It Just Sort of Happened (On Hold)

Chapter 9- It Just Sort of Happened

I forced a cheerful smile on my face at school, trying to forget about my father and the pain in my knee from when he pushed me down. I’ve perfected this skill over my sixteen years, so doing it today was nothing. It was like a routine.

I tapped my pencil vigorously waiting for last period, geography, to end. Marcus’s laughing was booming over the classroom from the back at some joke one of his friend’s had made. Everyone had packed up their stuff already and Miss. Lockwood gave up on teaching us the remaining notes once it had gotten to the five minute mark until the bell rang.

Even though I had to sit through another detention today, I’d rather being sitting there than standing around in the mists of everyone snickering around me. Plus the detentions were getting less painful to go through as the days went on. It wasn’t like I was looking forward to just sitting there like a statue and doing homework for another hour and half but, well, it sure beats sitting in this class dealing with Marcus.

I watched the arrows of the clock get closer and closer to the twelve and soon the bell finally rang freeing the confined students of the torturous day. I pushed myself through the halls filled from edge to edge with people. I had ten minutes to get to Mr. Murray’s classroom before detention would begin. As I shoved my way toward the classroom door I felt someone tug back on my shoulder and pull me over to the lockers.

“What do you want?” I groaned before realizing it was Maisie who dragged me over to the side. “Oh, sorry, Maisie. What is it? I have to get inside so could you hurry this up?” She bit her lip and rolled back and forth on her heels. I could already tell this meant she was about to tell me something, she wasn’t proud of.

“Uhm, well it’s really a long story, and I really need to tell you, but it’s just so hard to explain and-”

“I really can’t have a long discussion right now; tell me when I get home alright?” I said cutting her off. She wasn’t looking straight at me; her eyes looked just to the left of my shoulder. I glanced behind me and saw Harry walk into the room. “Crap, it’s almost time!” I said while looking up at the clock that hung on the wall. “You’re going to tell me later right?” She nodded at me rolling her lips together then turning away from me. Mr. Murray was already sitting at his desk eyeing me as I walked in, just as the clock hit the zero, meaning I made it right on time.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Murray.” I said chirpily with a smirk on my face. I went to sit at my regular desk in the middle of the classroom beside Harry.

I pulled out my chemistry book and turned to page 341 where the homework was assigned. We were learning about balancing equations and honestly I wasn’t even paying attention during the lesson so I knew nothing of the subject. I turned back a few pages in the book hoping there would be some sort of explanation. There wasn’t though, it was just talking about elements and charges. I pulled out a single piece of lined paper and stalled time by writing my name, the date, and period number on the top before numbering down the sides of it.

My brain strained to remember words and processes Mr. Campbell was lecturing about. I pulled at my hair and scribbled circles on the inside of my book, daydreaming about my pirouettes. I would squiggle my pencil around the circle five times imagining myself as it, while it turned. I slipped out of the visual when I felt something flick into my straightened hair.

I turned my head towards Harry and he motioned toward my paper. He mouthed to me, “Need help?” I nodded to him before taking my piece of paper and shoving it back into the book giving up. There was a loud snore from the front of the room and it startled the both of us causing us to jolt.

“Jeez it’s been what ten minutes?” Whispered Harry pulling out his own chemistry book.

“Must be a new record.” I added setting my book to the side.