As I pulled into the parking lot and headed towards the student parking section, I saw Ezra getting out of his silver car that was oh so familiar. He glanced up and gave the slightest bit of a smile, but continued to walk. My feelings were kind of hurt that he at least didn't wave, but I had to remember that it was best for us to stay away from each other as much as possible when we were at school. We had to act as normal as possible. I parked near Emily's car, grabbed my bag, and walked towards the school. While I was walking through the parking lot, I tripped over an uneven part in the concrete. My bag and books went flying everywhere as I landed straight on my face.
I groaned, tried to get up and regain my composure, but sadly failed. My knee was hurting really bad, not to mention bleeding profusely. My ankle ached. God, I was such a klutz.
''Aria? Oh my God are you okay?'' yelled a voice from far away.
I looked up and saw Noel running in my direction.
''Oh God.'' I muttered under my breath. I looked down and tried to stand up again, but sadly I failed once again.
''Aria, wait, just let me help you!'' he said in a worried voice.
He reached down and gently grabbed my arm and pulled me up to where our bodies were pushed together. I inhaled slightly.
''Thank you, Noel.'' I said in a hurried voice. ''We gotta get to class or else we are going to be late.''
''Oh no way! First I'm taking you to the nurse. You have pieces of gravel on your chin, and your knee is bleeding! You can barely walk without me helping you.''
I sighed and slightly groaned. ''Fine. Let's just get this over with.''
He laughed gently. ''You know you could at least be thankful that I'm helping you.''
I nodded and smiled back. ''I'm sorry, Noel. I really do appreciate this. I just don't want to be late for English. I hate being late.''
''Are you sure you don't want to be late to English for other reasons?'' he said as he stopped dead in his tracks.
''Noel, drop it. Like I said before, I am dating a guy from Iceland. His name is uh-Hudson. I am Mr. Fitz's student, and that's all.''
''Okay.'' he nodded warily. ''But, I just want you to know Aria, that if there was something going on between you and him, I wouldn't tell. I care about you too much to hurt you, Aria.''
I smiled and leaned on him for more support.
''Thank you Noel. I'm sorry about, well, everything.''
He changed the subject. ''Let's get you to the nurse.''
We started to approach the front door. I heard the late bell ring.
''Shit, Noel, let's hurry!'' I said as I started to walk faster.
We made it to the nurse's office really fast considering it was the first office as you walked into the school. Noel opened the office door for me.
''Thanks.'' I whispered softly.
Nurse Brown picked the gravel out of my chin with tweezers, and each time I flinched. She rubbed some antibiotic cream on it. She cleaned my knee wound and bandaged it up. As she finished up and released me, I checked the clock. I was thirty minutes late for Ezra's class. Noel had stayed with me throughout the process. He opened the door for me, as I still leaned on him for support. I could walk again, but after everything that I had been through this past weekend, it was nice to have a shoulder to lean on.
We made it to Ezra's classroom.
''Thanks again, Noel. I really appreciate your help.'' I smiled.
''He returned the smile. ''Let me walk you in. I'll carry your bag for you.''
''Oh no you don't have too, Noel. I can handle it-'' I said as he interrupted.
''It's fine. I don't mind.'' he said as he opened the English classroom door.
The whole classroom stopped and stared as we walked in.
''Sorry I'm late Mr. Fitz.'' I said in a quiet voice.
''Yeah, she took a small fall in the parking lot. Got some gravel lodged in her face and messed up her knee pretty bad. Thankfully I was there.'' Noel emphasized the last part as he gave Mr. Fitz a quizzical look.
''Well thank you Noel. Now, if you could hurry up, I'm trying to teach a class here.''
Noel took the hint. ''Aria, are you sure you are going to be okay?'' he whispered as he touched my arm.
I nodded yes. ''Thanks Noel. I'll see you later.'' I replied back as I sat in my seat.
He nodded and exited the room.
''Okay, class, now that we've excused that interruption, let's get back to what I was going to tell you. We are starting a new book today.''
Everyone in the class groaned aside from me.
''Okay, okay. I'm sure you heard of it. It's titled The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It's basically about this woman, who has a scandalous unheard of relationship with a secret man while she is still married. This relationship bears a child. She gets isolated by the entire Puritan community and is forced to wear an embroidered A on her clothes, representing her infidelity.''
''Ooo, scandalous relationships! My fave!'' exclaimed Mona sitting beside me.
I stole a glance at Ezra and saw that he was looking at me, intensely. I bit my lip and looked down. A sudden knock on the door came.
''Come in.'' Ezra crooned.
''Hi, I'm Mrs. Robinson's substitute for the week while she is on vacation. I'm Meredith Moore. I was just wondering if I could borrow your pencil sharpener?''
My face became white as I recognized the familiar young blonde woman who was asking my boyfriend for his pencil sharpener.
''Meredith?'' I whispered under my breath.