Could It Be? (Chapter 9)

CHAPTER 9 - Cassie
“My brain’s hurting…” Nathan moaned next to me on the bus, who held his head like it was about to fall off. The morning light shone on the dark rings that formed under his eyes and his eyelids slowly closed, but then opening in a jolt, which looked like he was barely getting enough sleep. Yesterday, while munching on some store-bought cookies and drinking hot cocoa, I concluded that the whole bus scene with Nathan on the first day was nothing. It was probably one of those “huh? who’s that?” kind of thing. But before I start exerting all of the very few brain cells I have left to this little dilemma of mine, I have to get through the second day of school. Let’s also hope the other girls won’t be teasing me about it. When I snap out of my thoughts, I see Nathan struggling to stay awake, and soon enough, his head drooped down along with the hand supporting it. So I grab my backpack from my lap and release it, allowing it to fall on the floor and make a huge sound. That worked for sure since Nathan jumped up and blinked a few times until he looked like his usual self.

“Oh, thanks!” Nathan did one of his smiles again at me. Then I looked at him like how the girls were interrogating me the other day.

“How in the world are you tired on the second day of school? THE SECOND DAY,” I shake my head in disappointment.

“Hmm,” he said as if he was choosing his words wisely. “I think my brain’s still in summer mode, so the sleep schedule is off. And, that crazy dude is mowing his lawn at 4 AM next door, so that doesn’t help.”

My disappointment turns into sympathy, and I decide to use the amazing solution I came up with in second grade, when I tried to wait for Santa, but failed miserably since I gave in to my tiredness and went back to bed. I reach into my backpack and search for any snacks. As I do, I find two packets of M&M’s [not sponsored, lol].

I toss one at Nathan and put the other back in the bag. “Think fast!” He catches it instinctively with his hands, making a clap sound when he does.

“What’s this?”

“I read from somewhere chocolate can keep you up,” I reply, crossing my arms and motioning him to open it. “Now go eat some!”

“Huh, I thought chocolate was bad.”

“You’re sounding a lot like my mom. Always saying chocolate is bad.”

Nathan flinches for a moment, then speaks again. “I’m fine, so you don’t need to give me this.”

He hands it over, but I push it back. “Look pal, if you wanna stay awake, then you’re gonna have to eat some, or else I’ll force it down your throat, and believe me, you don’t want that.”

It was clear he didn’t want that, judging by his face painted with unease. Nathan reluctantly rips it open and puts the chocolate in his mouth. “Now what?” he asked between munches.

“Uh, I don’t know really. I haven’t added anything to it, but I guess you can,” I shrug and turn the other way, signaling the end of the conversation. “Depends on you.”

Later at school, we hopped off the bus and awkwardly walked together to chemistry. Using my eyes, I scouted for any of the girls, having mixed feelings that they’d joke around about it if one of them saw me. Then I recognized the familiar sounds and smells of the science room. And one of those sounds happened to be Mrs. Yelda screaming at a bunch of juniors for running in the halls.

“She’s at it again,” Nathan laughs as we walk through the doors. “C’mon, let’s get to our seats before Mrs. Yelda starts taking her anger out on us.” I laugh too, but then I turn silent. Why exactly was Mrs. Yelda so mean? I couldn’t wrap my head around it as we quickly walked around the bustling crowd of standing people, like the scene on the first day. But everyone fell silent when the thundering footsteps vibrated the room. Except for me, Nathan, and a couple of other classmates, it’s a complete kerfuffle while the crowd disperses and sits in their spots as fast as they could. Murmurs and whispers are exchanged between the class but are silenced when she enters. This time, Mrs. Yelda had her almost-gray hair in a tight bun, with two sticks holding it up. She also was wearing another dress and the same heels from the first day.

“Good morning, class.” She spat out the word “class” like it was some kind of curse word. “Today, we’re learning about the periodic table of elements-”

A hand shot up in the air from the table next to me. “Hold up, ma’am!” It was that guy, I think his name was Andrew Ranley. He shook his golden locks out of his blue eyes and hopped off his seat. I’m pretty sure it was taking a lot of willpower for Mrs. Yelda to hold herself back from lunging at Andrew.

“Ma’am, what if I already know all the elements? I even know the song, so can’t I skip class for today?” Andrew asks sweetly. “I’ve got to go to the game store to buy Ultra Fighters 6: Redemption, which is gonna come out in like twenty minutes!”

At the corner of my eye, I see a girl sarcastically flip her hair from across the room and roll her eyes. “What in the world is that game? Because I don’t want to know.”

“Ha, well, little missy,” Andrew began, taking in a sharp inhale. “Ultra Fighters is a competitive, multiplayer-”

“I said, ‘I don’t want to know!’” A lot of people watch the scene unfold. Unfortunately, other classmates joined in and asked if they could come with him too.

By then, I wasn’t sure if Mrs. Yelda would be able to regain control of the entire classroom. I mean, about fifteen kids were chanting, “Let us out! Let us out!” while slamming their fists on the tables, some other classes were peeking through the doors, and I could hear some stomps coming down the hall. But by some miracle, she did it.

“I knew you were trouble, Mr. Ranley.” The atmosphere was like the trial of the century. No one spoke a word. Everyone was sitting in anticipation. She gestured to him to come forward. “Come with me, we will discuss this with the principal. And everyone, please stay seated while I take Mr. Ranley to the office!”

“No, wait! What about the game? I’ve been saving up for two months!” His arms were flailing in the air as he got taken away. “NOOOO!”

When they left, the people crowding the door dissipated and Mrs. Yelda came back, no Andrew. Class returned to a somewhat normal, but there was still that question that loomed in the back of everyone’s mind: what happened to Andrew?

“Yeah, what happened to Andrew for sure…” I mutter out loud, but I forgot the girls were right next to me.

“What are you talking about, Cassie?” Belinay asks for the whole group as we walk to history together, but I could barely hear her because of the loud lockers being closed.

“I think I know what’s going on…” Rae studies me for a moment and looks away, satisfied. “Is this about the chem riot?”

Belinay gasps, turning to me. “That was your class? We could hear some kids shouting ‘Let us out! Let us out!’ from the algebra room! And believe me, it’s super far away from your classroom!”

“Chem riot? That’s what my class is being called now?” I ask jokingly, pausing for a slight moment. “Want me to reenact it for you?” They both nod, and I go through every motion and sequence. I had a habit of describing and telling all of the details, whether they be big or small, and the in-betweens. Sometimes the girls get annoyed about how long I take to get to the point, but it’s there to build up the suspense.

Soon enough, we stumble on the door to history and with a small wave, go to our seats before the bell rings. While the class waits for Ms. Stinebaugh to come back, I sneak a glance around the room. Our desk positions were like the ones in chemistry, but the desks here were tinier and more compact. I love the classroom and all, except when you look at the carpet, littered with chewed-up pencils, gum, erasers, and a backpack? The backpack had huge holes and one of the arm straps was gone, despite it still looking new. It was too disgusting for me to look at any longer, so I focus back on Mrs. Stinebaugh, who just entered the room.

The fourth period zoomed by, and now it was lunch. I managed to get there first before the girls, so I sat down at the spot we ate at on the first day. Then Rae popped in with Belinay, and Lynn came in last.

“Guess what happened to Belinay today…” Rae grins at Belinay, who turns as red as the tomatoes in my lunch.

“Ooh, what?” I ask, but I come to a realization and grin as well at Belinay. “Is this about that Keith and the note?”

Belinay looks really flustered and talks back to me. “Oh, since we’re still on the subject, what’s going on about that Nathan and the phone?”

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed, and I return her comment. “What? Stop changing the subject!”

“How about you stop asking about that subject!”

“Wait, shush,” Lynn, who happens to also hold the title as the mediator of the group, comes between us. “Belinay, what did happen to you?”

Belinay looks at all of us for a moment. “Well, in the note, Keith asked for my number-”

“Ha! I knew it!” I proclaim, but then I cover my mouth after I realize what I said. “Um, continue please.”

“Anyway,” Belinay resumes. “I gave him my number when I met him at my locker, through note so that he wouldn’t forget.”

“So you gave him your number,” Lynn acknowledges, and Belinay replies with a yes. Suddenly, the speakers blast through the cafeteria. I was somehow able to hear it, even though the cafeteria could win “Loudest Sound of the Year” with its noise levels.

“Attention students. To welcome the new school year, we will have a field trip to Mirror-Pine Lake at the camp, free for all grades. Your parents must sign the permission slips if you want to attend. The permission slips will be distributed by the student council members right now. Thank you, and have a great day, Sienna High.”

Everyone around us seemingly gets louder, and we do too, probably from the excitement. “A camp!” Rae says with gusto.

“You’re all coming, right?” I ask since I wouldn’t go if they didn’t.

“Sure, if I can…” Belinay shrugs, but we all knew the real reason. It would take a miracle for Belinay to get her parents to allow her to go to the camp, let alone sign the permission slip.

“Don’t worry, Belinay. They’ll let you go!” Lynn assures while attempting to lift the melancholy mood that surrounded the table.

“And if they don’t,” Rae adds, with a determined look in her eyes. “None of us will!” Everyone smiles and Belinay smiles a little, but she still looked sad.

“You don’t have to stay if I can’t go. I’ll just be holding you back,” Belinay frowns.

“Belinay, don’t make me turn that frown upside down,” I threaten. “Because I’m pretty sure that’ll be too painful for you.”

She instantly smiles and hides behind Lynn. “Ah, don’t do that to me! I’m already smiling! Do it to Rae, or someone else!”

“Hold up, you can’t rope me into this!” Rae puts her hands on her hips, acting like she was annoyed, while also trying not to laugh.

“Is this going to turn into one of those cowboy fast draws?” Lynn suggests, and for the remainder of lunch, we went off talking in our best western accents, pretending to be cowboys, or in this case, cowgirls. In the middle of it, we received our permission slips from the student council, who looked confused when we were speaking in the western accents.

After school, I say goodbye to Belinay as she heads to her bus and I head to mine. Nathan sat down next to me, and from my perspective, was looking better now, despite the little dark rings under his eyes.

“Um, thanks for the chocolate,” Nathan stammers to me. The bus was about one block away from my neighborhood, so we didn’t have a lot of time to talk. Well, unless the bus manages to hit every red light in the area. “I forgot to thank you earlier, but you are right, it does help!”

“I’m glad to know I could help out anyway,” I reply. “You looked like a corpse this morning, except now, you’re fine!” Then the bus comes to a halt when I see the stop on our street.

We hop off and look at each other before leaving. “I guess this is our stop,” Nathan tosses me something. When I catch it, the object happens to be a chocolate bar.

“Uh, what’s this?”

“I heard from someone that chocolate can keep you up,” he replies casually.

“But I’m not tired,” I wasn’t sure if I should give it back, since it was a gift after all.

“No, it’s just my way to say thank you,” Nathan shoves his hands into his pockets and shifts his feet the other way. “Remember how you said I could add on to your idea? The chocolate can become a thank you. Make sure to eat it!” He walks away, leaving me there shocked while holding the chocolate. Now that I think about it, no one had ever done this kind of thing before for me, until now.