"THRID CHAIR!" Erik gawked, eyeing me with a smile, "Now don't be getting better then me now…"he grinned as we walked to the band hall.
"How can I be get better then you, since you're first chair and the only male freshman," I exaggerated the last part of the sentence, "In Shoop's band? Huh?"
"That's the point, all my friends are in top band…"
"Hey, I'm not your friend?" I joked, pushing him slightly as I looked up at the ceiling tiles, "Fine, go talk to your friends, hpmf!" I acted, storming off into the band hall.
"Hey, Laura…" Someone called out.
"Huh?" I spun around looking for the person calling my name, "Yes?"
Heather approached me, motioning me to the office, "What bus are we gonna ride to Padre?"
I stared blankly at her, not understanding, "Padre? Why are we going to Pa…. Ohhh, South Padre… Band trip!" I realized, shaking my head slightly, "Probably bus three. The upper classmen said Ingram is riding it, so technically we could do anything we want…" I smiled at the thought, "Plus that's the bus that Colleen and Danielle are riding… Speaking of that, I need to sign us up…."
Heather nodded, "Yea, well I'd hurry if I were you; I heard that the upper classman were going to ride that bus…"
Nodding, I raced into the office, overwhelmed at all the people inside. Mr. Goodwin's desk was swarmed with band kids fighting over the bus sheets. Inching my way up there, I squeezed between two upperclassman and quickly grabbed bus three sign up sheet. Seeing Colleen's name, I scanned it for any open seat but they were all taken. Groaning, I set the paper down and quickly skimmed the occupants of the other buses, Erik's name catching my eye and the seat in front him, which was empty. Quickly scribbling my name, I placed my roommates in the surrounding seats so we'd all be together.
Slipping out of the office I headed for the instrument room, thinking about the trip. Our band goes on a trip every other year, Disney World one year then South Padre. This year was the trip to South Padre, the very tip of Texas – a nine hour trip. Stepping into the instrument room, I was met by Colleen, her green eyes narrowed in knowledge.
"You like Erik…." She stated once the room was empty.
"Huh? No I don't!" I quickly lied as I blushed, "How did you come up with that?"
"I have my sources…" She grinned evilly, "Besides, you blushing when you lied didn't help you…."
"Fine, but I don't want to like him…" I mumbled, placing my head on the shelving unit.
"Sure ya do! Everyone 'likes' Erik…" She grinned, sarcasm strong in her voice.
I glared at her before letting my eyes close slowly. My secrets about who I liked were confidential, only I knew unless someone earned my trust which now was shattered. Yes, I did like Erik, ever since that fateful day he stood up for me – to a teacher!
---
Roughly three years ago, I realized my feelings for Erik – my only guy friend at the time. Our friendship grew tight, even to the point were we would stand up to an authority figure – or at least Erik would anyway – as one of us ended up in trouble. I was the little quiet smart girl that everyone forgot about, many even forgetting my existence because I didn't talk or speak up.
One day, my whole class's favorite teacher, Mrs. Allen, was critically ill and in the hospital. Thinking a get well card would show our concern and wishes for her health, we began to pass a folded-over sheet of paper around for everyone's name. The sub, Ms. Ames, looked in her mid-fifty's, read off the rules and punishments to start the class off with, saying that she would call the names off the 'list' she made at the next day for punishment.
Without much thought, I started on the assignment before finishing it quickly and placing my head on my desk to pass time.
Minutes before the bell rang to go I overheard Nichole ask Bethany for a pencil to sign the card for Mrs. Allen only to be interrupted sharply by Mrs. Ames.
"Both of you, stop that!" She snapped, standing up from behind the desk, "I said no talking! I'm putting both of your names down on the list!"
"Sorry, Ms. Ames, I was just asking for a pencil---"Nichole started softly.
"I don't care, you were talking…" The sub interrupted as she scribbled the two names on her clipboard.
This incident put the sub on the class's bad side, but I wouldn't know of the friendship I had until the next day.
The next day rolled around, as I was my normal quiet self. Walking into my reading classroom, our class was quickly shushed as Ms. Ames glared at us, "This must be my worst class…" She narrowed her eyes before pulling out the list and calling out the usual 'bad people' until she said my name. I looked up sharply at it, taken back as people looked at me funny. Shocked, my eyes quickly water up as I laid my head on my arm as I thought about what I could have done. Erik, who was sitting next to me at the time, noticed my distress and tried to get me to look at him as he poked and prodded my side with his pencil. I ignored the attempts, as the class began on the work.
Eventually Ms. Ames decided to call out the names again on the list, landing on my name. Erik's hand shot upwards, waiting to be called on.
"Yes?" Ms. Ames paused, looking at him.
"I would like to know what Laura did…"
"That's none of your business…."
"I would like to know what Laura did." He repeated, stronger.
"I said, that's none of your business…"
"But, I want to know…" He glared at Ms. Ames.
"Yea, what did she do?" Bethany asked.
"I am not---"Ames started harshly.
"I want to know what she did!" Erik rose from his seat, staring the sub down as he pronounced his words slowly.
Bethany stood up with him, followed by a few others.
"Tell us what she did." Erik demanded as even more people stood up.
The whole time, I had my head down, looking up occasionally as I heard movement. Shocked, I looked around at the whole class standing in my defense. My mouth was opened slightly in awe as my friends glared at Ms. Ames.
The sub was shaking with anger, her face reddening, "SIT DOWN NOW! ALL OF YOU!" She yelled.
"TELL US WHAT SHE DID!" A group of people yelled back, Erik leading them.
"SIT DOWN NOW OR YOU ALL WILL RECIVE DENTENTIONS!"
One by one they sat down, still glaring at the sub, Erik the last one standing before lowering into his seat.
I guess we won the argument as the bell rung and everyone picked up their stuff and left quickly before Me. Ames announced our punishment. Erik flashed me a smile before running to catch his bus.
---
To this very day, I've longed to say thank you to Erik, but could never bring myself to say it. Besides, what are the chances of him remembering that one certain day, three years ago? Slim to none, right? Besides, only two weeks after that, he dated Kylie, not me…
No, not me… Never me…
:Gawd, I felt like crying when I wrote this chapter. That day came so easily to me, I didn't have to think twice about what I wrote.
Ms. Ames is now a full time science teacher and still is as hateful as ever.
My friend has her and told me this,
One day, my friend Helen was in the library and she forgot her flute at home. Her mother, Mrs. Donna, brought it up to the school for her and decided to meet Ms. Ames for the first time. Once Mrs. Donna entered the library, Helen stood up from her seat and introduced her mother to Ms. Ames.
"I didn't tell you to get up, go sit down, now!" Ms. Ames snapped at Helen, after the introduction before turning to her mother, "Don't you feel like smothering her with a pillow most days?" Ms. Ames asked Donna.
takes a plushie of Ms. Ames and begins to smack it hard
I HATED that sub/teacher.: