I took Mel to her class and headed to my own class. The first lesson was mathematics which meant we were getting our test papers. I was late and the teacher was already handing out the test papers. I knocked on the door and she just gestured for me to come in without turning to see who it was.
"Has the pretty new boy run away?" she asked the whole class then she finally turned to see who had come in,"Oh. You showed up. Come stand here with me."
"Pardon?" I asked.
"Riley Lee!" she called out and I instantly understood that she wouldn't speak to me anytime soon.
Riley run for her paper so the people i. front would not see what her score was. She looked at the paper and scrunched it up in annoyance.
"Penelope Cruz!"
Penelope also run for the paper and she smiled slightly after seeing her score.
"Better than last time." said absentmindedly.
"Sit down." the teacher said.
Penelope shook hands with herself and she walked back to her seat.
"Ma'am." I said turning to look at the teacher whose name I still didn't know,"Can I at least put my bag down?"
"Do you know my name?" she asked me and I shook my head with a smile,"Ms Ginger."
"So can I go?"
"Ask me properly using my name."
"May I put my bag down Ms Ginger?"
She nodded and I started walking to my seat.
"Vermont McGuire!" she shouted and I turned to look at her.
She was holding out my answer sheet and I walked back to get it. I had scored eighty percent! I guess I'm just a genius or I'm super lucky. I was happy that she did not try to make everyone feel bad about what they had scored and she started teaching. I took my seat and looked at Riley who seemed so unhappy and down. I will make an effort to speak to her later and see if I can make her feel better. When math class was, over we had Physics and then a double session of chemistry. The day went by.fast and soon it was lunch time.
"Sup bro?" Ray said as he caught up to me walking towards the lunchroom.
"Nothing. My fingers are aching from having to update notes though."
"Oh. That must hurt. Aren't you going to check on Mr Guilder's daughter?"
"I forgot about her. I'll come back just.get.my food.....and her's if possible."
"Sure."
I headed to Mel's classroom and found her sitting alone in a corner with a lunch bowl. I went in while some students were going out.
"Do you plan on eating alone?" I asked pulling out a seat in front of her.
She looked pleasantly surprised to see me and her eyes that looked dull a while ago brightened up. She straightened in her seat.and pushed her lunch bowl to me.
"I was hoping you'd come. Do you want some?" she said enthusiastically handing me a spoon.
"Let's go to the lunchroom. You said you would meet my friends."
"I....Can it just be the two of us today?"
I am sure she saw that I was unhappy with her suggestion because her smile faded.
"No. I have a to comfort someone because she didn't get her desired outcome on a test. I can't stay here for you."
"Then....you can go without me. I'll come tomorrow when I feel a little bit more comfortable."
"You're comfortable in your class?" I asked getting up from the chair and I saw how sad she looked to see me get up.
"Yeah. Enjoy your lunch."
"I'll back."
I turned and run out and back to the lunchroom where the others were already seated except Ray.
"Riley from now on I will tutor you in math." I said a little breathless from running.
"Really?!" she asked excitedly.
"Yeah. On weekends. You too Rose.... Penelope."
"Why did you call me Rose?". Penelope asked and I felt my throat turn dry.
"Nothing. You just.....smell like roses that's why. Bye. I can't eat with you guys today."
I was glad that they didn't ask why. I left and walked towards Ray who was ordering food.
"Just get a plate for yourself. I'm eating with Mel. She isn't ready to meet you guys yet."
"Does she think we are animals?" Ray asked and I frowned at him,"Fine. Go ahead but I'm getting two trays all for myself."
"We have sports after this. No one wants to see you throwing up."
"No one is judging you for eating all alone with the minister's daughter." he grumbled and I started to walk away.
"Bye." I said.
"See ya."
When I got to Mel's class she was standing by the window looking at a bird. She had places two lunch bowls on her table and some carbonated drinks. If she had all this then she had no plans of eating with anyone except me. She turned to look at me when she heard me close the door and she smiled.
"I was worried you wouldn't come. Come look at this."
"Do you know what it's called?" I asked looking at the blue bird flying around eating insects around a tree.
"No. Do you?" she answered taking a seat.
"No. I am not interested in birds.....I like roses." I said taking a seat thinking about Penelope; Rose.
"What do you like about them?" she asked looking and sounding interested.
"Their scent. It reminds me of someone special."
I smiled remembering the first time I had laid my eyes on Rose. My thoughts came back to the current Penelope I was with and I noticed she was pouting her lips.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Is it your girlfriend? The person roses remind you of."
"No. Just someone."
"Dee, would you mind if I asked you to do me a favour?"
"Depends on what it is."
She opened her bowl and ate two spoonfuls of rice and I did the same. As I chewed she watched me and chewed extremely slowly.
"Never mind." she said when she finally swallowed.
I remained quiet and we continued eating.
"What do you like about birds?" I asked trying to keep the conversation going.
"The fact that they can fly."
"You can also fly if you become a pilot " I said jokingly and she laughed with me.
"Nah. I'm not into planes much."
"Then what are you into?"
"Police stations. I want to put dirty men behind bars."
I didn't know how to respond to that so I kept quiet. She looked sad and I had no idea what to do. She would be better off discussing this with a fellow female instead of me. She continued eating and so did I. Once lunch was over I got up to leave and she followed me.
"I'm going to change." I told her and she nodded,"To change my clothes."
"I know. Can you show me where the changing room is?"
"Sure. Haven't you made any friends?"
We started walking out of the classroom and I noticed she was carrying the lunch bowls and bottles. I took them from her and she thanked me.
"I couldn't bring myself to speak to anyone. They kept talking about me and I can tell it was nothing good."
"The food was nice." I quickly changed the subject and she smiled brightly.
"I made it myself. Was it really good?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."
She nodded and led me to her locker to put her things and get the sports attire. Hold on....with how short and revealing the sports attires are, will she be comfortable?!
"Will you be okay wearing it?" I asked feeling alarmed on her behalf.
"It's more conserved compared to the others and.... you'll be there, won't you?" she replied looking into my eyes while she held the clothes close to her chest.
"I'll be there." The changing room is over there. I'll change quickly and come back for you."
After saying that I started running to my own licker and took my things and got changed. Ray must have gone out already because I didn't see him there. When I went back to get Mel she was done changing and standing outside looking around and at the girls who passed by. Before I reached her Rose came to stand next to her. I don't know why but I stopped walking and looked at them and listened.
"Hey." Rose said even raising her hand in a friendly gesture.
"Hi." Mel answered stiffly then she looked at Rose's attire that hugged her figure.
"You must be Penelope Melody Guilder. I'm Penelope Cruz, Vermont's friend."
Mel looked taken aback and she blankly stared at Rose's face.
"Nice to meet you." Mel said in a whisper.
"There's no need to be shy. I'll take you to the field." Rose said smiling and she grabbed Melody's arm but the latter decided to swat it away.
Rose looked surprised by the reaction but she quickly recovered and smiled.
"Dee said he'd come get me from here. I don't want to go with you."
"I'll wait with you."
"No! Just leave!"
I walked towards them and the moment she saw me, Melody run towards me and hugged me. Rose frowned and turned to leave and when I tried going to her Melody dug her nails into my back to keep me from moving.
"What are you doing?" I asked a little upset and I pushed her away slightly.
Her pale blue eyes started shimmering with unshed tears.
"Why did you.....?"
I couldn't complete my sentence as she started crying.