LXXXV
In general, the teachers have always been patient with Eleven, avoiding situations that could embarrass her when it comes to her communication problems.
This is not the case with this year's literature teacher, who, a few weeks later, asks her to read aloud a page from the novel they are analyzing.
"Uh, miss," Max says with her hand raised, "Jane doesn't—"
"Miss Mayfield, you can read later," the teacher snaps. "Now it's Miss Ives' turn."
"Yeah, about that—"
The woman gives her a threatening look. "Quiet, Miss Mayfield. Don't force me to report your bad behavior." She looks back at Eleven. "Go ahead, Miss Ives."
Eleven casts a grateful look at Max, who looks at her worriedly.
Already standing, she scans the page with her eyes.
Opens her mouth.
And, as she feels all the expectant gazes on her, the words leave her.
Although her classmates snicker after her disastrous reading, Mike assures her that it wasn't that bad. After all, they already know her, and they know she's shy.
"The teacher will think twice before putting you in similar situations," her boyfriend assures her with a smile.
Because she knows I'll fail again? Eleven thinks sadly.
However, she doesn't tell Mike: it's obvious he just wants to spare her another bad time, so she doesn't dwell too much on the offense implicit in his words. Instead, she simply agrees with him.
When classes are over, Eleven is walking down the hallway when she notices there is a new poster on the flannel board intended for advertisements: something about a Dungeons & Dragons club… Smiling, she approaches to read it, when an extremely honeyed voice takes her for surprise: "Hi! Jane, right?"
Eleven turns and sees her new classmate, who, smiling, waits for her response. "Oh. Yes." She nods and offers her a shy smile. "And you are…?"
"Angela," she answers.
She is not very used to meeting new people and, therefore, polite formulas do not automatically come to her. So she decides that the appropriate thing to say would be something along the lines of 'nice to meet you, Angela', and she is already opening her mouth with this in mind, when the girl speaks again: "Ah, by the way, Jane?"
"Uh?"
"Do you need help reading the poster?"
It's not a question, but an… offer? Eleven doesn't understand what she means, when a few girls behind Angela start giggling.
She's mocking me.
To notice what this is about feels like a bucket of cold water.
"You can't even answer that, huh? Maybe it's not just reading problems when it comes to you… Haven't you considered asking to be sent to a grade or two lower, maybe? Something appropriate for your level…"
The feigned concern in her voice only intensifies its cruelty.
Before she can defend herself, however, they are interrupted by Jason, who flashes a perfect smile at the girl—obviously, not at Eleven: "Angela? The team, Chrissy, and I are going to Patrick's… You coming with us?"
Her classmate's smile is charming as she responds: "Of course, Jason! Let's go!"
She doesn't even spare Eleven a last glance before leaving.
Eleven chooses not to tell anyone. She doesn't want Mike to worry, doesn't want Max to get upset—or, worse, confront Angela—and Henry…
Henry is just not an option.
From her point of view, it is unlikely he chooses to throw away years of secrecy, so the possible dire repercussions of him finding out do not particularly worry her. No, the real reason why she doesn't want to tell him…
"How was school?" the man asks in greeting as he descends the stairs.
Eleven smiles at him. Lately, Henry has been… different. He is content spending hours and hours locked up in the attic, which is certainly not new, but his renewed enthusiasm every time he returns from there sure is. Eleven isn't really sure what he's doing, but she assumes it has something to do with his beloved spiders… And, well, if he's happy, she doesn't need to know more.
"Great."
Smiling, Henry ruffles her hair in an affectionate gesture. "Is that so? Glad to hear it."
And she hates the idea of staining that happiness of his with her silly little problems.