Chapter 3:
There was a little nervousness in Ella as she stepped through the doorway for science class the following day. She didn't know how they were going switch without Gaston getting angry or upset. She worried about his temper. Did he have one? Would he be really upset? She didn't know and didn't want to find out, but changing partners was already done. Belle sat in her usual place with her nose still in a book. It was a new book with a glossy cover. She seemed to have a multitude of books and every day she spent the whole day reading something different.
"Hello, Cindy." Belle didn't even look up from her book.
At first, Ella smiled in response, but she realized Belle probably couldn't see it out of the corner of her eye, "Hi, Belle." She quickly took her seat.
Just as he had all the other times, Gaston strolled through the class door in the nick of time. However, Mrs. Krunklehorn stopped him at the door.
"Ah, Mr. Richards, I was wondering if I could have a little chat. Let's step into the hallway."
"Okay?" The two disappeared into the hallway. Ella couldn't help looking back at Belle who didn't even look up from her book. Forced to figure out what Mrs. Krunklehorn might have been doing on her own, Ella sat forward and stared at the door. Other students were busily talking to each other as she tried, and failed, to listen to Mrs. Krunklehorn and Gaston.
Soon, Gaston and Mrs. Krunklehorn re-entered the room. He looked furious, stomping his feet right to the seat beside Ella. He did have a bad temper. She shifted awkwardly in her chair. She had no idea what to say or how to diffuse the obviously awkward situation. She didn't even want this to begin with.
"So, should we begin class?" The teacher took roll again. Ella glanced over at Gaston who was hunched over with his head resting in his hand. She wanted to say something comforting, nice, or welcoming, but she couldn't think of anything other than "I'm sorry that I switched partners with the girl you liked, but she thought you were overbearing." It didn't sound right so she kept her mouth shut.
The bell rang in the middle of Mrs. Krunklehorn's lecture, "Oh, I've lost track of time. Just read chapter two and answer the follow-up questions for homework okay?"
They all quickly packed there things, Gaston was slinging his bag over his shoulder when Ella took a chance to actually say something to him.
"If you ever need help with your biology homework, I can help. I'm pretty good at it!" She offered zipping her backpack back up.
"Thanks." It was the only thing she got in return as he brushed up behind Belle. "Hey, Belle, I bet you're wondering how I'm doing?"
Ella rolled her eyes slightly and headed for the door. She figured how that conversation would end, and didn't want to miss English just to listen in.
As soon as lunch time hit, Ella was ready to have a little relaxation in the quiet hallway of animals connected to Mrs. Krunklehorns classroom. She went to the door only to find a sign on the door.
At a staff meeting.
Staff meeting? Ella didn't understand. She always went to feed the animals during lunch. It was her sanctuary where she didn't have to figure out where to sit on the quad or in the cafeteria. It was her quiet time in her chaotic life. She didn't have to talk to anyone or serve anyone. She could go to the library and try to find Belle since they were quasi-friends. But eating in the library was prohibited, and Ella didn't feel like reading either.
Outside looked like the only place Ella could go. She felt anxiety settle in her heart as she exited the math and science building into the large circular area of the quad. It was like a watering hole. Students were scattered into groups, eating, messing around, and doing an assorted list of other activities.
She saw a tall man wearing a large green hat picking on a small freshman girl. A group of guys were huddled together making what looked like obscene jokes. She passed by them quickly.
"Gaston, you're the greatest line backer in the whole world!" A whiney nasally voice came from behind her. She saw the tall Gaston pass her in two steps with a smaller boy running behind him to catch up.
"I know." He wasn't very modest, but everyone had their own groove. Confidence was good for some people. She shrugged it off moving towards the cafeteria. The outside was for groups who opted to mill about over actually eating. Besides, she didn't know too many people out here. She recognized a few like Gaston, but felt weird about inserting herself into their group.
Ella entered the small cafeteria seeing the line for food run along the wall. She recognized a few people from other classes, but no one she really wanted to sit with. There was an empty corner of a lunch room table that Ella made hers. Taking out her sandwich, Ella also decided to do some of her homework since she had time. It would be best to get as much out of the way as she could.
"RIDER!" A screech came across the room. Ella glanced up raising an eyebrow at a young man running across the cafeteria with someone's lunch in his hands. She shook her head focusing on work over cafeteria antics.
"Excuse me?" A quiet voice burst her concentration. Ella looked up at a young girl with long ebony hair. She was taller than Ella was, but she was still small and thin. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Oh, go ahead." Ella offered and the young girl sat across from her. She hadn't seen her before, but guessed by her size and quiet nature she was an underclassman. The girl was eating one of the teriyaki bowls that the cafeteria offered.
"What are you working on?" The girl asked after taking a bite. She was an expert with chopsticks and had writing in an Asian language on her upper arm. Ella couldn't figure out which one, but the girl tugged on her sleeve while Ella was staring.
"Oh, nothing, just homework." Ella looked down at her French book. Then, she closed it deciding on conversation over homework. "I'm Ella, by the way, Ella Tremaine."
"Nice to meet you," The girl gave a faint smile. "I'm Mulan Fa. I'm a freshman."
"Oh really? Junior." Ella pointed to herself. "Do you have any questions or anything? I've had almost every teacher in the school."
Shaking her head, Mulan took another bite. With her mouth partially full, she spoke, "So far every teacher has been nice." She swallowed harshly. "I'm just waiting for club and sports week next week."
Ella hated that week. During lunch, each of the clubs and sports teams stood outside and pitched to everyone who'd listen why they should join. Every teacher had a pitch as well. Ella wasn't interested in clubs or sports. Luckily, Mrs. Krunklehorn always had her classroom open. Except today, but so far Ella was enjoying herself. Mulan seemed nice and was quiet.
"So you have something you're interested in?"
Mulan seemed a little shy with this question. She picked at her rice bowl. "I just want to see what there is. Are you apart of anything?"
"Me? No. I don't have enough time between classes and my family."
"Big family?" Mulan asked.
"No, but they need a little taking care of." She could have been more vicious like Drizella, but Ella felt bad for her stepfamily. They could have been worse to her and kicked her out.
"I know how that is." Mulan sighed before going completely quiet and eating more. Ella just finished her sandwich. She neatly closed the plastic baggy she had put the sandwich in and put it in the bag before taking out some celery and nibbling on it. The pair didn't say much else, but Ella was okay with that. Mulan seemed to be somewhere else. She was staring out the wall of windows at something. Ella turned to get an idea of what she was looking at, but she only saw a few boys tossing around a football and the scattered groups. Nothing interesting.
Ella glanced at the clock, the bell would be ringing in a few minutes and she liked to be at class early. "Well, I'm going to head to class. It was nice meeting you, Mulan." She stood up and maneuvered out of her bench seat.
"Yeah, it was nice meeting you too. I hope to see you again."
"Of course!" With a wave, Ella took off for her classroom. Mulan was lovely company, but Ella couldn't wait to get back to feeding the animals. It wouldn't be as awkward and loud like the cafeteria. She walked through the groups of students milling around the quad.
"Cinderella, dressed in yella-." She heard Drizella's chanting from the side. She didn't even look towards her stepsister because Ella knew better. It was feeding the girls desire for attention to acknowledge what she was saying. She heard the loud obnoxious laugh of Drizella and Anastasia, but just quickened her pace to the classroom almost glad for a little normality.
