Chapter 15
Iggy and I walked into the classroom just as the bell rang. I looked around for the teacher, and in the back of the classroom I found him sitting on a large teacher's desk. He looked young for a teacher and had brown curly hair, blue eyes, and was Iggy's height.
"Excuse me, but are you Mr. McDowell?" I asked drawing his attention from the paperwork he was reading when we walked in.
Everyone turned in their seats to look at the grown man. "Yes I am. And you 2 must be Lynn and Jeff Ride," he said checking us out. His voice rang throughout the classroom and the uniform he was wearing, the teacher uniform, looked just like ours, making him look like a student.
"Yeah," I replied looking around at everyone in the room. I didn't see anyone I knew but there was no doubt someone would know me.
"Are you guys siblings?" Mr. McDowell asked seeing me holding Iggy's hand.
"Um…no. we're adopted," I told him looking up at Iggy.
"Okay well why don't you 2 sit in these empty desk ," he said indicating to 2 empty school desk by the window. "The people that sit there aren't here today, but until I can get extra desks you can sit here." He got up and walked over to us.
I kept hold of Iggy's hand and led him to our seats. He sat down in the one further back and I sat in the one in front of him. Mr. McDowell followed us and I softly informed him of Iggy's blindness. He pursed his lips and looked at Iggy, after a minute or so he walked to the front of the classroom and began to introduce us to our new peers.
"Everyone, this is Lynn and Jeff Ride," he motioned to us, "they're new here so…" he got cut off as the door flew open and guess who came rushing in. You guessed it. Zach.
"Sorry I'm late, teach. I had to do something for Ms. Justice," he told Mr. McDowell his face flushed and his auburn hair messed up from running. He gave the teacher a small green slip of paper and headed for his desk, which I was sitting in. Just my luck.
I got up as fast as I could and slung my messenger book bag over my shoulder, but before I could get Iggy, Zach stepped in front of me and smiled, "hey, Lynn. You can sit there if you want to. I'll just sit at a computer desk."
I looked at Iggy who had his face turned toward us looking worried, "um…thanks." I flattened my skirt and sat back down with a sigh.
Zach looked down at me and laughed. He moved his hand toward my face, making me wince, and moved a piece of stray, brown hair behind my ear, "there ya go, Lynn," he dropped his voice to a whisper, "good luck in this h- hole." He straightened up, smiled at me one last time, and walked to the back of the class to sit at one of the computer desks.
Just great. My ex that doesn't know it's me is flirting with me. This is going to be a loooong year, I thought to myself, sighing and sinking down in my chair. Iggy reached his hand back under the desk and I held it, relaxing at his touch. At least all my classes are with him instead of him….I hope.