I couldn't stop playing with the necklace Erik gave me. I was so focused on it, that I didn't pay attention half the class period, and when I finally looked up, I realized I missed most of the notes for a pop quiz we were going to have tomorrow. I quickly put my necklace beneath my shirt, and started scribbling down what my teacher said for the rest of class.
"Alright. Class dismissed. Except you." said our teacher, Ms.Chai pointing at me. Ms.Chai was a tall, older Japanese-American woman who didn't look old at all. Her hair was a glossy black, and went down to her shoulders. She had wide brown eyes, and a thin mouth, along with a button nose. She was a thin lady, but also very strong, like most every teacher at the Academy, because they all went here as children, and sometimes would join us in training sessions. She was very strict, but kind, and usually never called you to stay unless you did something very wrong. Erik gave me a sympathetic look, and mouthed that he would wait for me outside. I nodded, and stayed behind as the rest of the students left. I stood and walked to the front of the room where Ms. Chai was waiting.
"You were very distracted by that necklace in class today. Why? You are usually my most avid student." she asked.
"I got it from Erik, as a birthday gift today. My parents made it for me, and they wanted to give it to me on my 22nd birthday, but they died before they ever could. My parents gave the necklace to Erik in case they didn't make it to today." I responded, not wanting to meet her eyes. Ms. Chai gently lifted my chin so I had to look at her, and said softly,
"I understand how you feel. I lost my parents at a young age too. I know that the only thing you want to do is keep looking at that necklace because its something that means everything to you, but you have to make sure you aren't missing so much class time, alright?"
"Alright. Erik and I will study together for the quiz tomorrow. I won't fail it, and I won't be so distracted in class again. Thank you, Ms.Chai." I said, bowing. Ms. Chai nodded in return, and I left the classroom. It was Study Hall now, so we had an hour and a half of free time before the next class, which for Eric and I was Mathematics. Erik was waiting outside the door, like he said he would, and pushed off the pole he was leaning against, to walk next to me. We walked in silence back to our apartment. Once we stepped inside, and shut the door Erik asked,
"What did Ms.Chai want to talk to you about?"
I had a feeling he already knew, but was asking to be polite, so I simply responded with,
"My necklace."
"That's it? That was all she wanted? To talk about your necklace?" Erik inquired, pressing for more details.
"I know you were listening. You heard what she said, so there is no need to play dumb, Erik." I teased, rolling my eyes.
"Hmph. Alright you got me. I didn't know she lost her parents too... That might explain why she always gets so uptight when someone mentions their family in class."
"Yes, I suppose it does...."
"Well, we have a test to study for, and you didn't take notes, so get over here and sit down. We only have an hour and fifteen left, and with you, that's not nearly enough time." Erik joked, getting a chuckle out of both of us.
"Are you sure you don't mean you, Mr. ADHD?" I shot back. We both laughed, and sat down at the table to study off of Erik's notes. An hour later, we closed the notebook and got up to grab a snack and head out the door to Math. I grabbed an orange and a cheese stick, while Erik grabbed a few leftover pancakes.
"That's your choice of snack? Cold pancakes?" I said, chuckling.
"Yes. My snack is better because I get fuller than you do, meaning I can go longer without eating." Erik retorted.
"Uh huh. And how exactly are you going to eat those. you have to carry them all!"
"I'll just.... put them in my pocket!"
"Your pocket?! Those pancakes are way too big to fit in your pockets!" We both laughed, and Erik tore his pancakes in half, and tried futilely cramming them into his pockets, making both of us laugh even harder. I finished my orange, and offered to carry some of his pancakes. Erik handed a few over ashamedly. We reached Math, and Mr. Green doesn't allow food in class, so Erik shoved the last full pancake into his mouth, making him look like a chipmunk. I burst out laughing, and he started to laugh, almost spewing pancake all over me. He finally finished, and we walked into Math still giggling like the children we were at heart. Mr. Green smiled as we walked in, and turned to write the lesson on the board. He had always reminded me of a bear, and around Christmas, Santa Claus with his round face, dark eyes, and unruly brown hair that he kept mostly hidden beneath a grey beanie. He was also a large man, in the sense that he was quite tall, and broad. He had big hands that were covered in calluses, and he had arms seemingly the width of a log. He had a big brown beard, and always wore little glasses on the end of his nose. He seemed like the kind of man to randomly give you a hug if you looked like you needed one, or even if you didn't, he would hug you anyway. He was always smiling, and had a booming laugh, that was infectious.
"Good morning class. Welcome to another day of Mathematics. Today we start Arithmetic Sequences." Mr.Green said cheerfully once the class was all settled.
"Hmm. We seem to be missing a student. Does anyone know where Chris is?"
Chris came bursting through the door. "Sorry I'm late! I went to the bathroom, and I thought I could make it on time."
"It's alright. Try to go earlier next time. At least you didn't miss anything important. Have a seat please."
Chris was the only person in this school I hated. He was a fat kid, with no strength or stamina. His voice was nasal, and pitchy. He had long, bright red hair he always had in a ponytail and buckteeth. He always wore bottlecap glasses, even though they seemed to make his vision worse. He was also a total jerk. When teachers were around he was a perfect angel, but once they turned away, we would ridicule students, and throw things at people. He flipped off teachers when they had their backs to him, and he never paid attention. The moment he found out my parents died when I was 12 he would say things like, "Oh look! It's the orphan!", "She's so skinny because her 'Mommy' isn't here to feed her." and "She's only still alive because her 'Boyyyyfrieeend' hand feeds her like the baby she is." among other things. I have wanted to kick him where the sun doesn't shine for years, but we aren't allowed to hit another student unless we spar, and everytime I try to get him to spar with me, he refuses, because he knows he will get his butt handed to him.
After class I said angrily to Erik, "I don't know how I got through class today." as we walked out towards the lake, where out next class, P.E, was being held.
"Chris kept shooting spitballs at the back of my head. I was about to spitball my pencil into his fat head." I growled.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side!" Erik laughed. We made our way down to the lake, while I kept complaining about Chris and his antics.