“So what are you doing after the hospital?” Dana asked.
“Um..nothing. I guess just going home,” Rachel answered.
“Want to come out with us. We are going to Monday Madness at the movies tonight. It’s half price tickets and free pop corn!” Dana said.
“Aw, I’d love to!” Rachel answered. “Actually. I better lay low tonight. I’m kind of on probation with my dad. If I do anything he doesn’t like then I’m out he said.”
“Yikes!” Amy said.
“Ok, well think about it. If you change your mind that’s where we will be!” Penny added.
RING RING
Lunch was over and Rachel had to get to her sixth period class. She checked her schedule and then headed to the second floor again for her math class. On her way up the stairs her stomach began to rumble and her head began to spin. She grabbed onto the railing and held tightly trying not to fall over. She fell increasingly dizzy as she went up the steps one by one. She was sweating and out of breath, she couldn’t seem to catch her breath either. She didn’t know what was happening to her. She’d never had a panic attack, and figured that’s what was going on. Her stomach made loud rumbling noises as she stood there on the steps. The kids walking by stopped and stared at her as if she were some foreign being. She wished she could pull herself together but she couldn’t. She didn’t know what to do.
She quickly ran back down the stairs and outside. Her eyes began seeing double as she tried to focus on the trees outside. She hoped the fresh air would help but it wasn’t helping. It was making it worse. She had fleeting images of deer running through her mind. It was all too confusing for her. Then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it stopped.
She looked down at her body, and touched her face. She felt normal again. Her breathing slowed down and she was able to catch her breath. The rumbling of her stomach stopped, too. It was the strangest feeling.
She turned back around and walked back inside just as the second bell was ringing. She was late for yet another class. She ran back up the stairs and into her math classroom. The teacher stopped the class and said, “Excuse me, you’re late! Who are you anyway?”
Rachel stopped in her tracks and looked back at the teacher in horror, “I’m Rachel Wood.”
“Rachel Wood? You’re not in this class,” Mrs. Pepper said.
“I um..I just started today,” Rachel said.
“Are you new?” Mrs. Pepper asked.
“I guess you could say that,” Rachel answered.
“Well, take a seat in the back and don’t come late again!” Mrs. Pepper yelled.
She sat down in the only empty seat in the back of the classroom. She looked around to see who was in the class and was happy to see some familiar faces. She turned to her right and was happy to see Brian, sitting next to her. She looked at him and smiled and he smiled back. Her heart began to race with excitement.
“Hi!” Brian said. “Sorry you got yelled at. She’s a ball buster!”
“Yeah, apparently,” Rachel whispered back.
“No talking!” Mrs. Pepper said. “You two in the back be quiet or else I will separate you!”
Everyone in the class turned their heads and stared at Rachel and Brian. Her face got flush red as she was being reprimanded. She was mortified. She quickly turned to face the front of the classroom and took out her notebook and pencil. She had to at least pretend she was focusing on the class, even though all she could think about for some reason was Brian. She was elated that he spoke to her and smiled at her. It was her dream come true. She’d always liked Brian, but he never paid any attention to her before. She wondered if this would last or if it was a passing thing.
A few minutes later, Brian reached over and put a note down on her desk. She looked up at him and he motioned for her to open it. She unfolded the piece of paper and read it: Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
She couldn’t believe her eyes. She blinked and read it again, thinking she was seeing things.
Do you want to go to the movies tonight?
She looked over at Brian and shook her head yes. She couldn’t believe it. She was asked out by Brian and couldn’t have been happier. He smiled at her and then Rachel felt a hand come down hard on her desk.
“WHAT’S THIS?” Mrs. Pepper asked, picking up the note from Rachel’s desk.
Mrs. Pepper opened the note and read it out loud, “Do you want to go to the movies tonight? Do you want to go to the movies tonight?” she repeated.
Rachel looked at Brian whose face was bright red with embarrassment. The entire class started oohing and aahing in unison. Rachel’s face turned beat read as well. She couldn’t believe this was happening, and she hoped that Brian wouldn’t take back his invitation. She hoped that his friends wouldn’t make fun of him for asking her out.
“There’s no note passing in my class,” Mrs. Pepper said. “Both of you go to the principal!”
“What?” Brian asked. “Are you serious?”
“Don’t question me, young man. Go!” Mrs. Pepper said.
The two of them quietly got up from their desks, gathered their belongings and headed out of the classroom towards the principals office. Rachel felt scared. She’d never been sent to the principal before and she knew she’d get in trouble for this, both in school and at home. She knew her father would be pissed to find out she disrupted class and she feared he’d kick her out again. Her heart began to pound as they got to the bottom of the steps and were now on the first floor just steps away from his office. Until now the two hadn’t said a word to each other, but then Brian turned to her and said, “Don’t worry, Rach. It will be OK. I will cover for you.”
“It’s my first time going to Dr. Rundy’s office. I can’t believe my first day back and I’m already in trouble,” Rachel said.
“He’s not that bad really. I’ve been sent to his office a few times before and to tell you the truth, he’s not as scary as he appears to be!” Brian said.
“Really? I find him to be horrifying!” Rachel said, whispering as they got close to his office.
“Shh…” Brian said as the two stood outside of his office staring quietly at the large wooden door with a small glass window. Rachel began to panic as she stood there, waiting for Dr. Rundy to open the door. She surveyed the door as she stood there, and for some reason couldn’t take her eyes off the gold embossed plaque on his door, which read, Dr. R.W. Rundy. The sight of his name made her heart sink into her chest and her body temperature to rise.