Chapter 5
Derek sat slumped in his seat, staring at his perfect grade on his latest maths test. He'd always gotten the top marks in mathematics, science and technology based subjects. But not even his latest academic achievement couldn't cure his heart, even for a minute or two, of his loneliness he felt now that his Uncle had left.
Mokuba had left early that morning, he'd come in and said goodbye and given Derek a hug, but still loneliness weighed down the young boy's heart, like a heavy weight pulling him down.
"Now class, I need you all to give this notice to your parents to sign." Came Miss Saberhagan's voice, interrupting Derek's mood.
He met his teacher's eyes when she placed the notice on his desk, they reflected kindness and concern?
"Why Miss S?" whinged Malik Istar.
"Unless you wish to have lunch hour spent with me Malik, call me Miss Saberhagan." She gave him a small smile, to which surprisedly he returned. "And in answer to your question. It's for parent teacher interviews…"
Whispers started almost immediately, for she'd only handed out to half of the class.
"Okay, okay lets not get too excited everyone, will get one…"
More whispers, one kid looked like he was about to cry.
Chloe held up her hand for silence. "No one's in trouble I just wish to talk to your parents and tell them what you have achieved in my class so far, which I'm glad to say, 99 of it is good."
"99? What about the other 1?" came Isabella Devlin's voice.
"Well…hrm... I really just can't forget about the rat infestation incident…" colour flooded to Chloe's cheeks.
Derek smirked down at his desk. Malik Istar, Brock Bakura, Daniel Bakura and Ryan Bakura, had decided to play a stupid prank on Miss Saberhagan and all the girls of the class, in the first week that Miss Saberhagan had been appointed teacher.
On a Friday night Malik had collected a HUGE rat, probably from a back alley or somewhere, and placed it in Miss Saberhagan's top draw of her desk, knowing she would open it. Then the three Bakura boys got big rubber rats with "real fur" (like rabbit fur) and placed one in each of the girl's desks. By Monday the classroom stunk, caused by he decaying rat in his teachers desk.
As soon as everyone was seated, they were told to open their desks and grab paper and pen. No sooner had the words left her mouth that there were loud, high-pitched screams. Miss Saberhagan also looked in her desk; she calmly got a box of tissues, scoped up the rat and threw it out the window. Then she left the room to throw up. Meanwhile Malik, Ryan, Brock and Daniel laugh themselves stupid. They'd got detention for a week when she'd come back and calmed everyone down.
"But surprisingly they don't seem to hate her for it." Derek mused, his eyes scanning the form. He knew that his father 'didn't have the time' to have this interview with Miss Saberhagan about his academic achievements. He only hoped that he could get a suitable time, for when Uncle Mokuba was home. He'd go to the meeting, Derek knew he would.
"Anyway class, can you all please try to get your parents to sign these forms and have them to me by tomorrow? If there are any problems with that ask your parents to call me or you can just talk to me, okay?" she gave out the last notice, and glanced at the clock on the wall. "How about you all go to lunch three minutes early. Class dismissed" She smiled and watched everyone pile out of the classroom.
Derek sighed and put his papers in his desk.
"Derek, can I talk to you?" Chloe said taking the maths paper out of his hand.
"Umm...okay Miss Saberhagan." Derek muttered staring down at his desk.
"This..." she began placing the paper back down on the desk. "Is, one of the very best scores that I've ever given to a primary school student." She sat down on the seat in front of him, just looking at him.
Derek fidgeted a bit under her gaze.
"Did you find the test easy?"
"I...um..." Derek stammered, not used to this much attention, from anyone other than Mokuba.
"Derek." She exhaled loudly. "I'm not going to be mad, if you found the test easy or not. I just want to help you." She rested her chin on the back of the seat, so she was eye-level with him.
"I…I...found it easy." Derek managed to get out.
"Good."
Derek's head shot up, and stared at her in surprise. She was grinning.
"You're a straight A student Derek, and you deserve a challenge. If you want a challenge, I'll give you harder work. I'm quite willing to give it to you if you want it and can handle it. Which I have tremendous faith that you will." She grinned again at the gob-smacked boy.
"I…Well I…" Derek's cheeks were on fire.
"Do you want to try to do some now? Then you can make up your mind." She blinked and straightened up. "If you do, we'll start with maths, one of your best subjects I believe."
"Well...Okay" Derek got out a pen, while Chloe got the paper from her desk. The paper placed in front of him was full of equations. He started straight away almost like he was hungry for them.
Chloe stared intently at him watching him whiz through them. He was done in like three minutes. She grabbed a red pen from her desk and quickly corrected them.
"97" she seemed surprised. Derek was going to comment of her expression, but she cut in. "So do you want to do this as extra credit? It will go on your final school mark."
Derek merely nodded, unable to speak; embarrassed by the attention that she was giving him.
"Good. Then I'll start giving it to you next week." She smiled and gestured towards the door. "Bet your hungry, go to lunch." The bell rang after her sentence.
After Derek had left the room, Chloe gave a small sigh. " A high mark on a test that is at the third year level? Amazing." She'd felt that he could handle that test, but not as well as he had.
"With his mind, he could become something great" she chewed the inside of her cheek. "But more than likely his social ability and confidence will slow him right down. Unless someone helps him." she got up and headed towards the staffroom. Her mind uneasy.
OUTSIDE
"WATCH OUT!"
Derek looked up and ducked the football that had came hurtling towards him only minutes before.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Josh Mutou came up to him. "I didn't get you did I? Sorry if I did." Josh held his hand out to help Derek up off the ground.
"No…no…you didn't get me." Derek stared at the ground shuffling his feet.
"Oh. Good. If I had of got you your dad would've sued my dad. Anyways cya!" the boy grinned and ran back to the oval with his ball.
Derek stared after him. Is that only why some people seemed to care? Because they were afraid of his father?" he kicked the ground in frustration and sat down with his arms folded.
"Why do people have to be so fake? They only seem to care because of money, power, fame or fear! Why? It doesn't make any sense!" he pondered this, while hugging his knees to his chest, a single tear making its way down his cheek.
Derek sat there all lunchtime. Thinking. Never saying a word, moving a muscle or making a sound. The only time that he did move was when the bell rang for next classes.
