Hannah
The school looks more like a palace from the outside , there is a parking at the entryway , a green lawn at the sides and a big statue of an old man holding a bunch of books greets the incomings , staring at them while everyone else ignores it . The entrance is crowded mostly by cars , I am seemingly the only student who walked into school without a vehicle . Then I noticed it . The look on their faces when they caught sight of me , they eye me from head to toe , some of them don't give attention to me but others do , I find it hard to contain myself from punching them right on their mocking faces , but I made it inside the school without starting a fight , the hallway was more crowded than the entrance and louder too . I keep bumping into students until I finally make it to the principal office . I knock on the door and go in . He asks me to take a seat then starts blabbing about this school's educational system quality .
All I am able to focus about is his Afro black hair in a buzz cut , his sweaty face giving a gleam to his brown skin and how tight his tie is wrapped around his neck .
« Are we being clear here , Miss Floris ? »
I look up at his scowling face , then nod calmly as I try to smile politely .
Next I head to the school counsellor to get my schedule and my locker number . After being done with that too , and realising that my first period class is philosophy , I groan and head to my locker to put my stuff there . I am a math and physics person , not a literature or philosophy one , although I enjoy deep thoughts and historical stories with meaning , instead of love stories meant for simple minds to get lost in the fake wonders of finding a true love and a happy ending someday .
The hallway is still full , everyone around minding their own business , however I can sense pairs of eyes on me as I walk around , like I am a new animal in a circus .
I ignore those stares the way I was ignored by justice and fairness all this time and continue towards my locker . A bunch of boys are hanging out nearby , talking and laughing loudly it hurts my ears to stand near them .
I place my stuff in the locker ignoring the fumble going on around me until one of the guys stands near me . I don't avert an ounce of my attention towards him as I keep gathering my stuff .
I never was a bully yet I never was bullied either . I know how to put everyone in their places . Tough times taught me tough shit to survive .
At least I got out with that .
« Someone borrowed their clothes from their grandma . » The guy who approached me with a boyish smirk and hazel eyes along with blond strains of hair , lets out a snort as he finishes his joke and turns to laugh with his pals .
I am aware that my choice of clothing is not wise , which is why I wish there was a uniform code in this school . But then it is a private school for conceited kids who like to show off with all the prosperity they own . I keep arranging my books in my locker not giving him a slight hint of annoyance , not that I am .
Typical popular boys are in every school , that won't make him the first to deal with .
« Looks like she's trying to play hard to get , this one . » One of his dumb friends speaks .
« Oh let her . We'll see how long she lasts . It will be fun , right granny ? »
I close the locker and walk away before I plant my fist in their faces . I promised mom I will try to be as composed as possible and not pick out a fight , not that I do it with no reason but she is trying hard to be careful about everything new going on in our life . He better not push my buttons further though .
The doorbell rang and students reluctantly started scattering to their classes . I do the same , heading upstairs for a boring first period of philosophy .
A woman is cleaning the hallway the students managed to make dirty again . She looks at me and sigh as I stand at the top of the stairs , probably expecting to walk on her effort of cleaning and making her forced to start over again . I don't . I wait for her to finish but she narrows her eyes at me .
« You need something miss ? »
« No . I will just wait for you to finish before walking in . » I reply .
Her brows furrow and she eyes me from head to toe with a slightly annoyed expression . « You can't be late for class . »
« I won't be . » I will be but I don't care . I will eventually get there , the when has no importance .
She ignores me as she finishes her cleaning then I wait some few more minutes after her disappearance for the floor to dry before heading to the class . I take a deep breath before knocking on the door , expecting to be sent to the principal's office for being late but hoping for a different outcome .
A deep familiar voice calls for me to come in .
Huh ? That is weird .
I open the door and freeze .
No I actually melt , or wish I did .
The man I sat on his lap just this morning is standing next to the whiteboard , arms crossed as he eyes me with an indiscernible expression . At least his is indiscernible , mine must be one of a person running away from an asylum .
My lips part , but no word comes out .
He's my teacher ?
But most importantly , did I sit on my teacher's lap just this very morning ?
Shoot me right now .
Maybe I could use the pottery class to meld a new brain for myself since this one doesn't seem to function properly anymore , or at least not in this man's presence .
« You're in this class , Miss ? » He asks in a calm , composed tone with a hint of disturbance . The students around are quiet , probably enjoying having some minutes robbed out to shorten the class period . I tighten my grip on the door handle as I nod .
« Yes . » I reply back , looking down at my feet . I am not embarrassed , well maybe a little . But mostly because of his previous cocky attitude towards me . If anyone knows about that ...
« Your name ? »
The bastard will get what he wanted after all . My eyes narrow as my gaze meets his .
« Hannah Floris . »
Recognition seems to floods his mind . Didn't know my name was famous . He nods and walks over leaning on his desk .
« The new student ? You're late though . »
I resist the urge to roll my eyes , but before I can speak he interrupts me .
« I will disregard this today , since you're new and it's the first day . But I expect a more disciplined behavior in the future as long as you're in my class . »
I stare at his brown eyes framed with the pair of nerdy glasses he is wearing , then force nod again as I purse my lips . If he expects me to thank him for disregarding my indisciplined behavior , he could as well expect flying cats to come inside from the window .
He looks me up and down so quickly it's almost unnoticeable , his jaw flexes as he straightens up to his full height , then signs for me to come in . I swallow seeing his hand extended towards the tables , a big one with calloused fingers . Since when hands became ... interesting ?
I take a seat at the very back , not willing to deal with any of my classmates or my teacher . I don't want to be near him , it makes me nervous and I hate being nervous . In fact I don't get nervous usually , not easily at least but this man makes me feel this way , especially after what happened earlier in the coffee shop .
« Since everyone is settled , I want you to take your books that I hope you read this summer . » He says in a very authoritative tone as he looks at everyone . I grab the book I was barely able to read one page from. I never was a fan of reading or imagining , that was a very bad idea for me , for it would only raise my hopes high enough to crush me under their weight . So I always kept myself realistic , never optimistic no , being unhopeful was never optimistic . However that demeanor saved me from disappointments .
« First before we start , can anyone of you tell me who Fyodor Dostoevsky is ? » He asks and silence takes over the place . Before a girl raises her hand just as his eyes clashed with mine , probably intending to make me answer his question . I should've come more prepared for this . If it were a math or physics class , would have been that girl who is answering proudly right now .
I open the book , Crime and Punishment , reluctantly and try to listen to the girl giving a full biography of the philosopher , all while feeling a pair of eyes on me , eyes that should be focused on the girl trying hard to show off her efforts , I don't meet his gaze and instead look at the whiteboard behind him , where his name is written in a very fine handwriting , like that of some curse in the walls of a cave , and I have a bad feeling that my brain became the curse's new cave with his name engraved in it .
Kane Oliver .