*Thanks for all of the feedback, guys! I hope you’ll enjoy the latest installment, and a HUGE thanks for your continued interest.*
The chattering of voices surrounded Claudia as she entered the packed corridor. Peals of laughter echoed against the pale yellow walls, and lockers slammed shut as students prepared for their first class of the day. Packed with warm bodies, the school’s hallway was brimming with the kind of restless energy that came along with beginning a new semester.
With her schedule still in hand, Claudia wandered the halls slowly, eyeing the numbers on the classroom doors as she passed each one of them by. Eventually she reached a point where the hallway deviated, and after deciding to turn right, she made her way past a large bulletin board and towards a row of classrooms that were situated on the left side of the corridor.
It’s gotta be towards the end of the hall, she thought. But as she noticed that the numbers were getting smaller, rather than larger, she turned around and made her way towards the other corridor. Just as she was passing a row of brightly painted lockers, the first bell rang, and as students rushed past her to reach their classrooms in time, she walked quicker and with more purpose than before.
Feeling as if she were a fish going against a powerful current, she bumped shoulders and nudged past droves of people. So lost in the sea of bodies that surrounded her, Claudia was unable to make out the numbers on the classroom doors. This was when she realized that she was just being pushed along, and needing a moment to gather her thoughts, she forced her way out of the crowd and towards a trophy display case.
With as much casualness as she could muster, Claudia leaned against the glass enclosure, watching as a group of color coordinated girls filed into a classroom that was located a few feet away from her. She also observed a pair of boys who were far too baby-faced and timid looking to be anything except freshmen, as well as a few athletically built guys who were wearing sweatshirts that were emblazoned with the words, ‘Browning Indians.’
Football players, was the thought that passed through her head as she eyed them, and with unconcealed interest, she admired their broad shoulders.
It wasn’t until final bell that the bodies surrounding her finally began to thin out, and with the soles of her boots squeaking against the freshly buffed floors of the corridor, she briskly made her way down the hall.
On reaching a classroom marked 205, she noticed that the door was already shut, so she clasped her palm around the handle and slowly pressed down on it. From the very first step that she took into the room, all eyes turned to stare at her. Only one face out of the twenty-five that were present, however, offered her a friendly smile.
“Hi, I’m Ms. Mojika,” said a woman with a jaw length bob and deep-set eyes. “And you are?”
“Claudia Strauss.”
“Welcome to English Literature, Claudia. Take a seat and we’ll get you started with some handouts.”
With everyone in the class intently watching her, Claudia walked quickly through the row of desks, eyes darting from left to right as she sought out an empty chair. Each student that she passed turned their head to watch her, and if not for the ticking of the wall clock that was positioned above the chalkboard, the stillness would have been deafening. Finally she located a seat in the very last row, but as she came to a stop right next to it, a boy in an oversized sweatshirt and buzz cut spoke up.
“Sorry. Seat’s taken.”
Noting that there was a pink backpack in the seat to indicate that the desk had already been claimed, Claudia made her way to another open seat, which happened to be in the very first row. As she sat down, the teacher placed a few handouts on her desk, then clasped her hands together and began to speak.
“Show of hands. How many of you are familiar with Sherman Alexie?”
Except for Claudia, all of the students in the class raised their hand.
“Claudia, you’re the only one.” A soft smile graced Ms. Mojika’s full lips. “We’ll have to change that.”
Claudia’s mouth tugged upward in response to her teacher’s statement, but she said nothing in response.
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is the book we’ll be reading,” Ms. Mojika said as she held up the piece of literature. “It’s a fantastic novel, and you’ll not only be required to write an essay on it, but also give an oral presentation outlining the parts of the book that you feel most strongly about.”
Collective groans were heard throughout the classroom, but before the soft chattering could get out of hand, Ms. Mojika continued to talk.
“If public speaking Isn’t your thing, I strongly suggest you practice at home in front of family or friends, because you will be required to give a total of six oral presentations this semester.”
“Six?” A girl with shoulder length hair and glittery eyeshadow conveyed her disappointment through the tone of her voice. “Why escort so many, Ms. Mojika?”
“Because it increases your self-confidence. It also teaches you to listen more effectively and builds your skill at verbal communication.” She placed the Sherman Alexie book down on her desk, then leaned against it while casually crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“Since this is the first day of class, I want you each to stand up and tell the class a little about yourself. And include something unique, so we can get to know you better.” A brief pause preceded her next words. “Would anyone like to volunteer to go first, or will I have to choose a victim?”
A few coughs, along with the tick, tick, tick, of the classroom wall clock could be heard, but not one of the twenty-four students spoke up.
“Alright,” said Ms. Mojika. “Looks like I’ll have to do the choosing.” She retrieved the attendance sheet from the surface of her desk, and after taking a few moments to study it, finally called out a name.
“Tristan Whitefeather.”
Stunned to hear the familiar name, Claudia turned to look behind her, and on noticing the leanly built form that sat hunched over a desk in the corner of the very last row, she suddenly realized why she had failed to notice that he was in attendance upon her arrival in the classroom.
Tristans face, which was obscured by a large black hoodie, was slowly revealed as he pushed it off. He rose to his feet slowly, and after brushing a strand of hair away from his eyes, he lifted his gaze so that it was focused only on the teacher.
“I’m Tristan,” he mumbled in an impressively deep voice. “I like painting, drawing, writing poetry…” He allowed his gaze to drop for a few moments before finally sweeping it across the numerous faces that were staring at him. “Not much else to say, I guess.”
“Tell us something unique about yourself,” Ms. Mojika urged. “Something that might surprise people.”
“Um, I keep a journal of experiences…weird things that have happened to me since I was a kid.”
“What kind of experiences, Tristan?” The dark haired teacher leaned forward just slightly to indicate her interest in hearing more.
“Just stuff. Unusual things, you know?” As if suddenly realizing that he’d exposed a bit too much of his private life, he abruptly sat down and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Thank you for sharing, Tristan.” A soft smile crossed Ms. Mojika’s face before she averted her gaze to the students that sat before her, many of whom were either whispering or snickering while eyeing Tristan with a steady gaze. “Who’s next?”
Hoping like hell that she wouldn’t be called on, Claudia pinned her gaze on the wall clock, as if hoping that by the power of her stare, time would be forced to pass quicker. Unsurprisingly, this did not work. It did, however, manage to make her anxious by realizing just how little time had elapsed since her arrival in the classroom.
“How about you, Claudia?” Ms. Mojika asked. “Stand up and tell us a bit about yourself.”
She did stand, and after positioning her body so that she could look at the students who sat in the rows behind her, she began to speak.
“I’m Claudia. I was born and raised in Michigan, but my mom moved us out here because her friend got her a job at the community hospital. I love listening to music and reading crime novels…” As her voice drifted off, she struggled to think of something else to say. “I don’t really think it’s all that unique, but I’m pretty good at sewing and I make a lot of my own clothes.”
“Did you make that dress you have on?” Ms. Mojika asked.
“No, this is my mom’s. I raided it from her closet.”
The snickers that followed her words were like sandpaper against Claudia’s ears, and with cheeks that burned, she sat back down and unconsciously tugged at one of her curly strands.
“Your mother has good taste,” the instructor said while offering Claudia one of her soft smiles. “I do look forward to seeing some of your own creations, though.”
Claudia gave a small nod in response, and as Ms. Mojika picked up the attendance sheet and called off another name, she did her best to ignore the muted chatter of her fellow classmates.
* * * *
After exiting the food line with a tray of chicken fingers, mac and cheese, and a can of Dr. Pepper, Claudia scanned the long cafeteria tables for an empty space which could accommodate her. As was customary in every high school across the country, students were segregated into various groups. Situated next to a window at a table that was filled with open textbooks and three-ring binders, were what Claudia guessed were the smart kids. Or nerds, as they were more popularly referred to.
In the center of the cafeteria were a group of boisterous football players, and towards the back was a cluster of students who were all dressed in baggy jeans and oversized T-shirts which were emblazoned with decorative graffiti and logos of hip hop artists.
She also noticed a group escort bayan of kids who seemed to be a cross between skaters and emos, as well as an assemblage of freshman who were huddled over their schedules. The rest of the cafeteria consisted of those who did not fit into any particular group, and as she continued to scout out an available seat, she came to realize that a number of eyes were intently watching as she wove her way through the labyrinth of tables.
She would have continued along if not for the feel of her Dr. Pepper rolling off of her plastic tray, and although she did her best to stop it, it frustratingly managed to evade her grasp. As soon as it hit the ground, the can of soda exploded, spraying brown, foamy liquid in all directions.
From somewhere in the cafeteria, loud applause ensued, and as a few like-minded others began to join in, Claudia’s cheeks went hot with embarrassment. Hoots and whistles drifted from the table where the jocks were sitting, along with a few chuckles that left her wishing she could disappear.
Just as annoyed as she was embarrassed, Claudia bent down to sop up the liquid that was trickling from the busted soda can. She was soon joined by a janitor that was carrying a mop, and after being waved away so that he could take care of it, she lifted her tray from the floor and headed for a partially empty table.
With as much dignity as she could muster, Claudia took a seat. She began nibbling at her rubbery chicken fingers, but as she grabbed a fork and stuck it into her macaroni and cheese, a voice further down the table suddenly spoke up.
“I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.”
Turning her head to see who had given her the warning, Claudia saw that the voice belonged to a girl with a skull print scarf and a silver hoop that adorned her left nostril. With the exception of her bangs which were dyed bright red, the rest of her hair was inky black, and worn in a choppy, shoulder length style.
“Why not?” Claudia asked.
“The last time they served mac and cheese, I got the runs.” She silently studied Claudia for a few moments before adding, “I’m just saying, you might want to avoid it.”
“It does look a little suspect.” Claudia stuck her fork into the clump of pasta squiggles and cheese, causing it to jiggle in the process.
Perhaps noting the friendly tone of her voice, the girl lifted her tray and stood up, then took the seat that was located directly across from Claudia.
“What’s your name?”
“Claudia. What’s yours?”
“Kimi.” Her gaze swooped downward before once again coming to rest on Claudia’s face. “I like your dress.”
“Thanks.” Claudia smiled before adding, “Your hair is really cool. The cut, the color…wish I could do something like that with mine.”
“Why? You already have awesome hair.”
Claudia shrugged. “I’ve had curly hair all my life. I’m bored with it.”
“But you can wear it curly or straight. That’s the great thing about having natural curls.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Noting the unique bracelets that encircled Kimi’s wrists, Claudia considered asking if they were handmade. But before she could, someone slid into the seat beside her. She barely had time to notice that someone was Lucas, and after placing a can of Dr. Pepper next to her plastic food tray, he gave her one of his charming smiles.
“Hey, lost girl. I thought you might be thirsty, so I got you a new one.”
“Thanks.” Both surprised and flattered that he’d gone through the trouble of purchasing her a replacement, she returned his smile with one of her own.
“No problem.” He studied her face for a few moments before offering some more words. “So, how’s your day coming along so far?”
“You mean aside from the fact that I just embarrassed myself in front of half the school by destroying a can of soda?” She briefly paused before sarcastically saying, “Great.”
He gently chuckled. “It could have been worse.”
“How?”
A shrug preceded his words. “I don’t know. It’s just always good to look on the bright side.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Claudia said, and with eagerness, popped open the tab to her soda and took a long drink.
“Anyways, I better get back to my table,” Lucas said as he rose to his feet. “Catch you later, lost girl.”
As soon as he was gone, Kimi leaned across the table and with eyes pinned intently on Claudia’s face, she asked, “You like Lucas?”
“Not really.”
“Don’t lie. You totally do.”
A wide smile crossed Claudia’s lips. “Maybe just a little.”
“Be careful. He’s a cherry picker.”
“A what?”
“Cherry picker. You don’t know what that is?”
Claudia shook her head.
“A guy who goes after virgins.”
Claudia’s smile vanished. “Oh.”
“You are a virgin, right?” Kimi asked.
“Yeah.”
She nodded before saying, “I thought so.”
Needing some time to process this information about Lucas, Claudia allowed a moment of silence to pass before posing a question. “You say bayan escort he goes after virgins. But how does he know who’s a virgin and who’s not?”
“I don’t know, I guess he can sniff them out or something.”
A light snort escaped Claudia’s nostrils.
“Seriously, though,” Kimi said. “If you’re gonna give it up, don’t let it be with Lucas.”
“He has a girlfriend, anyways. So it’s not like anything could ever happen between us.”
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“I thought he did.”
“Nope.”
“Earlier this morning, I saw him hanging out with this girl. And she acted like they were together, so I just figured that they were in a relationship.”
“Oh, you mean Misty?” She released a light scoff. “She’s not his girlfriend. More like his fuck buddy, if anything at all.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s pretty obvious just by watching them interact.”
“Not trying to be nosy or anything, but have you slept with him?”
“Hell no. He’s a dog.”
“He seems pretty nice to me.”
“Sure, he’s nice. But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a total mimbo.”
Unable to resist, Claudia turned her head to scan the rows of tables that were situated behind her. It took a few moments before she finally spotted the area where Lucas was sitting, and as her gaze came to rest on him, she noticed him chatting with a tall girl who had mile-long legs that were clad in a pair of skin tight jeans.
“I don’t know why he’s talking to her,” Kimi said while following Claudia’s line of sight. “She is *definitely* not a virgin.”
Although she was trying her best not to stare, Claudia found it nearly impossible to tear her eyes away from Lucas as he flirted with the girl. She found herself curious as to what they were talking about, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she watched the girl reach out to place her palm on his shoulder.
“By the way, why does he call you lost girl?”
Claudia’s thoughts were broken at the sound of Kimi’s voice, and as she recalled how her namesake came to be, a smile curled her lips. “Well, It’s kind of a funny story.”
“Go ahead.” Kimi leaned in closer, but before she could indulge herself in the anecdote that Claudia was prepared to tell, a boy with a rail thin frame and shoulder length hair that was held back in a ponytail slid into the seat beside her.
Rather than speak, he began to use his hands and fingers to sign out the words that he was unable to voice. Kimi immediately responded by finger spelling a few words of her own, and along with animated facial expressions, fluidly expressed her thoughts to the ponytailed boy that was sitting beside her.
Without a second thought, Claudia joined in, maneuvering her hands and fingers with an admirable eloquence that immediately caught the attention of both Kimi and her male friend. Clearly in awe, they both watched as she continued to sign, until Kimi finally began to respond with hand gestures of her own.
[You know how to sign?]
[Learned when I was two years old,] Claudia conveyed with a gesture of her hands.
[Wow, that’s awesome.] With palms facing away from her and a thumb on her chest, Kimi enthusiastically waved her other four fingers. [Your parents taught you?]
[My dad. He was born deaf.]
[So was my brother, Tyler.] She gestured towards the boy that was sitting beside her before continuing to sign. [He’s a pipsqueak freshman, but I still love him.]
[Shut up, Kimi.] Tyler playfully elbowed her, then rested his gaze on Claudia while signing his next string of words. [I am a freshman, but I’m not a pipsqueak. Caught a twenty pound salmon the other week in Glacier Park.]
[Stop lying, Tyler.] A large grin crossed Kimi’s face. [That salmon was fifteen pounds, not twenty.]
[Close enough.]
She rolled her eyes, lightly smirking as she turned her gaze back on Claudia. [He loves to exaggerate.]
A smile crossed Claudia’s face and she started to sign a response, but before she could finish, the bell rang. They all stood from the table and emptied the uneaten food from their plastic trays, then exited the cafeteria before resuming their silent conversation.
[What’s your next class?] Kimi signed.
[Biology. You?]
[Calculus.]
[And after that?]
[History.]
A disappointed look crossed Claudia’s face. [Guess we don’t have any classes together.]
[Bummer.] With both hands positioned in front of her face, she maneuvered her fingers so that it appeared as if tears were falling down her cheeks.
A soft chuckle left Claudia’s lips at the exaggerated sad face that Kimi made, and in return she signed back, [It’s cool. We can always hang out after school.]
[Definitely.]
With Tyler still in tow, the two girls continued walking until they reached Kimi’s Biology class, and after exchanging numbers so they could text each other afterschool, they said their goodbyes and headed off in opposite directions.
As soon as she reached her locker, Claudia spun the dial on her combination lock, then gave it a tug to dislodge the shackle mechanism. Yet instead of clicking open, it remained securely fastened, forcing her to manipulate the dial once more.