Chapter Three

Abby's POV

The first class of the day is always a drag, but this was really, really bad today. I was sitting in the back row, leaning back on my chair. Virginia was sitting beside me, her face cupped in her hands. Our teacher, Mrs. Willstem, was standing behind her desk, her large touché thrust out as she wrote on the blackboard. Her beehive hair swayed as her crooked nose moved with her writing. She turned around, and addressed us after fifteen minutes of notes.

"Right class." Her shrill aging voice echoed through our heads. "This morning we will be studying Haiku. And since Valentine's Day is only days away, we'll be doing love Haiku. So, if you read the board, you can start. You have fifteen minutes to come up with something, and then we'll share ideas."

Many groans answered her, but we got to work anyway. I read the board over and over, wishing that it would somehow erase itself. But it was still there.

"Miss Lincoln, I don't see much pen on paper action."

I mumbled slightly, and opened my notebook. What in crud's name was I gonna write? Then, a felt a sly grin crawl upon my face, and away I went. I watched as it took thirty seconds for the inked words to flow onto the paper, and a few reads over and I was satisfied. I dropped my pen, and placed my hands behind my head in success.

"Alright class, since Miss Lincoln was very eager to finish, she'll be sharing first." Her wrinkled lips straightened out when she smiled.

"Are you sure you're pickin' the right person to read first?" I replied casually.

"Of course I'm sure. You are after all, a Grade A student."

There was no way to get out of this, but I guess mine was appropriate…in a weird and cruel way.

"Ahem." I cleared my throat in a sarcastic way, leant back on my chair and placed my feet upon the desk to read. I excavated my glasses from my bag, and began to read while counting the stupid syllables on my fingers.

"Love is so cruddy,

It leaves your heart in darkness,

And crushes your soul."

Ok, so maybe I didn't need to be a smart ass about it. But I was put on the spot, ya know? Mrs. Willstem was certainly not impressed as the class snickered. Virginia clasped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughing. Man, if Kuki was in here right now, she would've been strangling me by now.

"Well, isn't someone a little downer today?" She said. "Miss Lincoln, I wish to see you after class. And if you can't contain yourself Miss Sims, you'll be staying behind as well."

Virginia waved a hand to signal she was good, and Mrs. Willstem moved to her next victim. Boy, if this got to my parents, I was gonna get it. But hey, it was worth seeing the class at least attempt a smile today. I tilted my cap, and listened to the sounds of the classes' downed voices, and thought for a bit. I closed my senses to the real world, and opened the senses to my thoughts. Actually, I opened a dream I'd been having for some time.

I was sitting on the roof of my house, watching the stars with my mama. She was smiling at me, and wrapping her arms around me in a protective way. I merely smiled and held her back, indicating I was grateful of her kindness. She caught my attention, and pointed to the Tree house, where he was standing. I couldn't make out his features very well due to the dimness of the night, but I knew it was him by instinct. And then, I saw the one I could never replace. The girl that he had chosen over me. And then, something happened that didn't usually. I heard a faint ringing in the distance, getting louder and louder…

I snapped back, and realized it was the end of class. I put my things away slower than everyone else, and dragged myself toward the old hag who placed her large heiny in her seat. Once the last student was out of earshot, she began her boring lecture.

"Miss Lincoln, I understand that you don't appreciate Valentine's Day as much as other students…"

"Try Abby doesn't appreciate it at all." I muttered.

The old woman merely blinked and continued. "As I was saying, I don't think you should be wrecking this occasion for others because you feel it's beneath you."

Wait, did she just say that?

"I think you should write some 'positive' Haiku for homework. I expect at least five, and to be handed in by next week. I'm only giving you more time than I would with others because you're a grade A student, and you won't fail me. You may go now."

"Whateva." I muttered under my breath before leaving.

About fifteen minutes of leaving, getting changed into my dance clothes and locking my stuff away in the girl's locker room, I entered the dance studio and found the other girls stretching.

"Where were you?" Rachel asked, as she did the splits on the floor and leant down to place her forehead on her knee.

"Got busted fo writing a good Haiku." I winked at Virginia, who chuckled as she stretched her arms above her head.

"Let me guess, you expressed yourself with your 'love' for Valentine's Day?" Fanny said while twisting her torso. "These idiots are actin' like the day only comes like every ten years. There's always next year, yeesh."

"Abby knows whatcha mean." I finished, lifting my leg high to press against my ear for a few seconds. "But surely every subject isn't revolved around it, is it?"

"Yep. In SOSE we learnt about the history of courtship, bleagh!" Fanny made a disgusted face, and imitated gagging.

"Aww man." I rolled my eyes and noticed the teacher standing in the doorway and speaking to someone outside. She bustled over after a few seconds, her pouty lips in a wide grin. Her caramel ponytail swayed to and fro as her highly toned legs bought her powerfully towards us.

"Right class!" She chimed happily in her musical voice. "Since everybody is getting into Valentine's Day, we're going to practice dances for the ball this weekend!"

I imitated fainting, making a lot of the girls giggle. Lizzie and Kuki however, both looked with narrow eyes.

"Nice to see your enthusiastic Miss Lincoln." She said in a displeased tone, which went straight back to her chirpy self after I got back up. "So, because you need partners for the dances, the boys of your year will be practicing with us! Isn't this exciting?"

"About as exciting as Rachel's pet hamster." Fanny retorted. Rachel and Virginia both snorted.

"Right, and the enthusiasm increases." Our teacher, Miss Kantanino said in a bummed tone. "Why don't we just get the boys in here and start, shall we?"

She rushed over to the door, and beckoned for the boys to come in. They were as bummed as we were, especially Wally. Nigel looked up at me for a fleeting moment, and smiled. I couldn't help it…

I smiled right back.