The Boy in the Woods (2014 Wattys Winner, Wattpad Version)

Chapter 14 - School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)

"Come on, Jess.  We've got English next," Janet said.  All the students had risen by now and Jess was too short to see over the ones in front of her.  Feeling disappointed, she followed Janet out of the room. 

After a quick look at the class schedule on her index card, Janet set off down the hallway to find their next classroom.  When they entered, a short middle aged woman in a dark blue dress was writing on the black board.  Jess followed Janet to a seat in the middle of the room again.  This time, she kept her eyes glued on the doorway, hoping to see Marty, but when the bell rang and the teacher closed the door, she knew he wasn't in this class with her.

"Quiet everyone," she commanded as she walked to the front of her desk, and the students stopped talking and faced forward.  "I'm Mrs. Landers and this is English I.  We'll start with attendance and then I'll discuss my expectations for this class."  She picked up a sheet of paper and adjusted her reading glasses.

"Sharon Allen."

"Here."  Jess didn't bother turning to find her.

"Jessica – Jessica Blackwell?"  Jess's heart sank seeing the shocked look in Mrs. Landers's eyes.

"Here," she said, while a good number of students turned to stare at her.  The ones who'd been in her homeroom didn't bother.

"Are you one of the Blackwell's of Blackwell Iron and Mining?" Mrs. Landers asked breathlessly.

"Yes, ma'am," Jess replied, barely able to meet the woman's eyes.  "My uncle owns the company."

"Oh," she said, nearly staggering back against her desk as if she needed help standing.  She focused on the sheet of paper, her hand trembling slightly and then cleared her throat before she continued reading names. 

Seeing her so rattled, Jess wondered if she'd had a run in with Uncle Jonathon while Doug was in her class.  Did all the teachers in the school hate him or fear him?  She concentrated on her clasped hands on her desk to avoid looking at the teacher, and began to wonder if staying home with a tutor would have been better after all.  She'd thought once she left home, she'd finally have some freedom, but it was clear there was no escaping her uncle's looming shadow.

When the bell rang, she felt nervous, dreading what her next teacher's reaction was going to be, but then Janet said, "Social studies is next," and relief washed through her.  At least Mr. Miller already knew she was in his class.  Picking up her textbook and a battered copy of Romeo and Juliet, she walked with Janet back to their homeroom. 

Once they sat in the same seats they'd sat in before, she watched the door with hope, and then she slumped with relief.  He was there.  This time Marty's brown eyes came up and held hers for a breathless moment before he turned and headed to the back of the room.  She watched him for as long as she dared without being obvious.  He'd washed his battered jeans, but they still showed smudges of grime.  She'd never seen his striped t-shirt before.  It was too big on him, but at least it wasn't as tattered as the ones he'd worn over the summer.

As soon as the bell rang, Mr. Miller began taking attendance.  Jess's name was the first one and she was grateful to be spared any reaction.  Nor by did any of the students look at her.  Word seemed to have reached everyone that Doug's cousin was now attending school with them.  Then he said Marty's name and Jess smiled, hearing his familiar voice again.  It seemed class was over far too quickly.  When she stood, she tried to find Marty in the back of the room, but wasn't quick enough to beat the taller students who stood between them. 

"Come on, Jess," Janet said.  "We've got to find Patty so she can take you to P.E."

"Okay," Jess said dispiritedly, following her out.