Jenga

Chapter Two- Intimidations

In retrospect, I shouldn't have gone out in that pouring rain after all. But I did. 

When Charlie was carrying me to the nurse, classes ended and the students were transferring to their next ones.

It's quite disturbing for me, especially when everyone's eyes suddenly stick to the two of us like glue.

I even hear whispers, which is weird because you aren't supposed to hear whispers how I'm hear them. I shouldn't even call them 'whispers', it should be called what it is, gossip.

I'm surprised I can't speak right now.

But what makes it convincing that they're whispering is the fact that they actually hold their hands up to the other person's ear.

Anyway, Charlie and I finally land in the nurse's office.

Once the nurse's, Ms. Rosen's eyes land on Charlie, she sighs and asks, "Who did you fight with this time?"

Charlie laughs. He actually laughs, and sits me down on the chair beside him. He goes, "Who do you think? Ask your son."

Ms. Rosen slams her desk, I flinch, but Charlie makes no movement nor change in his expression at all.

"Get out."

He has one final look at me, grins, and leaves.

Ms. Rosen sighs again and looks at me. "Don't befriend him, alright?"

I stay quiet as she treats my swollen cheek.

I feel like the most bemused person on Earth right now. I shouldn't be, but I'm interested in the situation.

What exactly is wrong with Charlie?

Interrupting my thoughts, I sneeze, and Ms.Rosen wraps a shawl around me. "A rainy day is the worst day to get into trouble."  

When I get back to class to get my paraphernalia (fancy word), Arthur scolds me for 'taking a long time in the restroom'. I didn't even go.

"Why do you have that bandage on your face, anyway?" he asks.

"Ignore it," I reply.

He looks as if he wants to say something back to me, but can't. He just nods and says, "Alright."

I really don't understand him.

I really don't understand that Charlie kid either.

Suddenly, while I'm walking out of class, thinking about where he went, I collide into a large figure.

I look up and say, "Now's not the time, Max."

Max, my older brother, groans. "Do you really hate my company that much? And how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?"

Just to say, I don't have any friends, but if you count an older brother and a moody teacher as friend-worthy, then I have a couple of friends.

"Fine, Mackenzie, can I get to class now? I'm already late, and so are you."

Max looks up at the clock in the room and screams. He starts running away, turns around and  shouts to me, "Sorry, Noa! I'll talk to you later!"

Why did he want to talk to me in the first place? Does he not care that he's talked about because he's my brother?

I finally make it to my next class.

Everything is going well and peacefully until one of my classmates, Julia, screams all of a sudden.

Ugh, more screaming?

I look outside the window to my right and jump out from my seat.

There's a squirrel on the windowsill outside.

It may not sound frightening, but it is when the squirrel is less than a foot away from you.

The chemistry teacher, Ms. E is halfway out the door when, as if it were magic, two hands pop up and take the squirrel away.

Still standing, I say to myself, "Wait a a second. . ." I walk over to the windows and shout, "I knew it was you! What do you think you're doing?!"

Charlie looks up at me and shouts back, "Don't look at me, he's the one who stole my chemistry homework!"

"You're not Tarzan, so you can actually fall! Hurry up and get in here!"

Eventually, Charlie comes in with a scowl on his face and half-shredded homework.

To be honest, I didn't think he'd do his homework.

I guess I can't underestimate people like him.

As for myself, I didn't think I'd actually know it was him out there.

I guess I don't think a lot.

Charlie looks at me while walking to his seat, which is two seats behind me.

"You don't have friends, but you can talk to someone like me so easily? You have a weird preference, Noa," he says.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I just. . . can't help but to shout out to lone wolves."

"I'm not a lone wolf. In fact I'm too surrounded."

"Well you're reckless, that's for sure."

Then Charlie makes a face at me that I didn't think was possible on him.

He smiles.

He does, but it's kind of a smirk.

Neither of us say anything, and instead the whole class erupts in laughter.

I don't see how it's funny.

"I didn't expect them, out of all people to get along!"

"Exactly! Why isn't Charlie afraid of her?"

This is what I hear.

"That's because. . . there's nothing to be afraid of. Noa King is the complete opposite of me, but she's. . . pretty interesting," Charlie says.

The class seizes laughter and drives into whisper mode.

Not that I really care.

But I do care about Charlie knowing my name. 

You know what, I'm not even surprised anymore, because I've been surprised by him enough already.

To say that all of this is only one day, not even a full day, is crazy.

I'm getting more and more tired by all of this happening, but even more aware of myself, whom I don't fully understand yet.

I wonder if tomorrow will be like this as well. 

If so, I actually look forward to it.