TMSN - Chapter 6

When we got to our lockers, Joy put her stuff in her locker before helping me with mine.

"I'll keep my bag with me today," I say, "Would save you from carrying my things as long as yours, it's not fair."

"Okay, well what do you have? I will still help you with sorting out your books." Joy asked, opening my bag that had my wallet and some other personal items.

"Double of Aqua Marine, then a free lesson," I say, looking at my timetable.

"That's right," Joy said, putting my textbook in my bag, before handing it to me to grab her own.

"Thank you, let's head in that direction now," I say, throwing the strap of my bag over my shoulder as Joy shut both our lockers doors carrying her own textbook and laptop.

As we made our way to our classroom, I saw that Janette was standing, at what I guessed was her locker. When she saw me she gave me a small wave, while I gave a small nod in reply I continued walking beside Joy with my crutches as we finally reached the hallway our classroom was.

As we took our seats, Mr Bow and the other students all flowed into the room, taking their seats as Mr Bow started to silently take the role as he looked at all the students, before setting up the protector and connecting it to his computer that had a presentation that was ready for this lesson.

"Hello, class, before we begin our assignments, I wanted to give you a brief introduction on the reefs around the country. And next week we will be watching Finding Nemo, to see how they portrayed the reefs around Australia too.

After the little introduction, we were given our assignment sheets, the assignment was to research an animal that lives in the reefs.

"What are you thinking of doing?" I asked Joy as I researched different animals that live in the coral reefs.

"I was thinking the Butterfly Fish. You?" Joy asked as she started opening tabs of the Butterfly Fish.

"Maybe the Hawksbill Sea Turtle," I reply, skimming through the list.

"Sounds like a good idea, Shadow" Mr Bow said, as he stood in front of our desk, taking note of what we decided on researching, before going onto the next set of students and repeating the same action.

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As the class came to an end, Joy and I saved all our work and started packing up a few moments before the rest of the class followed suit, finally noticing the time.

"What do you have after this?" Joy asked me.

"A free lesson, I told you that earlier," I say giving a soft smile her way, Joy sure is forgetful sometimes. "In fact, I don't have a lesson until the end of the day."

"Same as me, sorry," Joy said, blushing out of embarrassment.

"It's okay," I say, giving her shoulder a soft pat, "I know how you can be."

"I know, I've just been out of it this morning I guess," she replied smiling softly as we put my stuff in my bag before she got her own belongings and we walked out of the classroom, after the rush of students that left only moments beforehand.

Before heading towards the SACE floor we decided to stop by our lockers and put away all our books from the previous lesson, keeping out laptops handy to do some research and some work from other classes.

As we sat down in Ms Wilson office, I rested my crutches against the circular desk in there next to where I sat, in my usual seat as Joy sat in hers.

"How's the ankle going?" Ms Wilson asked as she turned around in her office chair, after sending a few emails.

"It's getting better, we're going to the doctors next week to see how it's healing," I reply, patting the cast softly.

"That's good to hear, and how are your classes?" She asked looking between Joy and myself.

"Good, I love my music class!" Joy explained, opening her computer and began typing on what I figured was some work from a class of hers.

"Mine's going alright," I say nonchalantly, not actually caring.

"Good, good," Ms Wilson replied, turning back to her computer, continuing her work while Joy and I did our own.

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As the bell rang for the first break, Joy stood up to get our food while I waited in Ms Wilson's office so I didn't slow her down.

As I sat there typing away on my computer Ms Wilson turned and looked at me. I looked up at her from the corner of my eye sighing I turned back to my laptop - She's really been pissing me off lately, after what she said the other day she's been rubbing me up the wrong way.

"Have you changed your mind about your actions, and how they caused your injury?" She asked me, acting all smug and knowing. I ignored her but didn't realise Joy was standing at the door with our food, hearing what she said to me.

"Ms Wilson, that isn't appropriate to say, and out of bounds. I don't care if you are a teacher, saying such things to someone who got injured when she did nothing is just wrong." Joy said firmly

This could get bad, Joy is rarely serious and when she does you don't want to make her worse. She is very headstrong and protective, you put them together and she is like a ticking time bomb when you say something against someone she cares about.

"Sorry Joy, but I still believe that she was in the wrong too," Ms Wilson said, sticking to her guns.

"Do you even know what happened?" Joy and I asked at the same time, both of us showing our anger. I clenched my fist, trying to control my anger and stay in control.

"I don't need to, to know that she is all trouble," Ms Wilson retorted, nodding her head in my direction.

"Wow, stereotype much," I say, voice laced thickly in sass.

"Why would you say such a thing about a student, you are meant to be a school counsellor!" Joy all but yelled, making a few students and a teacher or two looking in our direction.

"Joy let's calm down, let's just do, don't waste your time and energy on her," I say, pulling my bags straps over my shoulder, but not before putting both our computers into it and getting my crutches making myself stable before leaving her office, Joy following me.

As we go to our lockers, Joy started to calm down.

"I'm sorry Shadow, I didn't mean to blow my lid," Joy apologised.

I shook my head giving a soft laugh, "don't worry, she overstepped her boundaries. She was way out of line."

"Still, she is a superior," she responded as we reached our lockers and unlocked them.

"Maybe but in this case she wasn't," I replied, shutting my locker again as I realised I didn't need anything out of it, "Here is your laptop," I say, leaning against the lockers as I retrieved her laptop from my bag.

"Thank you, I have music next, will you be okay?" Joy said, reading her timetable, I nodded.

"Yeah, I'll just avoid Ms Wilson after that incident," I say, as we begin to walk to her class, it only being five minutes until it begins.

"Well, just be safe, okay, I'm sure if needed my teacher will let you in the classroom," Joy says, as we getting into the Arts building, her holding the door open for me.

"I'll think about it, but I might go see my teachers about the work," I respond, "but thank you for the offer."

"Anytime," She replied as she steps into her classroom, "I'll see you at lunch, meet you at our lockers?"

"Sure, I'll be there, we will have to find another place to go to during breaks or free lessons, for the time being, I don't think we could handle Ms Wilson at this time being!" I say, giving her a quick hug before leaving.

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After about fifteen minutes of me sitting at one of the outside tables out the back of the school, at the oval but hiding behind a small classroom what wasn't connected to any buildings.

I heard footsteps, heading in my direction, but not really caring I ignored them and continued scrolling through twitter on my phone.

"Ms Thompson, what are you doing out here?" I heard a familiar voice say from directly behind me, sighing I turned around and found Mr Bow there.

"Oh hello Mr Bow," I said, turning to face him completely, putting down my phone, giving him my undivided attention.

"How are things?" He asked, moving to sit next to me, I moved my bag to give him some room.

"Alright, I guess," I said, not really willing to give him any more information about what happened today just in case he relays it to Ms Wilson and I get into any trouble because I know how teachers can be.

"Well, would you like to come with me, I'm heading towards Mr White's office to get some materials for our class tomorrow," he said, moving to stand back up, as I nod grabbing my bag and crutches.

As we reached Mr White's office, Mr Bow knocked before entering, holding the door open for me.

Walking into the office, Mr White turned to see who entered, he looked shocked to see me with Mr Bow but shook his head.

"Take a seat, what can I help you two with?" He said, indicating to the free seats in his office, I instantly go to sit in my usual seat while Mr Bow looked through the two bookcases that were side by side.

"I'm just looking for some books about sea life and the environment there," Mr Bow said, continuing his hunt for the books.

"Top shelves, and you Shadow?" Mr White said, pointing to the shelve he meant, before turning to me.

"Had a free, and I just wanted to be alone," I said, embarrassed with what happened with Ms Wilson.

"I got what I needed, you staying here Shadow?" Mr Bow said, pulling off tree books from the shelf before turning to around to Mr White and me.

"Yeah, I have a class with Mr White after lunch too, so I might stay here during lunch with Joy too, if that's okay with Mr White," I said, turning to him for clarification, receiving a nod in a response.

Mr Bow nodded before leaving and closing the office door behind himself, leaving Mr White and I alone.

"Okay, now are you going to tell me what happened to make you so excluded," Mr White asked surprising me, I didn't think he would one, notice, and two, ask about it.

"Ms Wilson happened, I don't really want to talk about it," I replied honestly.

"How about you tell me and I will give you something in return," Mr White said, making me take a minute to think about it before sighing.

"Fine, Ms Wilson completely blamed me for my ankle and went overboard about it," I said, my anger starting to rise again. I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself down.

"Okay, I will talk to her, try and smooth things out, it really isn't fair to you," Mr White said.

"You really don't have to," I said, but Mr White placed his hand gently on my own, giving it a slight squeeze.

"But I am willing," He replied. "Now for your gift for telling me, come here."

"Okay…" I say, drawing out the word. Moving closer to him, getting a bit sceptical.

"This has to be a secret, okay Shadow, I'm trusting you," he said, I nodded.

We sat there for a few moments before he closed the space between us as kissed me, taking me off guard.

Mr White just stole my first kiss.