Chapter 4

Eventually, 3rd period came along and I was sat down at my desk waiting for class to begin. In Biology class, the teacher didn't give us assigned seating, so naturally, I chose a desk at the very back in the right corner of the room. 

Soon, class started and the teacher, Mrs. Saint-Michael, gave a brief lesson. Most of it, I'd say 80% of it, was grade 11 review, although there were some new concepts. 

After the lesson, the teacher handed out a worksheet packet to everyone. The packet was about 10 pages stapled together. 

"Alright everyone," she said, "I want you to get into groups of 2 or 3, grab a microscope, and a cancerous skin cell sample, and complete the first 3 pages of the packet."

Group work.  I never liked working in groups at school. Mainly because ever since I was in middle school and no longer in the same class as Dacia, I was always that one kid who the teacher needed to help find a group because I had no confidence to go up to someone and ask them if I could be apart of their group. Even to this day, it gave me anxiety whenever I had to find a group or partner to work with. 

I sat, stiff as a board, on the edge of my seat, biting my nails a bit, as I watched everyone form groups for the lab work. I didn't know where to go. Most people I saw had already formed 3-man groups.

My head was racing with thoughts, when I felt I light tap on my shoulder.

"Oops, sorry," To my surprise, it was Kazue. I had honestly forgot for a moment that he was in my Biology class. "That's your injured shoulder, isn't it?" 

I put my hands down on my desk and shook my head. "It's not injured. It barely hurts."

"Well then, we'll go with bruised shoulder." He said, giving me that sheepish smile he had given me this morning. He then glanced at some other groups that had already started to get their microscopes set up. 

"Do you want to partner up?" He asked. 

I was a little hesitant at first. Why did Kazue want to partner up with me? He had friends in this class. And a few of them were in groups of 2. Why didn't he join them? It made me a little concerned. 

I concluded that it didn't matter at the moment, and I'd worry about it later. After all, I didn't have a partner/group and here Kazue was, asking to be partners. 

I nodded gently, "Yes, I'd like that."

It was towards the end of the period when the teacher said that more than likely we wouldn't be able to get all three pages of the work done in class, so the rest was homework.

For most of the time as we worked, Kazue and I didn't talk that much. We shared thoughts, opinions, and answers here and there when it was needed. But when I was in the middle of answering a question on the worksheet, Kazue pulled out his phone. 

"Hey Kiera, could we exchange numbers?" He asked out of the blue.

My eyes widened as I was a bit shocked. I was silent for a few seconds . 

"Um, what for exactly?" I questioned.

He placed his hand on the back of his neck. "Well, you know... for communication... group projects and stuff."

"We can just communicate by email." I stated. Honestly, it wasn't about him. I just didn't give my number to people in general. I just didn't really do that.

In my life, I didn't spend a lot of time on my phone. Sure, I kept up with news and trends and stuff, so I wasn't oblivious to what was going on around me in the world. But most of my time was spent either baking/cooking or outside gardening (during the warm months). Of course, I'd watch TV or read a book every once in a while, too. 

But he certainly wasn't satisfied with my statement. He then took my hand and placed his phone in it.

"Please write your number." Kazue implored. 

I held his phone in my hand as I looked at him with confusion.

He smiled. But this time it wasn't his signature sheepish smiled. It seemed genuine. "Don't think I'm trying to hit on you or anything. I want your number to communicate with you easily. Be it for school, or just other reasons."

What he meant by other reasons was beyond me. But I gave in, and wrote my phone number in his phone and gave it back to him. 

"Thanks!" He said happily. 

For the rest of the day, I couldn't help but think about Kazue.  I felt worried, happy, anxious and confused all at the same time. All my life I had troubles getting close to people and trusting people. Therapists told me that my severe distrust in others was caused by my childhood; growing up with an abusive father. 

I stopped going to therapy almost  2 years ago, when I was 16. Sure, the therapists definitely helped me understand my problems. But helping me understand my problems, never actually helped me solve them. So I didn't see the point anymore. 

Still, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel different around Kazue. It's not that I trusted him. In fact, I wouldn't even be calling him a friend, but he was just different from other people.  His attitude and personality were different, and no matter how much I tried to, I couldn't deny the fact that I admired him deep down inside. 

I'd soon find out that this admiration would only grow stronger.