Diclaimer: belongs to me not, the basis of this story does.
yoda moment!
Ten years later
Nathalie glared up at her teacher, a defiant expression oh her face.
"I didn't do it!" she insisted.
Her teacher rolled his eyes.
"That the 5th time this week, the 5th, Ms. Calet, that objects zoom through the air in this corner of the room." He held up blue a mechanical pencil, "And this, I remember, is your pencil. If you didn't throw it, how and why did it hit me in the head?"
Nathalie stared sullenly at the desk. She knew deep down that the flying pencil was her fault.But she also knew that she didn't throw it. She didn't even touch it. John Simmons, in the row in front of her had sent her a rude note. Somehow the pencil had flung itself in his direction, but missed his head and hit Mr. McIntyre instead. But she couldn't tellher teacherthat, now could she?
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "It won't happen again."
"What? I'm afraid I didn't catch that. Say it to the whole class."
Her cheeks burning, Nathalie repeated her lied apology.
"Good," said Mr. McIntyre, turning back to the board, "Maybe we won't have to deal with Nathalie's missiles again."
Outwardly, Nathalie appeared calm and uncaring, but inside she was seething. This was so unfair. Public embarrassment for something she didn't even have control over. She couldn't wait until the end of school.
After the bell rang, her brother caught up with her as she speed walked out of the classroom.
"Aw, common Nath, no one really cares that you seem to have an anger management problem."
"Anger management?" Nathalie raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, you get mad at the teacher, you chuck something at him."
"Right..." Nathalie drew the word out as long as she could. "Why me?"
David rolled his eyes. "Nathalie, you are making a huge deal out of nothing. Again."
"Am not, and shut up David."
They were leaving the school now. Kids were everywhere, shouting and running, happy to have one less day of school.
As they left the crowd, Nathalie looked behind her.
"That guy's following us again."
"Again?"
"Yup."
Nathalie sighed. This was getting ridiculous. A local hobo had taken to following them home everyday. He never did anything to scare them, and normally stayed a half block behind them.
"D'you think we should tell Mum and Dad about him?" David asked after a while.
"No, as long as following us is all he does."
The walked the rest of the way home in silence, stubbornly ignoring the trailing beggar.