A/N: I've rewritten a few parts, but since the file on my computer didn't have that much to begin with, I simply added the rest since I FINALLY got an idea. Don't really know what I'm going to do with what I started, though.

Chapter 3

Homeroom and my morning classes were, in a word, nondescript. The eighth grade English teacher was new, but she was looking might comfortable in front of the class. It was supposedly her first year teaching, but she had to be pushing fifty. Mrs. L. B. Martin, interested in sky-diving(or so she said) and poetry. She also had a really strange outfit on. She was rather... hefty, so to speak, and she was wearing an outfit of black and yellow stripes that made her look like a bumblebee. It reminded me of Dot's Halloween costume.

So while the Giant Bee is going on and on about what we are going to be reading that year,(Grapes of Wrath and a Shakespeare play) I was just being mesmerized by the stripes on her outfit. Mrs. Martin caught me staring, looked at her seating chart, and cleared her throat. "Miss Keyes?"

I almost laughed. I could honestly barely contain it, because I can't remember ever being called 'Miss' in my life. But I managed to bite off a laugh and said, "Yes?"

"Where was Shakespeare born, Miss Keyes?"

Of course, it had to come down to my knowledge of Shakespeare. Which, to be honest, isn't very extensive...

"England."

"What part of England?"

I tapped my high-top against the floor and stared at the top of my desk as if I was expecting the answer to be written there. I searched my memory, trying especially to remember the time that Grams had forced me to go to a lecture on Shakespeare. You would think that in a place like Santa Martina, uncultured as its citizens are, you would never find such a thing, but there had been one... And, of course, I hadn't paid attention. Only a little bit in the beginning. Honestly, who would? I had been squirming the entire time. What had the guy said? Something about Stratford?

"Miss Keyes? In what part of England was Shakespeare born?" Boy, she was insistent. And her voice seemed louder than before... I looked up, and there the Giant Bee was, right by my desk. I hadn't expected that. Very rarely did a teacher, especially a new one, give up her intimidating position at the front of the class and cross into student territory. Being at the front of the room gives teachers a sense of power, I guess. So obviously, Mrs Bee being right there unsettled me.

I mumbled something incoherent. Heather and her cronies snickered.

"What was that, Miss Keyes? I don't believe the rest of the class heard you." Now, while she's giving me the staredown, and I'm staring right back, all the while I'm thinking, There is no way this is her first year teaching. I don't care what she says, she has definitely taught before. Usually it takes new teachers at least a full semester to learn to staredown tactic.

Then, suddenly, it comes to me.

"Stratford-upon-Avon."

Then, she does the weirdest thing. She steps forward and then leans down, so close to me that I can see the distinct colors of her eyes.

"Correct." In a rush, she straightens herself, walks to the front of the room, and resumes her little speech on what we would be learning that year.

"Whoa," whispered Marissa, giving me a wide-eyed stare. "Talk about intense!"

"I know!" I whispered back. "And on the first day too?"

I don't know why it unsettled me so much. But there was definitely something weird about this teacher, and I was sure I was going to find out.

A/N: I hope that was okay! I know, it was short again. Later chapters WILL be longer, I promise. I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing with the plot, but I have some ideas, so I'm sure it'll turn out okay...