"Joy and courage make a handsome face."
-French proverb
I bit my tongue to keep from saying something I would regret and went to Erik, gently grabbed his arm and pulled him to some empty seats in the back. His arm was so tense it felt like steel when I touched it. But even though I could see that he didn't like being stared at I thought it was strange that Erik possessed a quiet dignity and strength that I had never encountered in my peers, but in adults who had gone through life and knew the worst things it might throw.
When we sat, he kept his coat on and discreetly pulled up the collar, further hiding his face. I said nothing but two girls near us continued glancing back and staring at him, then they looked at me and giggle. I stared back calmly and they eventually rolled their eyes and turned around. Obnoxious jerks, I thought, sitting my book bag on the floor.
At that moment the teacher turned around to address the class. "Welcome seniors to your last year of school." There was some cheering from one side of the room and she smiled. "I recognize most of your faces but some I don't." Her gaze briefly fell on Erik and I. "For that reason I'll go over all the rules, etc. for this class." Mrs. Lucas paced the front of the room as she recited the formal rules, which applied for all the classes at the school. "I'd appreciate it if the young men with hats and coats on would remove them now. No hats inside the school building, sorry." A few groans of protest made themselves known and Erik quietly took his hat off. His black hair slid down, and he ran a hand through it nervously. He then took off his trenchcoat, revealing so thin a frame that I wondered that he didn't break as he sat down.
"I'll get medical forms and such for you guys tomorrow." Mrs. Lucas held up her hands to the complaints helplessly. "Sorry guys. School policy; you all know the drill. Next, and most important to me, is the choir. You," she waved a hand to indicate all the students gathered. "Will be the Senior Choir. Our most important performance of the year is the musical which will be West Side Story. Practices begin next month. We will audition you and the rest of the underclassmen choirs for cast and chorus. Performances will be in the new school theater next door."
Then she stopped suddenly with a frustrated expression. "Oh! I almost forgot. Roll call! Let's see who skipped the first day of school... let's see… uh... Charlotte Adams?"
"Here," called an attractive girl with shoulder length red hair wearing name-brand clothes right up to her earrings. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and continued the conversation she had been having with two girls, dressed similarly, in the seats in front of her. "And, I was like, I wouldn't have been caught dead in an outfit like that!" The girls giggled loudly.
"... Jason Adkins?"
"Here."
"... Erik Davidson?" she looked, spotted Erik who had silently raised his hand and other than a slight widening of her eyes, nothing suggested that she was surprised at his mask.
"... Christine Daye?" she looked around the room searching for a face.
"I'm over here," I replied waving, finally getting Mrs. Lucas to notice me.
Later when the bell rang, me, Erik, and the rest of the students made our way down the terraced floor to go to our next class.
"Mr. Davidson?" called Mrs. Lucas to Erik after the room had emptied, who stiffened and turned around. "May I see you for a moment?"
Erik glanced at me and went back into the room. Mrs. Lucas indicated that I should leave but instead I went to stand next to the door outside the hallway where they couldn't see me.
"Mr. Davidson..."
"Please don't call me that, ma'am. It is not my name."
I imagined Mrs. Lucas standing there looking confused as I felt. "Not your name...? Davidson?... What is your name then?"
"Erik," he replied simply. Mrs. Lucas must have looked even more confused because he continued through clenched teeth. "Davidson is the name of the foster family I live with. It is not my birth name and I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't call me it."
"Okay... Erik... Anyway, I'm not trying to accuse you of anything... but as a teacher I have to stand by the rules and the rules say no gang related symbols or dress code permitted," said Mrs. Lucas, firmly but not unkindly.
"I'm afraid that I don't understand ma'am," replied Erik softly, nervously.
"Your mask Erik. Take it off."
"What?" Erik sounded panicked.
"Please Erik, don't argue with me... I don't want to send you to the principal's office, but I will if I have to."
"But, ma'am, you don't know what you're asking..."
"Yes I do," she replied wearily. "Just take it off. You seem like a nice young man… why won't you?"
"Why?" Erik's voice was suddenly devoid of emotion, cold and unfeeling, it sent a shiver down my spine. "You want to know why." I heard him inhale sharply and then: silence.