Rachel rummaged through her backpack, but her textbook was nowhere to be found. She knew she could get in trouble for not bringing it to class. It was a requirement to bring all textbooks to class daily, in every subject. She thought for a moment about where she could have left her book, and realized that she left it on the kitchen table as she ran out the door this morning.
She raised her hand and waited for Mr. Allen to see her.
“Yes, Rachel.”
“I um, forgot my textbook at home.”
“Come up here.”
Rachel slowly got out of her chair and walked up to the front of the classroom. She could feel everyone staring at her.
“Rachel, I’ve noticed that you haven’t really be focused in class, and now you’re forgetting your textbook. Can you tell me what’s going on?” Mr. Allen said in an authoritative voice.
Rachel looked at him, and then down at the floor. She was nervous to answer. After all, that was a loaded question, and she’d have to talk for hours to answer it.
“I was running late this morning. Things have been hectic for me, I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to have to make a phone call home, Rachel, but you need to prove to me that you are focused and present in class. All you reports from your old school are positive, but I’ve yet to see that girl come into my classroom. It’s as if your old teachers are writing about a different person. Now, I know you have it in you, just let me see it.”
Rachel felt awful. Mr. Allen was right; she used to be an A+ student with nothing bad on her record-- now she was a flighty, daydreaming student with a possible criminal record.
Rachel didn’t recognize the person she was becoming either. She hated being reprimanded by her teacher, and she vowed to herself that this would be the last time it happened.
“You’re right, Mr. Allen. Things have been hard since the move,” Rachel whispered to him, so the other kids couldn’t hear. “I’m trying to get my bearings and with this whole fight thing, it’s hard to focus. I will try harder, I promise.”
“OK, Rachel, I believe you. Thank you for being honest with me. I will lend you my book today. It’s the teacher’s edition, so it looks a little different than yours, but it’s all there. Chapter 11 starts on page 232,” Mr. Allen said as he handed her the book.
“Thank you.”
Mr. Allen gave Rachel a smile and then looked back down at his notebook. Rachel walked back to her seat, and saw kids’ faces looking up from their textbooks. She sat down and opened to page 232 and began to read.
When the bell rang, the loud sound of textbooks slamming shut and chair legs screeching filled the air. Rachel got up from her seat, packed up her bag and handed the borrowed book back to Mr. Allen.
“Thanks again,” she said.
“See you on Monday. Have a nice weekend, Rachel.”
As Rachel walked out of the classroom she heard Emily’s voice calling out for her.
“Rach! Wait up!”
Rachel turned around and saw Emily walking towards her.
“What’s up?” Rachel said.
“Nothing, just wanted to walk with you to your next class. These halls can be brutal!”
“Thanks, but I’ll be fine. You’re going the opposite direction anyway.”
“Ok, well I’ll see you at lunch then.”
“See ya!”
Rachel walked down the hall carrying her heavy backpack. She continued to hear the whispers, and feel the stares of kids as she passed by them in the hallways. When she turned the corner she saw the football team in their red, white and blue uniforms crowding around one another. Rachel continued walking, hoping that they wouldn’t see her. As she made her way closer she saw the number 80 and got nervous.
She had been wondering what she would say to Rob when she saw him, but she never thought she’d run into him today, in the hallway. Rob was supposed to be in her homeroom class, but hadn’t been there since the fight. She figured he stayed home to heal from his bruises, but here he was, in the flesh.
Rachel put her head down as she approached the football players. She didn’t want to get in the middle of anything or start something new. She was saying silent prayers, as she passed Rob, that he wouldn’t recognize her—but just as she got close to them she heard a loud voice say, “That’s her! I would remember that face anywhere.”
All the guys turned and looked directly at her. So much for her prayers; now the entire football team was staring her down. She didn’t know how this situation could get any worse.
“Hey, New Girl,” one guy shouted. “What’s your name?”
Rachel didn’t answer and kept on walking.
“Cat got your tongue?” another guy shouted.
“Look what you did.” Another guy yelled out.
At that moment she felt a tap on her shoulder, which made her jump.
“Hi Rachel,” a familiar voice said.
Rachel turned around to see who it was, and to her surprise, it was Rob, walking alone next to her.
“Rob. Hi. How are you doing?”
“I’ve been better, but I’ll be playing in tomorrow’s game, thank God.”
Rachel and Rob began to walk down the hall together silently. Awkwardly. Rachel couldn’t help but notice the big, fat elephant in the room. She had to break the silence.
“That’s great,” Rachel said with a smile. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened the other night. If that’s any consolation.”
“Yeah, where’s you boyfriend anyway?” Rob asked in a snide voice.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Rachel said firmly.
“What do you mean he’s not your boyfriend?” Rob looked surprised. “Isn’t that how this whole thing started?”
“I mean, he’s not my boyfriend, OK.” Rachel answered. “I haven’t spoken to him since that night.”
Rachel looked at Rob as she saw his face light up. “So, you don’t have a boyfriend?”
“Nope,” Rachel answered, leaving it at that.
“Oh,” replied Rob, looking hopeful.
Rachel couldn’t understand where this conversation was going. Was he seriously hitting on her after what had happened the other night? She couldn’t help but feel that he still felt something for her. She never thought this would happen, so didn’t give their relationship any more thought after the fight— but now, it seemed, he was back in the picture. She searched within herself to figure out how she felt about Rob now. She did still like him, but didn’t know why, after everything that happened between them.