Chapter nine

"ADAM! HEY ADAM!"

"Yes, Miss Rose?"

"Can you please stay up during class!?"

"Sorry Miss Rose. I am just a bit dizzy is all."

"Seriously, does this epoch has any respect for history at all? Tsk! Okay, class, as I was saying..."

In a couple more minutes, the clock hits noon and the school takes its break. Most students head for the cafeteria others sit in their classrooms and have their homemade lunch while others just flip through their books as revision.

Adam stayed in class for lunch. He brought a veggie sandwich and after his first bite, he wraps it back up and puts it back in his bag.

'Ahhhhh... Head hurts.' He thinks to himself. He rests his head face down on the desk hoping to snatch a few minutes of sleep. 'I don't get it. Can't I live my life in peace? This day just keeps getting worse and worse. Earlier, I realized many people are goggling at me. Why? Let's just eavesdrop on their chatter.'

He pays close attention to his surroundings. All he is hearing are the noisy chattering of the many many students. The noise he is hearing will normally be annoyingly unbearable for people but he sucks it in and keeps searching. A very juicy girls' gossip catches his ears and he draws all his focus on it.

"So is it really true?" The first girl asks.

"Probably. I mean we are all advised on how crazily she has fallen head over heels for Adam." The second girl replies.

"But still aren't they kids? We are all kids you know. Pushing as far as to get engaged now...that is just too extreme."

"Tsk! Quit your yapping girl. Don't act all miss right on me. We all know you are just jealous, right Dorothy?"

"Huh...? Shush... Shush! People will hear you. And don't go around judging me. You also like him, right Tabitha? And don't even think about playing dump. I have been seeing you leering at him for some time now. "

"Whaaaaaat? Pffff! Me...? You... you can't be serious. I... I'm like way out of his league you know. You should. know by now that I don't just fall for a...a pretty...very pretty face. I mean he is dreamy and handsome and tall and...and...and just perfect." She scrolls her eyes to the skies with a wide smile.

"Aww, you look so cute when you are all red and blush. Be careful not to drool. It will ruin your cuteness."

She comes back out of her mind. "Holy sh*t! I do like him." She drabs Dorothy by the shoulders and starts to shake vigorously, asking, "Tell me, what should I do?"

"Tsk! Like I will help a rival." She cheekily says to Tabitha.

"Well if you won't help then good luck. Did you forget she is also a rival?"

"Oh... What are we going to do Tabitha?" They hold hands.

"Aw... Like I know. How did everything happen so fast? Just yesterday on the bus everything was just fine. So why now?"

"You know..."

"ADAM...!" Adam gets up with hands blocking his ears and wincing.

"You could have just tapped me." He turns to see the intruder. A guy in glasses. "Who are you?"

"Hey-hey-hey! It's me, Alex. We've known each other for two years. I was behind you on the bus yesterday. Remember...?"

"Erm... Yes. Alexander Clifford, right?"

"Whew... But can you call me just Alex? That is cooler. But I knew you couldn't forget your best friend."

"I...did actually... Arghh!" He winces in pain holding the side of his head.

"You okay man?" Alex asks resting a hand on his shoulder. Adam raises his countenance to look at him. "Dude, your eyes (the sclera) are turning red. You sure you cool?"

And again *Arghh* Adam wince in pain.

"Dude get up..." Alex tries helping him up. He puts Adam's arm around his neck. "...I am taking you to the clinic. Hopefully, they can do something about it."

They leave the class and get to the hallway. They take a right then head on. In a few moments filled with slow steps, they get to the clinic.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* Alex knocks. But receives no response. He tries it again but still, silence. He tries opening the door but it wouldn't badge.

"Lock eh...? Wait for a bit." He moves Adam closer to the wall for support. "Now what have we got...?" He starts frisking himself for stuff. "Adam, you got a pen?" Adam who appears weak all of a sudden, with the little strength he got left, reaches for his pocket and takes out a pen. He hands it to Alex. "Thanks, buddy. Hey, is anyone around?"

Adam who doesn't even turn to know response, "No."

" the hole at the top. He gently pushes down the clip and then,

*Click* *Click* The door unlocks.

"Ha! Still got the sticky touch. Come..." He takes Adam in and rests him on a bed. He starts going through the shelves and drawers for anything suitable for ingestion.

"AHEM! Young man, can I help you?" He turns in a hurry and sees a lady possibly in her late twenties. She has black hair and wears very red lipstick.

"Oh, shiiiii... Miss Jane, you scared the cra... I mean you startled me."

"Oooh. I see. Well, I am deeply sorry."

"You are being sarcastic, aren't you?"

"Bravo! But your smarty pants don't answer my question, does it?"

"Oh, sorry. It is just my boy..."

"Adam!" She cuts in with a shriek and moves closer to Adam who is in bed sweating profusely and looking pale. "Boy leave us."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. It is time for the next class. Now go!"

"Right... And it is Alex. My name." He leaves and closes the door behind him.

"Oh nooo... What should I do? Young miss will get me killed if I let anything happen to him." She says panicking. "I know, let's put him to sleep first." She places an index finger which keeps shivering with fear on his forehead. "Don't worry okay? Everything will be just fine. Now go to...sleep." And just like that, Adam is out cold.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Go away! Come back another time!"

*Knock* *Knock*

"I said go away!"

"Excuse me." The guest opens the door and wanders in.

"I said go...! Y-y-young M-m-mistress." She calls shaking with fear and panic and bows with haste.

"Oh my... Oh my. Our beloved nurse neglecting her duties."

"No m-miss. It wasn't like that at all. I was only..."

"I thought I said call me Mary when we are in school. Huh? My precious sy-co-phant." She utters with a sweet smile on her face. But to Jane, that smile is a bitter pill. One no one wants a second doze.

"Please...please you have to understand. This isn't my fault. I was merely acknowledging the trash I am to not let my dirty mouth mention your godly name."

"Oh, I understand. Perfectly..."