" My apologies madam"
"My apologies to you too Martin"Miss Rouse turns to me,"Day.." She takes a last stare at Crudentia.
I'm in for it.
Once she slams the door behind and my couldn't help but travel to Crudentia's face. Mrs.Rouse still wasn't happy but I am glad we settled that. Oh! Crudentia.Her mouth just ached to say her own opinions.
"Mertin!?(her eyes still glued to mine)What did I tell you?They are many others out there?You had to stick with her.HER of all people.Mrs.Rouse..."She was then interrupted.
"Mrs.Rouse has always been problematic and you know it."
" But...She is the biggest sponsor the school has ever received. As much as I hate it.The school.From hallway walls down to the bare nothingness the cemented school still stands.All of it is on her pretty finger tips."
" Miss Day you are excused"
To his wishes then no more trouble can fly to my way anymore.
I walk down the hall. Probably to my class or to the teachers lounge wherever my feet takes me.Depends on how tolerant I am of the bullet eyes killing me. I am as usual dressed to impressed .Made sure to protrait a fierce look. Little does anyone know the beat 'adrenaline /anxiety' played in my head.
Every student by now must've caught on the news. That look where they scan from head to toes.The resting face look that screams,'Was that you on the newspaper?' Their eyes followed even after I had passed by. Each step ,every murmur lowered my standards.I was now holding tight to my slippery bag handle.I lowered my face and watched as droplets of sweat travelled down the leather material of the handle.
People came closer but not close enough to make it obvious.His friends probably moved a step away from him.My presence was enough to silence the parot groups. Renée he was arranging his locker by the time we met. A crutial meet that froze time in a dangerous way. No I won't take it?The teachers lounge.No one was there.Assuming that all had classes somewhere.
Emotions burst out.Not once not twice but multiple times.I banged the desk .Off course I had no mega strength but a tint of the desk was made. It was blinding but I saw Ranold shaking in terror. The second time,time froze again.I was not okay.I knew it.I was not fine.Could be shed to a brighter light than that? But I had the audacity to pretend that everything was peachy from my point of view.
I danced to the deafening silence.
He said nothing but stood there with his morning cup of coffee.Probably from a coffee shop.Its a norm with him.
He has always been shy even from the first day we met.But the state he caught me in could be self explainatory. I guess he had no words to say to me and proceeded to mind his own business.In his own desk off course.(Which by the way was the one I throwed fits at so...there was that)
I made myself comfortable to my side of the lounge.Behind the big computer was I, trying to wipe off the endless tears using tissues. I must admit it was messy . Definitely not as low-key as I planned. I smiled at him and he pretends to be busy. He slides his head to a clear view of me.Once he notices my attention he goes back to his clicking keys.
That's Ranold for you.He always has things to say but never says it.Took me a while but we're all used to it.
I look back just to spot his brown -patched coat arm.He was still there . I check again for the last and final time.He's invisible.I check all around.He is truly invisible.By the moment I go back to my normal position,I get surprised by a hand offering extra tissues.A packet full of them.Moreover he comes up to me with a clean bin.Honestly my desk was overfilled with used wet tissues.
A glance was all we needed.None of this was to leave the room.He goes back to his chair with no comment or remarks at that.One finall peak over to his desk won't hurt.
My ears sang to his noisy keyboard. At least I forgot how to cry within the few minutes.
*Such a darling but the bell already rang a few minutes ago can't think of ways to thank him*
I am all alone again.Only the sounds of my heels terrorised the hall with loud echoes. It was just something I got used to. I stopped.I took one step front and one step back and look around. I wasn't sure so I repeat the process again.One step front while the other foot stepped backwards. Tell me that I didn't hear what I heard.I stay still. My shoes were already in my arms.
I am dead serious that no one was in that particular path of the hall. Eariee. But I continue walking to class.The sound was behind me.At least that was what I thought.Somewhere in between I could no longer distinguish where the sounds came from.
Just like in the horror films .Might be the mercy that no vocal sounds were heard only footsteps. I was at a position where each turn could be an alternative to fall prey. Wasn't an adventurous person.Didn't go to search for her.She found me.Was it a mirror.Ginger head ,same facial features I think.Her face couldn't be told.
Not a ghoulish ghost dressed in white torn dress and careless make-up.She was on a suit and had books in her arm. Surely,five feet down the hall is enough to keep me safe. Whoever she was.She wasn't me.I don't know why she looked so similar but she paralyzed me.Were those hands on my shoulders? But she is right over there.....