Tethered

Chapter 8:

I looked at Liam whose hands were clenched into fists and then at Rome who sheltered a cold look on his face making me shudder. I could feel everyone's eyes burn into me as they waited patiently for my reply.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I spoke, "but ma'am-" and was immediately cut off by Mrs Veronicas, "no ands or buts, child. I want to see you sitting over here, immediately." She pointed at the place where Grace had been seated. I could feel my cheeks heat up due to the embarrassing situation that had decided to unleash upon me. The anger was rising inside of me. Gritting my teeth, I stood up and gathered my things. From the corner of my eyes, I found that Grace was doing the same thing. Liam was looking at me apologetically as I went to sit beside the-person-whose-name-shouldn't-be-taken.

As if I was an infected person, he immediately pushed his chair from its original position to make as much space as possible between us.

I didn't know why but something hurt inside me. I silently sat in my place and listened to whatever Mrs. Veronicas had to say.

After a hell of torture, she instructed, "okay students, now work with your partners and solve the activities."

I really hated her for this part. I could hear knuckles crackle from beside and turned to find Rome clutching his pen so hard that it snapped into two. He put his broken pen aside and searched for another. Reflexively, I handed him my pen as my spare pen was right on the table. He started at my pen as if it was a grenade and left it untouched as he took out a pencil instead and started working. I tried to pretend like nothing had happened as the feeling of rejection sagged onto my chest. Soon, Mrs Veronicas walked up to us and said, "meet me after this class. I've got something to discuss with both of you."

I nodded in reply making her flash a smile before proceeding her way to the next bench. Maybe she finally understood that I and Rome could never be partners any time soon or perhaps ever! And the reason was his unreasonable loathing towards me.

Throughout the rest of the class he ignored me. Was he a racist by any chance? Was it because of my skin tone? Did he dream of snow white then? He sure was behaving that way. As those thoughts crossed my mind, my heart pained again thinking about something that didn't even make any sense.

I took a peek at Liam who had been sternly nodding his head at whatever Grace was telling him. Suddenly, I felt all alone and very lonely, like no one was there for me though I was sitting in a class full of students. It was quite ironic. The loneliness seemed to be my loyal companion since the time my parents left me to fend for myself. At first, everything looked like a dream but later the lack of people in my life started suffocating me. My very own presence was torturous. If Michael hadn't been into my life, I might never have been normal. He fulfilled the need of brother, friend and at times even a parent.

The bell rang signaling the end of class. To say I was quite relieved at the fact that I didn't have to face another teacher lecturing about things that I may never need in my whole life, would be an understatement. I watched Rome slide off from his chair completely ignoring me again before he walked past me.

"not so fast, dear. I want to talk to you," Mrs. Veronicas stated blocking his path then looked at me before adding, "both." The other students looked at us, giving us strange looks as they walked out. Liam came to stand beside me before meeting my gaze. I could tell that he was hesitant to go out without me. I nodded at him encouraging him to carry on. Still, his eyes lingered at me before he delivered a silent warning in Rome's direction then walked out. I exhaled loudly as I turned to face Mrs. Veronicas. I had an idea about what was going to happen next. Most probably, she would give us a lecture about our hostility or more over his unfriendliness and try asking our problems. In short, she was going to act like therapist between us but here she got the wrong girl and the right guy. I had no problem with him, it was him who needed a session or two with a psychiatrist.

"I know, it's your lunch break but I won't take long," Mrs. Veronicas started. Rome sighed impatiently after he crossed his arms across his chest.

"I want you two to participate in the drama for the talent's day. And I've already have a role for you two," she smiled giving a shock to us, or me. Because I don't know know anything about Rome. Only one thought buzzed through my mind, 'Me and drama?' Shouldn't she be hunting the students interested in drama instead of randomly selecting any student she wants? This was what they called as Partiality.

I opened my mouth to object but Rome beat me to it, "but ma'am, I don't want-" Mrs. Veronicas cut him off, "no ands or buts, my child. This is an assignment for you both. You will be allotted marks for this one. So do your best and pick your scripts up from my office later on. And," she smiled at us politely before continuing, "I want you two to become friends by the end of this drama."

And that was her punch line before she dramatically exited the classroom muttering, "let's see, how you both won't put up with each other after this."

************

"L.O.L! Don't tell me that Mrs. Veronicas is playing the match maker???" Lola held her stomach laughing, "as if it could change Rome's feelings for you." She smiled sadistically.

"who cares about the change of that lunatic's mind or feelings or whatever! He's pure evil," Liam grumbled.

"he's a vampire. Cold-hearted, merciless and an evil beast," I added sarcastically watching Liam with amusement.

"absolutely right," he agreed before confusion graced his features. Boy! This boy was way too much entertaining! At last, realization hit him hard making his neck and face flush red, indeed making me laugh. I had just given words to his thoughts. He scratched the back of his neck grinning like a little boy. It was always so easy to read Liam. He was an open book. The girls who were witnessing the exchange broke into laughter while David smirked at his pal earning a dope slap on his head.

"okay darling, go to the Supreme Justice before she banishes you from the earth's surface," Diana winked at me making me groan. I had a bad feeling about this, a really really bad one. Lethargically, I pulled my lazy ass up from the seat to make my way to Mrs. Veronicas.

"come back soon," Liam exclaimed just as I was exiting the canteen.

"she's definitely getting a witch's role," I heard Lola laugh annoyingly. Seriously, why was I friends with her again? I gave her a pointed look before walking out. 'She surely knows how to increase one's confidence,' I thought sarcastically. Well, we would soon get to know what Mrs. Veronicas actually saw in me for this stupid role.

Lola's words haunted my thoughts. Could she possibly want me for a witch's role? Maybe and perhaps Rome would be an evil fire breathing dragon! That would just be so Great! We might end up fighting on the stage leaving behind a hilarious scene.

Shaking the thoughts away, I looked up to find Rome leaning against door frame of cabin of Mrs. Veronicas'. All of a sudden my throat went dry. I was a nervous wreck as I stood a meter away from him but he never bothered to glance at me.

Should I talk to him or should I not? Would he behave like an arrogant prick again? Or should I wait for him to start a conversation? After all we will be needing to work with each other here after. Perhaps, I should just clear my throat to grab his attention and then say a 'hi'? Well, it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Maybe he will finally talk back like any other normal guy, maybe he was in a good mood. And hadn't he told Diana that we were at peace? So maybe he would behave.

I cleared my throat trying to capture his attention but he didn't even bulge. So, I repeated my action once again and louder the second time. Yet, he stared off in a distance without acknowledging me. I wiped my sweaty hands over my skirt and nervously greeted in a timid voice, "hi!"

I knew that he heard me but then continued to ignore my presence. What was up with this guy? Why did he despise me so much? I flinched slightly when the door opened and a surprised Mrs. Veronicas stood before us.

"oh! I thought that my students would walked inside the cabin instead of guarding the door for me. Come inside, please," she added opening the door wider to let us in.

This was the first time that I had been inside her cabin. It small but gave a homely vibes. There were mini flowerpots by her window sill. A pile of neatly arranged papers sat on her table. An old rusty looking radio was placed in a corner, it must be an antique piece as that thing as it was looked broken beyond repair. What would she do with an old trash like that, anyway? I shifted my attention back to Mrs. Veronicas who was taking out a set of pinned pages from a cupboard and handed it to us.

"these are your scripts and I want you both to go through them. And remember, I'm not taking a 'no' for an answer," she smiled at us.

I started going through the first page. It was a sleeping beauty drama and I was definitely going to be Malificent, no doubt. Exhaling loudly, I turned the page over only to be surprised. I frowned as I re-read the lines.

'now, now captain, you wouldn't want to tell my father, the king that his only son was almost dead because of a nincompoop. For all I know, my father loves me so much that he would rather chop off your head than lose me. I am the only heir to the kingdom, do you remember?'

I looked at Rome to find his expression similar to mine as he continued to study the script.

"Mrs. Veronicas, I think you accidentally gave me the wrong script," I spoke out making her brows furrow. She quickly walked up to me and looked into my script.

"mine too," Rome added coldly from beside.

"no dear, this IS YOUR script," I felt like IS YOUR being embedded into my brains. Looking at my baffled state, she clarified, "it's a cross gender drama."

And at that very moment my jaw hit the floor.

Was she seriously serious? Did she think it was funny to pull such a kind of joke? She wanted me, Elizabeth Marshalls to enact a boy's role? She smiled wrinkly. No sheez, she was ancient but she didn't have to show that people lose their minds at her age! I will be personally talking to the principal about this matter and ask him to tell her to visit a psychiatrist. She must have confused the genders or something. Or maybe it was her eyesight. Wait a minute, did I look like a boy to her? If so, she must definitely get her eyes checked as well!

"I know what sort of things might have crossed your minds in this short interval but it's nothing as you think this to be. It's just a drama, a team effort and I wanted you both to learn from this," Mrs. Veronicas stated.

"learn what? How to dress up like a girl or to be as dumb as this one here?" Rome snapped.

Did he just call me dumb? My temper flared.

"did you just call me dumb?" I glared at him. If only looks could kill, he might have been six feet under the ground by now.

"guess what? Yes, I did," he spat back.

"you are even more dumber to even realize it in the first place," he snorted after, adding with his mockery. This was beyond my limit. I just couldn't take it anymore.

"you are the dumb person here, not me! You didn't even know how to unlock your locker! You didn't even know the answer keys to the simple activities! I had to help you out," I literally shouted.

"well, I never asked you to. You are the one who always wants to keep poking your nose everywhere. You are the most stupid person ever born on this planet!" he raised his voice.

My blood kept boiling. What was his problem? Why was he so adamant to annoy the hell out of me or make me cry? Why did he hate me so much? What had I ever done wrong to him?

Tears pricked my eyes and I was speechless before anyone of us could continue to bicker, Mrs. Veronicas chimed in, "stop it both of you! This is what I want you both to overcome. Learn to accept each other and stop this childish argument. I want you both to cooperate. Now go. I'll see you both in the evening at rehearsals."

I immediately left the cabin. I couldn't take it any longer. I thought that we had made peace but no he had to burst my happy bubble. Now, I see that there can never be an 'us' with me and Rome. It was just five minutes and we were ready to slit each other's throats. I don't know what will be the condition if I had to see and work with him every single day till the talent's day. One of us would definitely end up dead or in a mental asylum.