Please don't let them get to you."

That same warning. What did all these adults expect them to do to him?

"I won't," Will assured, because this man seemed to just want the best for them. "I'm going to college."

It was just college. Why did everyone want him to go as if it would save his life? Run to its outstretched arms, they seemed to scream. There's nowhere else to go.

The promise made Paul's whole day just as it had Sally's. Their interest and involvement was enough for him. Why wasn't it for Percy?

.

.

His notebook was red and so was the textbook. Percy was beside him like usual, lunch was next period, and Mrs. Dodds was too deaf to hear any of their conversations. She had to be in her nineties, still up and teaching through some miracle. Her white hair reflected the artificial lights.

It was ten minutes into the Algebra 2 class when Nico decided to show his face. Everything in Will jolted and his whole system kickstarted. The boring math class he expected was suddenly no more.