1 A teacher, student and long lost friend

Arthur concentrated on the wall clock. Time seemed to have stopped to him. He couldn't explain the state of mind he was in. He was suddenly interrupted when a dark figure loomed over his desk, absorbing the rays of light that had been hitting his desk. Mrs. Hawk pushed back her glasses, and adjusted them.

Mrs. Hawk was an elderly woman in her early forties. Her reputation in teaching by discipline had made her praised by parents and greatly abhorred by students. She was a short stout woman with black curly hair. Her Mediterranean color and smooth round face made her attractive at her age. Her small emerald eyes which seemed to twinkle with delight all the time now stared hard at Arthur.

"Arthur, this is the third time I have caught you day dreaming in class again, what's the excuse this time?" her melodic voice thundered.

At that the whole class turned and looked at Arthur. His face flushed with embarrassment. Arthur was about six feet two inches in height. He had jet black hair as an addition to his artistically carved face. His ocean blue eyes which seemed to burn through you when he stared at you, a well-toned skin with his muscles tightly coiled under his skin threatening to tear out of his anytime. Though most girls in the school would kill to go anywhere with him, he was, to put it out bluntly, a very reserved person.

The only thing right now that was preventing Mrs. Hawk from doing anything rash was that Arthur was a straight A student. However strict she appeared to be she was always delighted with well performing students. "Mr. Brown do please share with us your day dreams so we too may be entranced and whisked away into your fantasy world," continued Mrs. Hawk.

No sooner had Arthur started mumbling, than the bell rang. The students stood up and started leaving the classroom while Mrs. Hawk frantically reminded her students to at least try to register for this year's summer classes, which as usual nobody ever signed up for.

The hallway was soon packed with students. Excitement filled the atmosphere in the school hallway as students piled up the hallway making up their plans for the summer. As usual small groups could be observed, nerds, divas, players, punks as they happily discussed their plans among other things.

Arthur couldn't believe that summer had finally come. There was something special about this summer, he could feel it but couldn't tell it now. He went by his locker and stood at his usual place waiting. Today, he could sense that something was off. When the school doors pushed open and John Carter entered followed by his troupe entered. Everyone in the school knew who John was: the current captain and quarterback of the school football team. Giggles could be heard from various corners of the hallway as girls tried to win their attention.

John was about the same height as Arthur. He was a natural blond (this drove many girls and women crazy), light skinned with green eyes. All the working in the gym had paid off, so he was thick muscled. He flashed a smile to the divas exposing his sparkling white teeth and causing a ripple among them. The football jersey he wore enhanced his boyish looks to that of a young handsome guy.

His entrance had caused something like a pause in the school hall as eyes followed him for about five seconds before they resumed their conversations. He waved his hand and swirled it in the air. His troupe consisting of four members of the school team, broke out and swaggered towards the group of divas who flashed smiles and flipped their heads causing their long hairs to get carried away by the wind. Then he saw what was wrong…

John was heading directly towards him and he seemed furious though his manner of walking did not match his intentions. Being introvert in nature he started to move in the opposite direction in order to avoid a confrontation. He quickly shut his locker and turned. It was as if he had hit a brick wall. He had not expected anything. The next minute he suddenly was stumbling backwards. Then he saw her, there, with her books scattered on the floor. It was as if he was in a trance. He became conscious of nothing but the beautiful girl before him. Everything around him seemed to have stopped. He held her gaze, neither of them wanting to be the first to break it. It was as if time had come to a halt before him.

Alicia had been thinking hard today. She had spotted him staring at her ever since the bell to officially welcome the summer holiday had been rung. He had tried to hide it but a beautiful girl like her knew when someone was stealing her glances. It was now or never. She had decided to at least speak to him today. She started moving towards him when he saw John heading towards him. Alicia increased her pace that she didn't see him close his locker and turn. She felt like she had hit a stone wall as she fell backwards and her books fell on the floor. Then she held his gaze. She felt as if someone was reading deep into her soul.

Yes, Alicia, she was the prettiest girl in school. Her black hair well straightened ended with a few curls on her shoulder. Her face was like a masterpiece carved by Bernoulli as a present to the beauty community. She had a beautiful figure complemented with a well-toned skin. Her brown eyes matched with the ear rings and pendant on her chest, which bounced inside her cleavage as she breathed in and out. His presence seemed to suck the air out of her lungs for she suddenly found herself holding her breathe followed by a succession of short quick breaths.

Then they both broke the gaze and could now clearly see John rushing towards them. Arthur started picking the books, Alicia joined in a few seconds later. He offered his hand and quickly pulled her up. "Arthur," he said offering a handshake. Alicia continued to look at him as she greeted him back.

"Alicia," she replied and smiled.

Then she felt a piece of paper stuffed on in her palm. Looking up at Arthur she saw him smile and wink. And just as he had appeared he was gone. Alicia quickly stuffed the piece of paper into her bag and turned to try to catch a last glimpse of Arthur in the corridor only to find it empty. She turned back only to feel john's filthy work out smell hit her nostrils. He could see his biceps bulged outwards with his hands folded into two thick fists. He looked disappointed but somehow Alicia felt relieved.

Though she had never agreed to anything, john always assumed that Alicia was his girlfriend. If he or any of his buddies spotted you speaking with Alicia about anything but official business, they would beat up the guy, and bully him throughout the term. Alicia was tired of that behavior and had warned him against it many times but he still pushed on like a jealous lover.

"I'll kill that creep if I meet him," fumed John.

"I don't think so," replied Alicia with a smirk.

"What makes you so sure?" asked John, raising his right eyebrow, his eyes hungry with curiosity. Alicia had never dared to reply at his ranting.

"Well if he was smart to evade you…"she started.

"It's because he knows he should run from these," john cut her short flexing his biceps, "But you of course, we can talk about these over dinner…"

"Never, I'd rather stay at home or go with a dog cause I'm sure that the guy who'll take me will have a rough evening," shot back Alicia, pushed John away and walked towards the car park.

Then John realized that people were looking at him. "What are you looking at?" he scoffed at the guy next to where he was standing and pushed him hard on the locker before he left to the parking just in time to see Alicia's silver Porsche pull out into the school driveway.

Arthur stepped out of the classroom where he had been hiding while observing the events unfold in the hallway. It felt good knowing that Alicia had vouched for him. Thinking about what she had said he knew she was right he could easily beat up John but he had made a promise not to and had promised his parents. Then he remembered that today was his parent's anniversary and had to do something first.

He collected his thoughts and opened the door only to come face to face with Mrs. Hawk. He quickly looked down to avoid the gaze of the teacher. When he looked up, he was surprised to see Mrs. Hawk smiling at him but he could also clearly read that she had worn a sad face, what he couldn't understand was why.

"I know why you couldn't concentrate today," she began, causing Arthur's eyes to bulge out in surprise, "Oh my, you just look like your father, but you definitely have your mother's eyes. You've grown fast though."

With that she started running her fingers through Arthur's hair until his chin, then pushed it up causing Arthur to now look at her emerald eyes that were now glistened with tears.

"Wait for me, today we go together," she commanded him.

A million questions ran through Arthur's mind like a whirl wind, one after the other, "How did she know my mother's eye color? I've never told anyone my parents are dead, how did she know? Why does she want us to go together?"