Despite going to this school for three years already, Shion could say that he was completely lost.
The new semester was starting and his entire schedule had changed, dragging him from his comfortable rut and pushing him into something new. He had only two classes that stayed the same. AP Government and Honors Psychology were the lone classes that he didn't have any real friends in, not that he had many anyways, so of course it made sense that they were the only ones remaining. Every other period was filled with a new course that he had chosen specifically to make his college applications look good or to get more credits. Shion had signed himself up for a Literary Movements class due to his love of books. The words 'Physical Education' stood out terrifyingly against the yellow of his paper though, making him slightly nauseous. This was all due to his counselor saying he needed another credit of gym or he wouldn't graduate, and he'd be damned if he didn't make it out of high school all because of that. It would be tough; Shion couldn't run a mile without doubling over and begging for a glass of water. Still, he'd fight through it for the sake of his diploma.
Shion let out a startled yelp as the bell sounded, letting him know that he was officially late to Literary Movements. He stumbled up the stairs, skidded around a corner, and prayed that he ended up in the correct English classroom.
Luck was on his side, apparently, as he looked up and saw Mr. Hart standing there with an expression caught somewhere between amusement and annoyance.
"And what excuse shall you be offering me for your tardiness, Shion?" he queried, nodding towards and empty seat in the third row, towards the middle of the room.
"I couldn't find the classroom," Shion mumbled as he did the walk of shame to his desk.
"So you mean to tell me that you, a senior, got lost on the way to a classroom? The classroom of a teacher that you've had twice before?"
"Yes," was the best Shion could manage.
"Well," Mr. Hart started, "I must say that's quite impressive. You never cease to amaze, Shion. But now that you're here we can begin! Let's start with a little guessing game, shall we?"
A few people scattered around the room groaned while others high-fived at the prospect of any sort of game.
"I'll say a line from a famous work, and you guess what work it is. Whoever gets it will receive extra-credit on our first test. Now listen carefully." Mr. Hart paused to clear his throat. "And when, with gladness in his face, he placed his hand upon my own, to comfort me, he drew me in among the hidden things. Here sighs and lamentations and loud cries were echoing across the starless air, so that, as soon as I set out, I wept. Strange utterances, horrible pronouncements, accents of anger, words of suffering, and voices shrill and faint, and beating hands-all went to make tumult that will whirl forever through that turbid, timeless air, like sand that eddies when a whirlwind swirls."
Shion was at loss, yet others seemed to have some sort of idea of what this passage was from as they huddled together in small groups. A single voice cut through the quiet chatter and silenced them all at once.
"Dante's Inferno, Canto III."
Everyone turned and zeroed in on the speaker who was seated in the fifth row, on the far side next to the window. When Shion finally turned he could feel the color drain from his face.
"To be even more specific, this was when Dante first approached the gates of Hell," Nezumi said, arms crossed in front of his chest and boots kicked up on the chair in front of him. He seemed more bored than anything as he recited these bits of information.
Mr. Hart applauded him graciously for his answer. "Correct! Thank you, Nezumi! Now class, that will be our first reading. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is an epic poem from the 14th century."
Shion knew his teacher was still talking, but he was too shocked at seeing Nezumi in the one class he had been excited about to pay attention. There was no way he could sit through this class everyday knowing that he was less than ten feet away from a boy who had seen him on the ground with his ass up. He just could not do it. Just thinking about it made his entire body go up a few degrees. Still, it didn't seem like Nezumi had realized that he was even in the same class. He continued to sit there and skim what looked like his script for Hamlet. Maybe there was hope for Shion yet.
Facing forward, Shion pulled out his textbook so he could keep up with the pace Mr. Hart was setting. Class continued without a problem even with the teacher speaking so quickly, too excited about having a student like Nezumi there. He was practically to the point of gushing when the bell finally rang.
Shion neatly placed everything in his backpack, giving his schedule a once over before getting up. He would've left but a warm hand on his hip stopped him.
"Look at what we have here. I hope you've stayed clear of misplaced dictionaries," Nezumi taunted from behind Shion. Mind and heart racing, he wondered why he always ended up with Nezumi behind him and practically speaking in his ear. It definitely wasn't helping his newly developed libido.
"Yeah," he squeaked pitifully. The chuckle that it drew from Nezumi made him tense up even more.
"Good. Wouldn't want you getting hurt now, would we?"
"No," Shion forced out. He tugged his sweater down as far as he could while still looking inconspicuous; if things kept up like this he wouldn't last very long.
"Well, it was nice seeing you," Nezumi said casually, moving gracefully around the snowy haired boy so he could exit the room. "I'm glad we have this class together."
And with that he was gone. Shion hurried for his next class and sat with his messenger bag in his lap, willing himself to calm down. The proximity between them before was nothing. It didn't mean anything. Nezumi was just trying to be friendly. That had to be it.
Short chapter is short T.T but I needed a segue into the main plot. I apologize.
10 points for hormonally troubled Shion? Yes?
Ah, well. Hope ya like it, everyone. Sorry for the wait and the brevity of this chapter. I'll be better I promise!
~Chickadee
