43 The doodle

With a newfound goal, Zara called Veronica excitedly and told her about her mother's permission. They were seated in their class as usual and Zara couldn't concentrate on the teacher who was droning in the biology class.

The teacher, Mr. Harper, was a thin and slender man with a balding head. He wore his usual pin-striped shirt and trousers. "Ok, so class, who here can tell me what is the maximum speed of a blizzard?"

Nobody bothered answering and as usual, Zara's hand was the only one to shoot up, "Yes Zara"

Zara chirped as a parrot, "Blizzards are known to have crossed the speeds of 30, even 35 miles/hour"

Mr Harper smiled and then eyed Veronica who was doodling on her notebook, "Can you tell me what is the difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm?"

Zara began, "Well-"

Mr Harper interrupted her, "I was talking to your friend who is busy drawing circles on the empty pages."

Zara nudged Veronica but she seemed lost in her thoughts. Zara shoved her elbow in her best friend's arm harder than necessary and Veronica scowled, "What is it?"

Zara looked stoically in the direction of the blackboard and Veronica realised that Mr Harper was staring at her. She gave him a weak smile and he continued in a jovial tone, "Perhaps, geography classes are boring for you Ms. Davis. Should we talk to the Principal of changing your elective to drawing instead?"

Veronica shook her head violently and one or two students snickered. Mr Harper approached her desk and grabbed the notebook from her desk before Veronica had the chance to snatch it.

Mr Harper continued in his calm voice, "So either you tell me the answer or the whole class could enjoy your doodles. Your choice."

Veronica looked as if she had been summoned from her grave, it was common knowledge that though she was the best friend of the topper of the school, she barely passed her exams.

Veronica replied meekly, "Could you please repeat the question, Mr Harper?"

Mr Harper made an impatient noise in his throat, "Well, could you educate the class between the difference of a blizzard and a snowstorm?"

Veronica looked around and half of the class had buried their heads down, "Umm..blizzard is a massive snowstorm but snowstorm isn't a blizzard?"

Mr Harper shook his head and sighed, "Well, technically you are correct."

Veronica sagged down in her chair like a deflated balloon and muttered, "Whew, that was close."

Mr Harper still had her notebook clutched in his hand, "A blizzard is caused due to high speed wind that sends snowflakes all around in the air, impacting visibility. While, a snowstorm is typically a large quantity of snow falling down."

He opened the front page and showed the class the last page of Veronica's notebook. She had drawn two interlocked hearts with the names 'Jake' and 'Zara' on them.

The whole class laughed aloud on seeing the doodle and Mr Harper remarked, "Not so good at drawing either, is she?"

Veronica's face fell down and Zara who had been feeling sorry for her best friend was suddenly subjected to hushed comments like, "Oh, such a loss for Jake" and "She is such a loser" that made her feel extremely conscious of herself.

By the lunch hour, the rumor of the two dating each other had spread across the campus like wildfire. Wherever Zara went she saw people laughing and ridiculing her. She was always a quiet girl who stayed away from attention. Now, suddenly she was the center of attraction and she didn't know what to do.

To top it all, Jake hadn't spoken to her since the picnic or even looked at her. The last thing she had needed was to add more awkwardness while being around him.

And, Veronica was responsible for that. In a way.