"Any questions so far?" She asked.
"No, ma'am." I replied, my default reply whenever I'm not paying attention.
She seemed satisfied with my lack of curiosity, which also was a relief for me. Less talking meant less chance of saying something stupid out. I glanced around again, noticing a coffee pot in the corner of the room. The liquid was noticeably murky brown, lot sludge than actual coffee. I suddenly understood why everyone here looked so serious. If that's what they were running on, I'd be serious as heck, too.
"Feel free to ask if you need anything else."
"Thank you, ma'am." I said, standing up.
I made my way out of the Teacher Room. I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of relief and disappointment. I was relieved to have survived my first encounter with the faculty, disappointed that my backup plan with the attractive teacher wasn't going to be as easy as I'd hoped for. Life's full of surprises.
I pulled the door and closed my door behind me, only to find the Ice Queen once again standing in front of me. Why is she here, standing here? Did she need something from the teachers? Or did she forget to tell me something? Maybe… was she worried about me? Eek! I could almost feel my face heating up at the thought. Don't make me blush, Ice Queen! I can't handle that level of emotional whiplash right now. She noticed me before I could even figure out my escape route. Darn it. What does she need?
"What are you doing here?" She asked, her tone flat.
She's definitely interrogating me. Not a hint of warmth in her voice. Classic Ice Queen. I stumbled over my words, feeling more flustered than I wanted to admit.
"U-Uh… I got lost and… tried to find help." I managed to squeak out. This is why I should have stuck to my plan of being invisible.
"And you thought the Teacher Room was the best place to wander into?" She says, as she raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Well I —" I started, but her expression shut me up faster than any teacher ever could.
She had the look that said she didn't have time for my nonsense. Great. Now, I've gone from a potential new friend to a confirmed idiot in her eyes. She sighed out, the kind of sigh that people give when they're dealing with something mildly annoying, like a fly buzzing around their head.
"Stick to the main areas if you don't want to keep getting lost." She advises, turning away like this whole small lecture was a waste of time. It was. "Yeah, noted." I mumbled, scratching the back of my neck.
It's not like I wanted to come in here. I was invited, inside! But before I could say anything else, she started walking away. Not even a look back. I watched her go, a bland of relief and something else in my chest. Embarrassment? Maybe admiration? Or perhaps a lingering sense of being truly outclassed?
Well, that was definitely a new experience for me. I can't shake the feeling that this might turn out to be more interesting that I first imagined.
"Wait for me!" I called out for her, but she's already rounded the corner, vanishing with all the grace of a ghost who's got a tight schedule.
Geez. She's as stubborn as mule, or maybe more like a glacier. Slow moving, but immovable once she's set on a path. I would probably do the same if a new kid was trying to latch onto me like a stray puppy. Why would she wait for someone like me?
I let out a sigh. She's like a cat, isn't she? Aloof and unpredictable. Not that I mind. Cats are cool. In a way, people like her are much more interesting than the same boring people that pretends having fun being in a conversation with you. The ones who move through life like they're gliding on an invisible track, unaffected by the mundane world around them are very admirable. If anything, it wants me to figure her out even more.
Besides, I think I spotted her face on one of the bulletin boards earlier. A candid photo from some school event or award ceremony. She's probably someone of importance here, a student council member or a top student, maybe. Then that would explain the cold front. It's the kind of attitude reserved for those who have more going on in their lives than the rest of us mortals.