CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Diane asks as we walk together to the classroom.

I nod with mock enthusiasm, ignoring the shiver of fear that runs down my back.

What's so bad that could happen? The worst would be, in an extreme case, him throwing the chocolates in my face, that's all.

He can't do any worse than that, can he?

"James has arrived" she says in my ear as we walk into the classroom, "Good luck," and as if I wasn't just throwing myself to my own death, Diane gives me a gentle push that sends me stumbling to the very floor and, clumsy as I am, I stagger to my desk with my pride intact.

Wow, apparently embarrassing myself in front of other people is my greatest skill.

I paw the small box of chocolates I hold in my hands, completely filled with nerves. Slowly, clearly demonstrating my fear, I look up until I meet James' expressionless face. He's not looking at me; his green eyes are glued to a notebook where he's apparently scribbling or drawing something that I can't see clearly.

I clear my throat, trying to get his attention.

First failed attempt.

"Hello" I say in a low voice and, again, I get no response from him. I try again: "Hello, James" with the sound of his name coming from my lips, he looks up slowly, trying to find the place where his name came from. His eyes wander around the room, searching, and finally fix on my frightened blue gaze. He literally just stares at me with his hypnotic green eyes.

He just looks at me!

I clear my throat again and, with the hand not holding the box of chocolates, arrange my glasses on my nose even though they were perfectly in place. His eyes roam over the freckles that bathe my face, making me more nervous than I already am.

God, I'm silly.

Biting down sharply on my bottom lip, I finally reach out my hand to hand him the chocolates.

An awkward silence fills us.

His eyes fall on the object in my hands and he silently brings his eyes back up to mine.

Could he be mute? I dismiss that idea because I've heard his voice on the many occasions he's told teachers to eat shit. So why doesn't he just talk to me at once and get me out of this agony?

"This is for you" I whisper awkwardly.

Nothing, he doesn't tell me anything.

"The chocolates, they're for you" I say like someone talking to a two-year-old.

His face tilts to the side and he looks at me as if he is trying to read me. It makes me so nervous that my trembling hand ends up dropping the chocolates, they fall with a loud sound on the desk.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" I pick them up again. "I should have asked you what you wanted" I start my verbal diarrhea while I play with the hem of my skirt. "You're not allergic, are you? If you are, just tell me and I'll change them. I can get you something else, really. It just seemed like the best thing to do because, I mean, everybody likes chocolate, or almost everybody, I just hope you're not one of the few who don't. My father has always scolded me for eating so much, but it's so rich, don't you think? Sure, everything in excess hurts, but I guess I don't think about it when it comes to chocolate and.... Holy Macarena, Thea, shut up," I say to myself when I see his eyebrow arch with amusement. "Are you talking?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. "I can swear you're not mute, but then you haven't said a single word and I..."

I shut up when I see his smile. Then, and only then, do I understand. He is having fun at my expense. And just like that, fear turns to anger. Red, explosive anger.

"Look, I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me last week in math," and I drop the chocolates on top of his notebook and then sit down abruptly in my seat. "Idiot," I mutter loud enough for him to hear me.

"A pissed off lab mouse? Wow, that's not something you see every day," I glance sideways at him when King Arthur finally deigns to speak. "I must be doing my job very well."

"I'm no lab mouse" I retort, pursing my lips as best I can.

"Strange, because whenever you look at me you remind me of one." I turn to look at him, my arms under my breasts to try to look intimidating as he continues: "With your big scary eyes and tiny trembling body, you are the clear personification of a fearful lab mouse."

"You're an asshole," I chuckle.

A lopsided smile is what I get from him.

"I must really be doing my job well," he says without wiping that stupid grin off his lips. "I got a bad word out of the posh, prudish girl at school."

"Son of a bitch!"

"Miss Anderson!" I close my eyes when I hear the devil's scream calling my attention.

Oh, oh.

I spoke louder than I meant to.

"Yes, professor?" I ask almost in a squeak, turning gently to see him and all the students looking at me with their faces full of surprise.

"What are those words?" I stare at him, totally speechless. "This time I will overlook your bad attitude because your behavior in this school has always been impeccable, but it will be the first and last time, Miss Anderson. Understood?"

"Yes, sir" I shrink even more in my seat, trying to make myself smaller so that everyone stops looking at me. "Asshole" I say again to James, but this time I make sure that only he hears me.

His laughter is what I get back.

The class goes by just as boring and pointless as ever. While the devil talks about limits and radical numbers, I imagine unicorns flying in the imaginary cloud I created in my brain. There I don't have an obnoxious classmate who has put me through the biggest embarrassment of my life.

The professor starts handing out last week's exams and when he finally arrives at our desk, my nerves are already eating me alive.

"Miss Anderson, this is a pleasant surprise I have received from you" he hands me the exam with a huge ten on it. "On the contrary, Mr. Harrison, I expected more from you" I look at his exam when the professor hands it to him to see a clear and round zero. For a moment I feel sorry for him, but only for a very fleeting moment. "I hope you keep it up, Miss Anderson," mutters the devil, advancing to the next desk.

"Yes, sir."

"You should stop calling him sir" I look at James out of the corner of my eye when I hear his voice again.

"Why is that?" I ask a little haughtily.

"Do you know how many erotic fantasies teachers have with their students? And do you know how many of them are called "sir"?"

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing coherent comes into my head.

The guy is crazy!

When I finally manage to connect my tongue with my brain, I tell him: "You are disgusting."

"And you're very innocent, Mouse."

The bell rings signaling a change of classes. Fortunately we have to go to the music room where I won't have this... this... this guy... this guy next to me.

I stretch out my hand to take the box of chocolates because I've already regretted giving it to him, but his hand beats me and he quickly puts it in his backpack.

"My gift" he says arrogantly. "Maybe they can give me some free money if I sell it. How much did it cost you? I say, so I know how much to ask for it."

"Son of..." I shudder as he stills my lips with one of his big fingers.

"Shhh, Mouse" he looks at me seriously, but his eyes sparkle with amusement. "Good girls don't say bad words."

And without letting me say another word, he stands up and walks to the door. Before leaving the classroom, he stops and turns his face to look at me - as if he knows that my eyes have not left his at any moment - and winks at me.

He dared to wink at me!

I put my things away, muttering bad words under my breath, totally focused on insulting my classmate, so I startle when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"It's me" Mathew says, looking at me with a smile on his lips.

"Oh, hi," I hang my bag over my shoulder and signal Diane and Ben to wait for me. "Do you need anything?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

I look at him totally uncomfortable. I really don't feel like it. This week I have concentrated exclusively on occupying my mind so as not to think about Mathew and it has worked out perfectly.

Looking at him doesn't hurt so much anymore.

"Sorry, maybe another day" I give him a little smile and walk past him to Diane and Ben.

"Everything ok?" They both ask me at the same time.

"Everything is fine."

Yes, of course. All I can think is:

James is an idiot!