Three lessons had gone by and James now found himself sitting in Math Lit class, attempting to focus on the monotonous droning of his teacher's voice. However, no matter how hard he tried boredom hung over his back like a heavy blanket, so he let his mind wonder. He felt his mind drift, and he recalled joking claims made by students about there being only a handful of students in the school that managed to fend off the mind numbing powers of 'Mr Robin the Mundane'. James snickered softly at the memory.
He was busy rummaging through his pencil bag, his brain spinning backwards on its hamster wheel, when he heard a guy sitting to the right from him whisper over to one of his friends. It's probably Steve, James guessed. A glance confirmed this and he watched as Steven rocked haughtily on the legs of his seat.
"Thank god the lesson's almost done," The boy muttered under his breath.
Mr Robin, who had apparently heard Steve's comment, peered shrewdly at him from over the rims of his circular glasses.
"Steven," He called loudly. Steve quickly stopped his rocking and met the teacher's glare. "Would you mind repeating to the class what was covered during this period?"
The class watched as Steve searched for an answer, but clearly finding none, he instead looked down and at his opened textbook.
"That's what I thought," The teacher said with an air of satisfaction, "Now as I was saying-."
He was cut off by a timid knock on the door. Most of the class looked over, including James, and he saw the girl standing under the doorframe, waiting patiently. Michelle Davis. James shifted awkwardly in his seat. She was one of those girls half of the guys in his school swooned over.
Although he had to remind himself to not fall easily for her, James couldn't stop his heart from fluttering annoyingly and he wondered why she would need to visit this particular classroom. Pay her no mind. Maybe she just chose the wrong class.
"Yes, what do you want?" Mr Robin asked her, breaking James from his thoughts. The teacher's tone was laced with impatience, and he placed his textbook down on his desk as turned to face her.
For a second Michelle looked like she was uncomfortable, and James almost felt sorry for her, but the moment passed quickly and she fiddled with her hands before answering. "I...um...Mrs Shelly needs James Sulman sir. We have a small problem in our classroom. Would you mind if he helps us?"
Is this a joke? James wondered in bewilderment.
The teacher hesitated and without another word waved his hand in James' direction. James hesitated as well, for a briefer time than his teacher, but he quickly decided it would be good idea if he acted immediately. He got clumsily out of his chair and moved forward. It felt like everyone was looking at him – no, assessing him - as he walked towards Michelle and the open door, and the feeling subsided only once he had taken that last step and crossed over into the hallway. He turned to face Michelle, waiting for her to talk. After a second she finally did, but not with the words that James was hoping.
"Don't you know where Mrs Shelly's class is?", she asked him, shaking her head in disbelief. It caused her auburn hair to ripple and distract James from making a reply, but he attempted to recover his composure. It ended up being futile.
"No, no. I know where it is...It's just that I couldn't help but be...uh...distracted for a moment", he replied feebly. Did I really just say that? , James thought, cringing inwardly at hearing his response.
Michelle looked at him with a nonplussed expression, like she thought he was acting crazy.
Well maybe I am.
"You know what, I'm going to stop talking now", he told her.
"Yeah, maybe you should do that", she agreed dryly.
They both walked down the passage in an uncomfortable silence until, at last, James stopped at the door which led into Mrs Shelly's room. He took a minute to allow his assumptions to run rampant, and then he latched down and caged them. He stepped into the room, but noticed that Michelle stayed by the door. He redirected his attention as he entered the class, glancing around. He heard a thudding sound and ruffled beating noises come from above his head, so he looked upwards and saw what the commotion was all about.
YOU ARE READING
LIMBO
Horror"Hello James", the nightmare crooned. A shiver traveled up his spine as he tried to reason out how the thing knew his name. It took all of his will power to respond, "What are you? Why are you speaking to me?" The creature paused as it stared at hi...
