All in a year

Chapter 1: first impressions

August. Just when school started back up. I was a senior in High school, which I won't tell you where it is because this is his story and he doesn't want to be found. He never did and I'm going to honour that. All you need to know is that he was a teacher in this little high school some place in America and now he's not. Anyway, my name is Mike Bail and my one true passion is music. I love songs and composing them and just the sound of it all. All through high school I've had the same music teacher and she was great. She gave you choice in what you could do and then let you get on with it and she was fun. One time we just listened to music for the whole lesson and it was great, but at the end of the year she left to go live with her sister in Ohio. She's still a music teacher just in a different school. That's what happens though.You get used to something good then it changes. That's what this story is about I guess. One person making a lot of changes. I suppose I should start with the first day back. Music at the end of the day with the new teacher. I walked in, went to my usual seat, waited for Jess, she's the girl I sit next to. I like Jess, not in a "let's go out"kinda way but in the way you like someone you've known your whole life, even though we only met four years ago. Jess is a beautiful girl with long dark brown hair and gorgeous green eyes that made you feel that type of happy you can't find yourself. Anyway the teacher showed up like ten minutes late but when he finally showed up, he showed up. He walked into the class with the type of confidence that new teachers don't have on any day, never mind their first day. And the first words he ever said were with such confidence.
'What the hell are you all doing? This is music go, play instruments or just listen to junk, go, go!'
And I just sat there as everyone else slowly and awkwardly got up and filed into there own little social bundles which by the way ,I do not have.
He spoke with an English voice so obviously the class ass-holes were gonna say something, which they did.
'Hey, where's your tea and horse and carriage, huh?'
And that was followed by his group of brain dead sheep who all had the same hair, jackets and cigarettes giving out the most ridiculous impressions and the most obnoxious laughs ever. The teacher stood up and without a word made the whole group turn on each other. He just looked at his fake brand of shoes which he "paid like fifty dollars for" and giggled.
'What's so funny, huh? What's so funny'
He was getting so stressed and then the whole group started to point out the fake shoes, hoodies and hats they all had and it was spectacular. He sat back down and got to work with some big file and I did what I always do. I sat, I watched the room and heard the music. As each group, witch I don't have to explain to you as you probably know them all, sit and do nothing I do the same but with bad thoughts. I've had depression for three years now and it doesn't get much better than when I get to just sit and listen to music.
At the end of class I always meet Jess and we walk home together, but not that day. No, that day was when it all started and I don't mean school I mean him. The new music teacher, over the next year he would change lives, so many lives. No one could see it coming, it just happened. At the end of class I waited for Jess to walk out after me but the teacher called her back. She had never got in trouble ever so this was crazy. I walked home alone that day and I didn't like it. Not one bit.
The next day as I waited at my locker for Jess to come and meet me, which she always does, I got a text. It was from her. "sorry can't meet today, hope that's ok x"
I texted back.
"Yeah that's fine, call me later?"
There was no reply for the rest of the day. At lunch I always met with Matt. He was my only other friend apart from Jess. I'm ok with telling you this because I know you'll never find me or even come looking. Matt was short and kinda scrawny but he was smart as hell. We sat outside and spoke about music and tv and it was good. I knew Matt all of my life and he's a great guy. So lunch ended and I was was alone in class but the good news was it was the only day I didn't have music. Matt isn't in my music class, he's in my maths though. The teacher always picks on Matt even though she knows he has social anxiety. I would describe her to you but just picture a mean old Miss math teacher, it'll be quicker.
Wednesday came and so did music. It was just before lunch so I was starving. The teacher walked in on time that day and just said "go!" So we did. I got picked on quite a bit in high school but the teachers never noticed and I didn't bring it up so it went unnoticed. That day the group of sheep led by Greg were acting as usual. Greg was fat and an ass, you can imagine the type.They started throwing pencils at me and shouting "freak" ,which I will explain later, he then decided to kick it up a notch and throw a ruler at me like a knife. Usually he'd miss but sometimes it would hit me right in the head and sting for a while as they laughed. Something was different that day though. It didn't hit me but I never saw it pass my head. I had just realised that the class had gone silent and stood next to me was the teacher. He was tall with short black hair. He wore a brown suit, dark blue shirt and a black tie. Oh and the nicest black shoes I had ever seen. He stood there with a calm look on his face. In one hand a cup of coffee, in the other, the ruler that Greg threw at me. He then spoke with the calmest voice I have ever heard.
'My name is mister Milo Wills, I am your new music teacher and there will be no arses in this class, understood?'
He repeated, this time with anger and force
'Understood?'
The whole class replied simultaneously
'Yes'
In the most miserable tone possible. It was amazing to see him do this. He stood, he spoke, he sat back down and it just happened. He silenced the room just by catching that ruler it it was mesmerising. The end of class came and once again Jess stayed behind. It felt weird and I could feel my mind slipping back the way but it was all stopped when I saw Matt. He was trying to hide a nose bleed. That was given to him by Greg.
'Was it him?'
I repeated myself.
'Was it him!'
I wasn't asking I was preparing.he nodded.
'Please don't, not again'
I was already half way through the music corridor.
I saw Greg and his gang, that's when everything went black. This had happened before and I will explain this all later but basically I was super messed up, and I still kind of am. When things came back and I could see again Greg was lying on the ground, bleeding from his mouth. It was my fault. His gang had left, running from me. The music teacher, the new one, was standing there grabbing my wrist. As my fist dripped with blood, he stared at me.
'Leave, now'
Greg ran faster than I've ever seen anyone in this whole school, ever.
'I've been helping your dear friend Jess these past two days with a few "issues"'
He made that word very clear
'clearly I need to help you too'
We both let out a small laugh
This was the start of it. This was the start of mental health club every Wednesday after school.
I went home that night, walked up to my room and let time throw me into sleep knowing that things were gonna change. Maybe even for the better. I went to it every week and things did get better for a while. It was good. It was good.