Speechless

Trouble

"Francis Webb, would you care to answer?"

I sit bolt upright, my notebook falling to the floor. No matter how startled I was, I didn't utter a word.

"Webb? Did you hear me?" The round teacher in the front of the class bellows. His square face seething with sudden anger.

I shrug and lean forward, putting a hand over my mouth, hiding my smirk. Deciding to torment Mr. Stroheim as always.

The whole class had gone quiet, whispering to each other looking between Mr. Stroheim and me.

"There he goes again." "I don't think Stroheim is gonna take this from him again..." "Francis is such an ass." "Who does he think he is?"

The whispers were rapid and full of hateful looks, but I didn't falter. Sitting silent and still watching the plump tomato at the front of the room clench his fists, vibrating with anger.

Suddenly a giggle broke out silencing the white noise. All the heads in unison turned to look at the desk to the right of mine.

Jasmine.

It had been almost exactly two weeks since we first met. Such an easy person to talk to, she is. Well, by 'talk to' I mean she spoke to me and I wrote on a scrap of paper... She respects my wishes. Never once did she ask why I didn't talk! The closest she got was asking me my opinions on communication. The whole conversation was amusing, for she was flushed and stuttered the entire time. As if I was flirting with her.

She still appeared to be crushing even today. she blushes a bright pink the second I laid eyes on her.

My brow furrows and I bend over picking up my note book,'what's so funny?' I scrawl messily on the paper showing it to her.

"Yeah. What's so funny, Jasmine?" Stroheim now leered over our desks folding his arms tightly.

We jump in unison, my control faltering just enough to let out a yelp of surprise.

"Aha." The tomato scoffs placing a hand on my desk,"liar!" He bites a finger silencing himself taking a moment before clearing his throat and turning to face both me and Jasmine,"you two, lunch-time detention."

"What?! No way!" Jasmine swiftly stands up leveling herself with Stroheim.

Oh my god. I think, I grab her wrist pulling her attention to me.'no.' I sign repeatedly, shaking my head. Was she really that stupid? Lunch-time detention was getting off easy with Stroheim!

She caught the point, but it was too late.

"Oh so your friends, eh?" He chuckles and steps away, the sea of heads follow him."dress code violator and mister liar over here..." He points a finger at me and I flare my nostrils, in the little defiance I could get away with for now.

"Yessir that is correct." Jasmine says through gritted teeth, tensing her fists until the knuckles were white.

"-Jasmine-" I whisper, all the heads flick to me, including hers. Her brow and fists relax and she begins to flush again.

"S-s-sorry." She giggles pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she sits down covering her face with her hands.

There was a small gasp that echoed around the room. I could see the school papers' headlines now: 'said to be mute dates rebel' too much trouble for my tastes.

Me and her, though? She may be pretty... And interesting... And understanding... But let's face it! She's an idiot. Yeah- that's it! She's an idiot! So blindly in love with someone she barely knows....

There was another little gasp from the class. I had been staring at Jasmine. I clear my throat and turn my face from her, slumping in my seat.

The next thing I knew, class was about to start again when the bell nearly shook the walls apart.

I raced out of the room, stumbling around my peers. I knew Jasmine was right behind me. See, if you get to detention early they let you out early. Essentially more time to eat. That's what I told her the first day we met. I figured I'd help a fellow 'rule breaker' out.

"Francis!" I whip around in the middle of the hall, shifting the motion of people.

I nod, seeing Jasmine stumble through the crowd.

"God, I know you know what your doing, but Jesus! Wait for me!" She huffs pulling her backpack over both shoulders.

"Then don't fall behind." I answer softly not sure if she heard me through the rumble of students. I grab her hand, smiling at her surprised face before running off into the crowd. Jasmine in tow.