Chapter 5: Let's Eat Lunch Together
The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual, my heart racing from a nightmare. In the dream, I had an accident and lost my legs. The terror felt so real that I immediately touched my legs, letting out a huge sigh of relief when I realized they were still there. I was drenched in sweat from head to toe, and the air in the room felt stifling.
Needing some fresh air, I got up and went to the balcony. The sun had already risen, casting a soft golden light over everything. For the first time, I noticed how beautiful the morning sky was. Birds were chirping merrily in the distance, and the cool breeze gently brushed against my face, helping me calm down from the lingering effects of the nightmare. I closed my eyes, letting the cool air wake me up fully. I felt refreshed, more so than I had in a long time.
Feeling awake and alert, I quickly took a shower and brushed my teeth. As I was rinsing off, a thought hit me like a bucket of cold water: I would have to sit next to that teacher's pet, Alaric, again today. The groan that escaped my lips echoed in the bathroom. Of all people, why did it have to be him? His seriousness, his silence, everything about him just rubbed me the wrong way. I had never met anyone so boring and focused in my life.
After my shower, I started packing my bag, making extra sure I didn't forget anything today. Yesterday, I had forgotten my social studies book and had been forced to share with Alaric. The memory still made me cringe. Having to rely on him was bad enough, but the thought of him silently judging me for it was even worse. I wasn't going to let that happen again.
But as I packed my bag, I remembered something else. Homework. I hadn't done it. In fact, I didn't even know what it was! Oli had always done my homework for me. She was the responsible one, and I never bothered to check. I was about to call her when, as if on cue, my phone rang. It was Oli.
"Hey, El! Are you going to school today?" Oli's voice was unusually soft.
"Do I have any other option? Of course I'm going. Why, are you not coming?"
"I... I have a fever. It just came on this morning, so I'm going to skip today."
"What? Are you okay?" I asked, concerned. Oli never missed school unless it was serious.
"Don't worry, it's just a light fever," she reassured me, though I could still hear the fatigue in her voice.
"I was going to come over after school, but if you're sick—"
"El, I'll be out this afternoon. You can't come over today."
"Oh, okay," I said, a bit disappointed. "By the way, did you do my homework?"
There was a pause on the other end. "El... I can't do your homework anymore. Your mom called me yesterday after going through your notebooks. She recognized my handwriting."
I felt my stomach drop. That was just perfect. Now I was going to get another lecture from Mom about responsibility. Still, there was no point worrying about it now. "No problem, Oli. You rest up and take care."
"Bye, El," she said before hanging up.
I put my phone down and sighed. Now what? There was no way I could finish the homework before school started, not when I barely paid attention in class. It was only a matter of time before I'd get called out for it. Bracing myself for the inevitable, I went downstairs for breakfast.
Mom wasn't there, but a note was stuck to the table beside my breakfast:
"El, I had to leave early today. Eat your breakfast and go to school. Don't forget to lock the door. —Mom."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. No scolding today! I smiled to myself, quickly ate my breakfast, and left for school, locking the door behind me.
As I walked, my thoughts drifted to what I'd say when the teacher asked for my homework. I mentally went over the subjects and realized that I was safe for the first three periods. But in the fourth period, we had science. I vaguely remembered the teacher assigning homework yesterday. What was it again? My memory was blurry, but I knew there was something written in the homework section. Anxiety gnawed at me as I reached the school.
When I entered the classroom, I noticed something unusual. It was eerily quiet. At first, I thought I was the only one there, but then I saw him. Alaric, the teacher's pet, already seated at his desk, nose buried in his books.
I blinked in surprise. Did he always come this early? Shaking my head, I went to my desk and set my bag down. Alaric glanced at me for a moment before returning to his reading. His seriousness annoyed me, but today, I needed him.
"Do you know what the science homework was for today?" I asked, hoping he'd help me out.
Alaric looked at me, clearly surprised that I'd spoken to him first. After a brief pause, he nodded. "We had to answer the questions from the chapter we finished yesterday." He pulled out his science notebook and handed it to me. "You can copy mine if you haven't done it."
Reluctantly, I took the notebook. I had no other choice if I wanted to avoid another call home. I started copying his work, my handwriting sloppy from the rush. I was slow, and as more students arrived, they stared at me in disbelief. I could hear whispers.
"Elara, what's happened to you? Are you actually studying?" Jeff asked, standing near my desk.
"Are you okay?" Max added, smirking.
"Can you please leave me alone? I'm busy," I snapped, not in the mood for their teasing.
Even the teacher seemed surprised when she walked in and saw me diligently writing. She didn't say anything, though. Instead, she took attendance and began the lesson. Time flew by as I frantically copied Alaric's notes. I couldn't believe how fast the morning passed, and before I knew it, it was the fourth period.
Just as the bell rang for fourth period,I finished the last of my homework and slumped back in my seat, exhausted. "Finally done," I mumbled, stretching my stiff fingers.
"Thanks for your help," I told Alaric. He just nodded and reminded me, "Make sure you do it yourself next time."
Without thinking, I blurted, "Want to eat lunch together today?"
Alaric looked at me, shocked. I instantly regretted the offer. What was I thinking? But before I could take it back, he said, "Sure."
While the science teacher was checking homework, She flipped through my notebook, her brow furrowing. "Elara, why does your handwriting look different today?"
"Oh, uh... my hand was stiff this morning," I lied, hoping she wouldn't ask any more questions. The class snickered, everyone knew that I never did my homework myself.Fortunately, before she could press further, the lunch bell rang.
---