Chapter two: The Teacher
"Tom?" the girl questioned. Phantom shook his head to snap out of his daydream. He turned to face her and smiled. The girl was taller than him, had long black hair tied up into a ponytail and had deep brown eyes.
"What?"
The girl laughed. "You were daydreaming again."
Phantom blushed. "So what?" he asked. She just laughed. The bus stopped at their school and they got off. "Tamsyn, you're so mean sometimes," Phantom said as they walked through the school gates. Phantom looked over at the school's sign. The golden lettering spelt out 'Birkenhead Primary School'. He loved to read that sign, it made him feel proud. Tamsyn was talking about something when Phantom noticed someone. He was tall and skinny with his long grey hair tied back. He had big round eyes that stared ahead, as if he could see things no one could see. He carried a suitcase and a laptop. Tamsyn stopped talking and followed Phantom's gaze.
"Who're you looking at?" she asked. Phantom pointed at the man that was now sweeping into the office, "Who's that?"
Phantom shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno, but he is very familiar." Tamsyn laughed. She took Phantom's hand and pulled him along to their classroom. They found their desks as the bell rang and sat down. Phantom opened his desk and pulled out his reading book. The door opened and the principal walked in.
"Good morning class," she said. The class all said good morning back. "Your teacher, Mrs Ying, is not at school today. She is having a baby." The principal turned to the door. Phantom gasped. The man he had seen earlier stepped into the room. "This is Mr. Charming. He will be your teacher for a few months."
Mr. Charming grinned, showing his bright white teeth. "You guys can call me Peta," he said. The principal left the room and the school day officially started. Peta took the roll. When he came to Phantom's name he stopped. Phantom watched him closely. 'Why isn't he saying my name? What's wrong with it?' The reliever teacher looked up, his wide eyes skimming the room. He found Phantom and stared at him. "Phantom Valentine?"
Phantom put his hand up. "People call me 'Tom', sir," he said.
"Indeed... From Vestry?" Peta replied, winking. Phantom shook his head.
"No, sir. I'm from Auckland... Where's Vestry?"
Peta frowned, and then shrugged his shoulders. "Never mind," he sighed.
The bell for morning break rung at 10:30AM and Peta let the class go.
"Phantom?" he called after Phantom.
"Tom, sir," Phantom corrected him.
"Sorry. Tom." Peta beckoned him over. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Phantom walked carefully closer. The new teacher scared him slightly. It was the way he grinned. Those teeth were sharp and that mouth was very wide. It curved up across his cheeks and took up half of his face when he was grinning. And his eyes were scary... They were big and round, and his irises and pupils were tiny dots lost in all the white. He was skinny and pale. The suit he was wearing didn't fit him right. It made him look skinny as a twig, as it was far too big for him. Phantom stood before Peta, staring up at his face.
"Yes, sir?" he asked. Peta smiled.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Peta said. "You may not remember me fully, but I know you think of me as very familiar."
Phantom raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry... I don't know what you are talking about... Mr. Charming," he said. Peta frowned, his lips down turning so his face resembled a squat frog.
"You must at least find me familiar!" he cried. Phantom stepped back.
"Please... You're scaring me," he whimpered, cringing back. Peta reached out and touched Phantom's arm.
"Don't be scared of me. I was your love in your past life. Haven't you ever dreamed of being someone else? It's because you were someone else."
Phantom shook his head. "No. I don't believe you, I won't believe it!" He clutched his head and fall to his knees. 'How did he know about my dreams? How dare he think I'm his love! I'm not gay!' Peta rushed to his side and placed his arms around Phantom's shoulders to comfort him.
"Don't do this," Peta whispered into Phantom's ear. "Don't beat yourself up over this."
Phantom glared up at Peta with tear-stained eyes. "Why are you like this? Are you insane?"
Peta grinned, his eyes became wilder. "Are you?"
Phantom stood suddenly. "I hate you!" he screamed. He then turned and ran from the room. Peta stared after him.
"Phantom," he whispered, a tear falling from his eye. "Why can't you remember me? I'm sorry I abandoned you... Please forgive me."
He stood up and went to his desk. He sat down on the squeaky chair and sniffed, wiping the tears away. He flipped open his laptop and accessed his documents. He stared down at the white pages that appeared on his screen. He closed his eyes.
'My searches have been fruitless. I can't find him. I've looked everywhere for him. Did his spirit become lost on the way?' one part read. Peta reopened his eyes and typed, his long fingers gliding over the keyboard.
'On my journeys,' he typed, 'I have looked far and near, up and down for my love. Through this lonely searching I have been through many hardships and losses. Now, at age 32, I have finally found the reincarnation of my love; Phantom. But there is more...' Peta stopped to think up a good way to phase the next part. 'Pain to be added to my tortured heart... Phantom (or 'Tom' as he wants to be called) is only 8. Not only is there a major 24 years difference between us, but he does not want to believe me that he was once my love... What shall I do?' Peta pondered this question.
Notes for Chapter Two:
- Tamsyn is actually my best friend. She was surprised when I asked her if she would like to be Phantom's friend, LOL.
- 'Birkenhead Primary School' is actually fictitious. I go to 'Birkenhead College' so I combined that name with 'Primary School'. ROFL.
- Primary school is roughly the American equivalent of Elementary school. The age groups of students that go there are 5-10 year olds.
- College High school. (Note I'm from NZ, so I use NZ terms and spelling.
- Mrs Ying is a figment of my imagination... She never existed... Or did she? spooky music in the background.
- Peta's last name came from nowhere... 'Charming' does seem to suit him... XD.
- Phantom's last name also came from nowhere... It suits him too... XD Phantom Valentine XD Super Kawaii!!!!
- In the anime/manga, Phantom pretended to be 'Tom' from Vestry (Excuse my spelling if it's wrong) in order to get to know his enemy (Ginta)... But if you don't know that you probably haven't even seen MAR at all, so why are you reading this? (BTW, how do you do those funny little dots on top of the 'A'? If you can tell me, I'd be eternally thankful.
- Auckland is the largest (but not capital) city in NZ... Secretly I'm from here LOL.
- Peta's biography (or autobiography... I really don't care) - It seemed to suit him. And yes, he was reborn before Phantom because he died before Phantom - it makes logical sense, doesn't it?