Violet walked quietly into her first class of the day, Biology. Even though she had tried to close the door behind her quietly, a loud click sounded as it shut making everyone including the teacher look in her direction. she felt like everyone was watching her judging her, sizing her up, like they were trying to see if she was going to be a big shot here or if she was just going to be a ghost among these halls. Violet felt a cold knot of anxiety start to form in her stomach. Even though she had to move countless times and and done this over and over again it didn't get easier. It was still as nerve wreaking being the new kid as the very first time. So she stood there like a deer in the headlights unable to move or speak. Getting more and more anxious by the moment.
"Can I help you?" asked a deep baritone voice.
Violet felt all of the eyes in the class fall upon her, "Um it says that I have this class first period, this is biology right?" she stuttered.
"Yes this is Biology, and you would be?" the pudgy man asked.
Violet felt a lump form in her throat, "I'm Violet Summers, and I'm new here."
"Let me check my role." Violet stood there staring at her shoes like they were something really interesting. Trying to distract herself from the peering eyes of her new classmates.
"Ah here you are yes you transferred from Miami if I'm not mistaken." Violet nodded. "Find a seat and try to keep up ok?" She nodded again and made her way to the back of the class. She felt the other student's eyes on her as she walked by. Violet found a desk in the very last row and tried to become invisible.
The teacher had just got back to the lesson that he was teaching before she had accidently interrupted. Something about chromosomes and factors when it came to genetics. Violet pulled out her notebook and she started taking down notes as quickly as she could before he erased it from the white board. Even though and she already learned this at her old school, she refused to fall behind if there's one thing that she took pride in, it was her grades. The professor had just erased the previous notes when a loud clicking sound came from the back of the classroom as someone else entered the room.
"I'm not expecting another new student, so you better have a good excuse why you're late Mr. Valentine." Said the pudgy little teacher as he glared at Sam for disrupting his lesson." What is your excuse this time, sir, did your dog eat your homework or did you miss the bus and had to walk in the rain. "
The whole class started laughing in an uproar. Violet noticed Samuel get embarrassed and not one to usually speak she decided to do so since she had just been in a similar situation. "He helped guide me to the guidance office this morning sir so I wouldn't get lost. Whenever I was being escorted the class I thought that he had already gone to class I didn't realized I had lost him or that he was waiting on me." Violet stated making everyone look in her direction. Even Samuel.
"That is quite out of character for you Mr. Valentine, to help someone. Though it is good to see you turn over a new leaf. You may not be a completely bad apple after all. Now take your seat so we may continue with the lecture." The teacher said turning back to the white board.
Violet watched as Samuel made his way to the back of the classroom heading straight towards her.
"You're in my seat." He said coolly as he slid in the one next to her. "But seeing as you gave me an excuse and I'm not getting detention I guess I will let it slide. "
She just ignored him and tried to focus on the lesson at hand.
"Now can anybody tell me what is the possibility of a child who has a parent with blue eyes and a parent with brown eyes, for the child to have blue eyes? " the teacher asked. Eyeing the room for a unsuspecting volunteer. Violet tried to keep her head down, she didn't want any more attention drawn to her. She saw the teachers eyes light up.
"Oh yes Mr. Caleb can you tell me what is the probability of this child in question to have blue eyes." The guy I'm guessing his name was Caleb look at the board and then looked at his paper said, "25%."
"And Mr. Caleb how did you come up with this answer?" Mr. Belcher asked Caleb who responded.
"Well it takes up half of the grid." he answered back in a lax yet sarcastic tone.
Mr. Belcher just shook his head. " You are wrong. Can someone please give me a more appropriate and correct answer? Oh yes Miss Summers can you give me an answer, that has a better probability of being correct?"
Violet felt anxiety rush over her again. It was not that she did not know the answer she just did not like getting called on. That's why she preferred to sit in the back of the room. Which this time had seemed to back fire on her.
"Well Mr. Belcher. " Violet stuttered, " it is 75% because brown eyes are a dominant trait where as blue eyes have a tendency to be more recessive. Yet at the same time if the parent that has brown eyes, has a parent that has blue eyes, the probability that the child to have blue or even hazel eyes at birth become greater.
Violet felt the lump in her throat grow bigger as she watched the pudgy little teacher scratched his head at her answer.
"That is correct Miss Summers, you've only been in my class for all of 30 minutes and you can give me a precise answer and allow it to be correct I expect great things out of you." he said as she tried to hide further and further back into my chair.
Violet didn't want to be known as a smart kid, or a teacher's pet, and that's what happens when you get called on and give correct answers. At that moment she just wanted to disappear. She didn't like being the center of attention. Violet could hear people muttering know-it-all, smarty pants, amongst other little slurs that only made her more uncomfortable the longer she sat in that classroom in the back.
"Okay, okay, everybody quiet down! It's a lot to get through we don't have very much time left." Said Mr. Belcher. Mr. Belcher continue giving his lesson calling on unsuspecting students one right after another to answer the questions. She was waiting for him to call on her again which was only making my anxiety even worse. Violet really did not want to get called on again. She guess Lady Luck was on my side because for the rest of the lesson he did not call on her. Violet could already tell he's not going to like his class, simply due to the fact that he liked the catch kids off guard. And she did not like the feeling of being in a Minefield while trying to take notes and listen to a lecture. 10 more minutes that's all she had left whenever he put down the marker and turned to the class.
"Now everybody please remember that your projects are due in 3 weeks. That your project will have three parts you will present to the class a slideshow, a handmade poster board that depicts your topic, and a speech to give along with your presentation, and it is for 80% of your final grade. Since Miss Summers is new to our class I will be assigned her to one of the previously existing groups." He said in a Stern voice. Violet raised her hand to get his attention.
"Mr. Belcher I have no problem doing the project on my own. Since everybody's already started there's I don't want to slow them down." Violet stammered. In truth She didn't want to work with anybody else. She could get it done quickly and efficiently, her only problem would have been speaking in front of the class. Which depending on how long the presentation had to be she could most likely overcome it.
"So what you're too smart to work with any of us is that what it is? " came a voice from beside her, it was Caleb, "Since you're so smart maybe you should do it on your own, who would want to be paired up with the new girl anyway. You're from Miami right, a prissy little rich girl with a silver spoon in her mouth, bet ya think us hicks are dumb as dirt huh?"
Before violet had a chance to utter a retort, Mr. Belcher said, "Miss Summers this is a group project as in meaning you need to be in a group in order to get the full grade now, let's see who I can put you with. " he scanned the room as if trying to weigh his options. As if trying to figure out what would be the best pairing for me. Violet saw the light bulb go off in his head and his beady little eyes light up. Her stomach sank.
"I do believe I will pair you up with Mr. Valentine, Mr. Harper, and Mr. Ellis. " he said with a sly smile on his face.
"You have got to be kidding me! You're really pairing me up with her?! " Caleb complained while allowing his head to hit the desk and let out a low groan.
"Your reactions a little bit juvenile don't you think?" Came a voice from the other side of the room. Violet looked over to see a young man with his orange hair tied back in a ponytail, a hoodie, blue jeans and Led Zeppelin t-shirt. "You know he might have paired you up with her so we wouldn't fail. I mean with all the hits you've taken to the head playing football, I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure you've had quite a few concussions. I'm pretty sure her brain will balance out our handicap and then some."
The whole class gave out little chuckles of laughter, Violet even saw Mr. Belcher hide a smirk. Caleb just grumbled, and look back down at his desk. Violet shook her head. A group project, what a wonderful first day.