The Program

Chapter 5

*Connor's POV*

I had gotten the call from Mr. Geller last night about coming into his office this morning for a meeting. The school year hadn't even started and I was already getting called into the principal's office. Great.

"Have a seat, Connor," Mr. Geller said as I entered his office. I sat down in the chair he was gesturing to. "Do you know why you're here?" I shook my head. "Well, as you may or may not be aware, we are having a foreign-exchange student. I want you to help this student out this year. Show her around school," Wait. He's making me help out a girl student? Shouldn't he get a girl to do that? "Be her friend. Help her out with anything she needs. You know very well that this is the kind of thing you need on your record after what happened last year."

"Nothing happened Mr. Geller! You of all people should know that! You were there!" I shouted.

"Connor, we have evidence that says otherwise. It did happen. You can't keep running away from it. Anyways," he said, cutting me off, "I want you to be nice to this girl. Her name is Mariella. She's in the same grade as you and she's from America. I don't want you to let me down with this. It took a lot of convincing on my part to get the school board to agree with this."

"Don't worry, Mr. Geller. I won't disappoint you," I said after I had opened the door. I walked out the door and almost shut the door behind me before I saw a pretty girl about my age with curly black hair sitting in one of the chairs next to the door. Oh, wow. She's really pretty. "Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there. Here," I said holding the door open for her. She kept her eyes glued to the floor as she walked past me-careful not to touch me-and mumbled something I assumed to be a thanks.

"Ah, you must be Mariella. I'm Mr. Geller," I heard the principal say from inside his office. That's when it clicked. Holy shit! That's Mariella! Damn. This was not going to be an easy job. "Connor? Why don't you come in here for a moment?" I doubled back into the office and closed the door behind me just in time to see Mariella and Mr. Geller shaking hands. "Connor, this is Mariella Smith. Mariella, this is Connor Ball. He'll be your honorary best friend for the rest of the school year." I noticed a tiny flicker of something in her eye. Disappointment? Fear? I couldn't tell. 

"Nice to meet you," I said shaking her hand. She nodded just as the bell rang.

"That's your cue," Mr. Geller said. Oh my god. He creeps me out so much. "Here's your schedule and a note for the two of you to excuse you from your first class while Connor shows you your locker," Mr. Geller said. I glanced at Mariella's schedule as Mr. Geller handed it to her. We had the same first class. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mariella." Assuming we were done (and partially because I just wanted to get the hell out of there), I went over the door and was about to open it when Mr. Geller said, "And Connor?" I turned to him. "Remember what we walked about." I nodded and quickly took Mariella out of the office.