How Typical

Chapter 5

So far, the week had been a breeze. Tyler didn't try to make small talk with me after Monday and I managed to escape excessive conversation with Blaire and Zach so as far as I was concerned, it was a pretty good week. I just hoped I could end it with one more good day.

I walked through the hall toward my locker, avoiding eye contact with anyone I passed. The halls were busy with students talking to friends and sorting out their books for the day. I noticed a yellow piece of paper stuck to some of the lockers and figured it was one of those "Welcome Back" letters we get every year and, sure enough, when I got to me locker, there was a yellow paper hanging there waiting to be read. I didn't bother to read it but instead tore it off and tossed it into the recycling bin at the end of the lockers. After dialing the combination into the lock, I opened my locker to unload the books I'd taken home the night before and take out my composition notebook. When I was satisfied with the materials I had taken for the first half of my day, I looked into my locker and made a mental note to get an organizer.

As I closed my locker door, the first bell rang and I headed off to class. Rounding the corner of the main building, I found myself colliding with someone and fell straight back before I could see who it was.

I was fully ready to get in the face of whoever it was that didn't understand the concept of walking on the right side of the hall but when I looked up to see Ben with a worried expression on his face, I decided to spare him.

"Oh shoot, I'm sorry, Andrea. I was trying to fix my camera and I didn't see where I was going, I should have been looking. I had no idea you were there, honest. I'm really sorry about that." he rambled on and on.

His exorbitant apology was annoying but I couldn't help feeling a pang of empathy for him. He's so awkward and subservient. I can't manage to be upset with him because he seems so fragile. I feel like one harsh word would break him.

"It's fine, Ben." I said, getting up from the ground and brushing my pants off.

Ben bent down to pick up the books I'd dropped before I get the chance to and offered them to me with an apologetic smile and a head nod before scurrying off to class. He kept his gaze strictly on the ground beneath him as he disappeared down the hall.

"I'll see you in Bio!" I called after him. He didn't respond so I just turned away and made my way to my first class.

The bell sounded just as I entered my classroom.

"Ms. Jakes, you're late. I expect you have a pass with you." Ms. Espinosa sneered, turning to face me. For the record, Ms. Espinosa is the devil's spawn and an English teacher whose first language is Spanish. I don't like her.

"The bell just rang. How am I late?" I retaliated.

"I've already marked you absent. You can choose not to get a pass but that won't go over well with the front office, now will it?"

I just glared at her, willing her to evaporate with my mind but she stayed in tact. Eventually, I had to give in. Rolling my eyes, I turned around on my heels and headed back to the front office.

"And don't you roll your eyes at me, missy." she added with a smug grin.

"Yeah, you're not my mother." I mumbled just audibly enough for her to hear. I heard her get up from her squeaky teacher's desk, probably to lecture me again, but I rounded the corner before she could get to me.

As I made my way to the glass door closing students out of the front office, I noticed a tall figure towering over the counter, signing himself in. He wore black jeans and a blueish-gray t-shirt that was just tight enough to define the muscles in his back. His backpack hung from one of his shoulders and was slightly open to one side. I wanted to close it because seeing backpacks hanging open makes me feel like everything's just going to fall out of them but I refrained because that'd be weird. The guy turned around and immediately, my complacent expression turned to one of disgust.