Before entering the class I knew geography was going to be boring. My past experiences with Mr Bertser, the geography teacher, often revolved around him waffling on about something off topic, half the time not even the slightest bit related to geography. I got stuck in his class halfway through last year after the principal thought my work would improve. Spoiler alert - it didn't, I hate geography. I slouch into a chair in the back right corner, next to a smudged window. I know I'll probably end up staring out of it for the majority of my geography classes this year. Mr Bertser is already sorting through the mess of papers on his desk and mumbling curses to himself. Even if he manages to find the paper he's looking for, I doubt it's related to geography in the slightest. A small herd of 'popular' students trample through the door, talking loudly and plopping their asses in the chairs surrounding the back left corner, mostly with a total disregard for everyone around them, none of this is surprising though. A few stragglers dawdle in behind them, filling the last few chairs, resulting in most of them grumbling about not being able to sit with their friends. A student walking in catches my eye, her wavy auburn hair just below her shoulders standing out. I've seen her before, but she's dyed her hair since I saw her last. I know it's who I think it is because no one else at our school listens to anything other than rap, her My Chemical Romance wristband giving her away. She apologises to the teacher for being late and shuffles toward the seat in front of me. Before sitting down she gives me a shy smile and I smile back at her. I don't know her name but I do know that she slashes through all the stereotypes. I watch the mysterious girl sitting in front of me tuck her chair closer to her desk and adjust her books. She digs through her small, black, beaten up backpack and pulls out a laptop covered in band stickers. I notice an All Time Low sticker and smile to myself, maybe this girl and I are more alike than I thought. Mr Bertser scribbles notes all over the whiteboard at the front of the class, barely legibly. She runs her right hand through her hair and stares out the window, it seems we have yet another thing in common. Mr Bertser drones on about a boat race he won ten years ago, while I countdown the minutes left of class. After what feels like an eternity, the bell rings and everyone almost stampedes out of the room, Mr Bertser left talking to no one about the rivalry between the boating teams. The girl stuffs her belongings into her backpack and swings it over her right shoulder, moving her hair to the side. We walk out of the classroom, along with a small group of students that didn't join the stampede, the tragic excuse of a geography teacher still caught up in his tale. "I think he might be more suited to history or english." The girl says as we're all walking out, causing a few students to chuckle.
"Have to agree with that. That guy could talk about coal for hours, in fact he did last year." I reply. This comment wins me a few giggles, mostly girls who'll take any type of male interaction, I guess I'm now somewhat a part of that. I'm not the most popular guy here, although I have a few friends. I'm more of an observer, preferring to stick to the background unless I think of a witty or sarcastic comment.
"Sounds heavy. That was dumb, I apologise." She smiles at me, as the rest of the group runs down the corridor, probably in a hurry to watch the football team practise.
"It's nice to meet a fellow pun enthusiast every once in a while."
First chapter out 13th September 2020
