Uncharted Territory

Well this sucks, I thought as I continued to look at the very intimidating man in front of me.

I ducked my head just under my left hand, making it look as though it was resting in my palm. I could still feel his angered gaze pointing at me, but I did my best to ignore it. I could only hope that he wouldn't bring the situation up. As I desperately tried to make myself disappear with my mind, Mr. Bridge was having a let's-get-to-know-each-other moment.

The kids were asking him questions about teaching and such. No personal questions were allowed to be asked. That made me feel better. If anyone asked him who he hated most in this world, I didn't want him pointing at me and saying, "Her, rude rain car girl..."

Fears of mine were never very rational.

My eyes darted back and forth while I was deep in thought. Tasha must have sensed my discomfort. She nudged me in my ribs- rather roughly I might add- and flicked my forehead to get my attention. I lifted my head a few inches to see what she Tasha wanted. Her light brown eyes were twinkling with concern as she attempted to decipher what was going on in my mind through my actions. She mouthed to me asking if I felt all right. A simple nod of 'yes' seemed to satisfy her and she returned to look at Mr. Bridge.

"Tasha," she spoke in his direction.

Then I felt a light pressure on my left shoulder. I shifted my gaze to the teacher, bracing myself for him to attack me ninja style so no one in the class would notice. Instead, I was welcomed with an annoying finger tapping me and a smile; one that told me he found humor in the entire issue. He found my embarrassment funny, and that just helped to tick me off.

"And you?" He asked on the verge of laughing.

I narrowed my eyes; wishing lasers would shoot out of them and scorch his face. Why so violent? I really had no idea.

"What?"

"He was asking us all what our names were for roll call," Tasha answered.

I kept my focus on Mr. Bridge.

"And why doesn't he just go down the roll like a normal person?"

"Because, I already did and you and your friend never answered to any of the names called. Well, she did just now, but I still have one person missing according to the list."

I rolled my eyes over-dramatically.

"Then use your brain and put two and two together. Obviously that person is me, and no, I didn't walk into the wrong classroom. I'm eighteen year old. I'm old enough to read what my schedule says."

I gave him a once over, scrunching up my nose and labeling my face with a look of disgust.

"Even if I don't like what classes it tells me I'm in," I finished.

Towards the end of my little rant, I noticed the smile wipe off of his face and his blue eyes turned cold. He looked like he was about to blow a gasket, and I instantly regretted my words. For a moment, I forgot he was the teacher. I still saw him as the mean guy who basically got me fired.

"Well, then."

He looked at his list of students.

"Riley Maverick?"

I decided that it would be a good time to just shut up and not say anything more. My head moved up and down to answer rather than my voice. I had a feeling he was going to yell at me once everyone else left.

"Well, this is only homeroom and we have about ten minutes in here of nothing to do except passing out student handbooks and forms, so you all can talk at your leisure. Now, Miley-"

"It's Riley," I shot back.

"Yeah, Miley, you come with me. I need to have a word with you."

A chorus of "Oh's" rung around the room. I did a fast pivot to warn them with a glare before stalking off behind Mr. Bridge to his desk. It was the first day of school, and the man was already disorganized. His area looked like a pig sty. There were papers and water bottles and wrappers scattering the wooden furniture.

"This is downright gross."

"Shut-up," he muttered before taking a seat in his green office chair. I stood on the opposite side of his desk, waiting to be given an in school suspension or lunch duty.