Learning How to Count

Chapter Two

"You're going to have to find your own way home from practice again tonight. I'm going to see a movie with friends," I say to Darren, taking my keys from the ignition and opening the door.

"You have friends?"

"Hilarious. Ever thought of becoming a comedian some day? You'd be great," I say over my shoulder.

I start jogging to the front doors of the building, pulling my phone out of my back pocket to check the time. 8:08.

Thank God Strauss's classroom is on the first floor and not the second.

I swing the door open and run down the hallway. There are a couple of stragglers, but most everyone is sitting in their classrooms, waiting for the bell to ring signaling the beginning of the period. I turn the corner and run right into someone standing at the cork-board pinning up papers.

"Sugar!" I yell as I fall on my back. The paper flyers the person was holding are raining down all around me, and it feels like I have been caught in the middle of a neon hurricane.

"Shit. Are you alright, Lina?" I hear the guy I ran into ask. I take a deep breath and stare up at the ceiling tiles.

"I'd be better if I wasn't late to class now." I slowly sit up and look at the neon mess on the floor. The bell rings and I hear the teachers begin to shut the classroom doors.

You have got to be kidding me.

"I'm sorry, Ol. I wasn't looking. I was on my way to Strauss's class, and I've already been late twice this week," I say. I shift onto my knees and begin gathering some of the scattered flyers. I look down at the papers in my hand and see that they are for the auditions for the musical. Our school has a good music department, which I'm thankful for, and they always have a musical and multiple plays throughout the year. Oliver is usually the star of the show, and he is amazing on the stage. I could watch him up there all day.  

"Oh, man. I'd walk you to Strauss's but he would probably kill me just for interrupting his class. Good luck though, Lina," Oliver says.

"Yeah, thanks." I hand the stack of papers to Oliver and stand up. "So, what are you guys doing for the musical this year?"

"Lina, you know I can't tell you what it is. Even if I knew what it was, I wouldn't tell you," Oliver replies. The musical is always kept a secret until after the auditions are held and the cast is selected. Supposedly, it ensures that students that are actually passionate about acting will be in the musical, instead of those who are just there because of the title. It works out well for the school though--there hasn't been one musical that hasn't sold out in years, and all of them have been amazing. I usually work in the lighting booth, so I get to watch all the plays for free. 

"Have you thought about auditioning this year? I know you could do great, and you have an amazing voice." Oliver looks at me with a grin on his face and a hopeful glint in his eyes. 

"Whatever, Oliver. I have a mediocre voice at best, and you know I don't like hundreds of people looking at me. I'm also terrible at acting. There's not a chance I would ever get a part in a musical. I think I'll just stay in my little light booth and watch you," I reply.

"I still think that you should audition." 

"I'll think about it," I tell him, even though I will never audition. "Sorry again for running into you. Literally. I'll see you in gym," I say, making my way down to my class.

"See ya, Lina."

I walk down the hallway and stop in front of Strauss's door. Taking a deep breath and preparing for the detention slip, I grab the handle and slowly push the door open. Everyone turns my way.

"Ah, Miss Elina. It is so nice of you to join us this morning. Do you have a late slip?" Strauss asks, stopping in the middle of the formula he was writing on the board.

"No, Mr. Strauss. I don't have a late slip. I got to school on time, but as I was walking to class I ran into Oliver in the hallway and fell and sent his flyers falling all over the place an-"

"That's enough, Elina. You know the rules. No late slip means detention after school with me until 3:30. I will see you there."

"Yes, Mr. Strauss." I let go of the door handle and make my way to my desk on the other side of the classroom. Sitting down I unzip my book bag and take out my math packet and a pencil. I flip to today's lesson and start writing the formula on the board at the top of my paper.

"Alright class. Today's lesson will be on the quadratic formula. You will have a quiz in two days on memorization of this formula and how to use it. I suggest you begin studying tonight," Strauss says, walking to the projector to begin the lesson.

I look out the window and see that it has started to sprinkle outside. Looking back up to the board, I begin to scribble down the the answers to the example problems. I glance over to the clock and count the minutes until the class ends. Thirty-two.

This is going to be one long day.