Tethered

Chapter 6:

A few days had passed by and my life seemed to be getting back on track. Note the keyword seemed. I tried living as if nothing was wrong or unusual but my little made up world always ended whenever I found Rome hanging around with Daisy, Mandy or...even Yana.

After the gym and canteen incident, none of us crossed each other's path in those ways, especially him...

He tried maintaining as much distance as possible. It actually amused me when he stopped Daisy from insulting me. But still we weren't anywhere close to friends. I was happy that at the very least, we were definitely not enemies. He avoided sitting beside me in every class that we shared. Either he skipped the class entirely whenever the only empty place was beside me or took the seat farthest away from me as if I was a diseased zombie who would bite him if he sat beside me. I didn't know why but that still hurt my stupid heart whenever he did that but it was a lot better than the cold glares and insults he used to feed me.

I watched him as I sat down at the back of the class, alone for English literature. He had occupied the first seat while I conquered the last. Mr. O'Shea had yet to come to the class, so the students were indulged in an irritatingly loud chattering. It literally sounded like a third world country's black market that I usually see in movies, though I'd never visited any such place! But now, I had a clear idea how it would be. Exhaling out loud, I tried to relax when an aged lady with white hair entered the class. Pin drop silence followed through the place with her, making the students to quickly take their places. Her appearance radiated warmth; she was clothed in a dark blue long loose skirt with millions of flowers and a white collared shirt resided below an earthy brown home knitted sweater. She looked pretty lady for her age.

Smiling warmly at everyone, she started, "Good morning! I'm Darla Veronicas, your new replacement teacher since Mr. O'Shea won't be able to take your literature classes anymore due to his personal reasons. I moved into this town pretty recently; I hope you have a good experience with me this final year of your schooling."

She pulled out a box from her big sack of a bag and added, "my idea of education is quite different. And hence, we will follow my ideology. Everyone, please pick a chit from this box and pass the box around the class so that everyone gets one."

We obeyed as we were instructed. Joe, my neighbor picked out a chit and then passed the box to me, not before winking my way. Only two chits were remaining making me frown as I tried to solve this big dilemma that I harboured: which one do I pick?

Right, very huge dilemma! I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

Picking one in my hand I looked down at the other in confusion. Gosh, why was this so difficult? I didn't know what was wrong with me, for I put the chit that I had picked back before picking up the other and passing the box back to Mrs. Veronicas. She frowned after looking inside the box.

"Is someone absent?" she inquired.

"yes ma'am, Liam Donovan. He'll be back for the next class," Joe shouted from beside.

"very well. Now please look into your chits," she instructed making us open and see what was inside. My chit had a circled eleven.

"your chits contain the desk numbers. Starting from the first desk at your right hand corner as desk one and the desk behind it as desk two and so on, check for the desk having your number and occupy your seats," Mrs. Veronicas gave her final instructions and immediately the whole class got up to get shuffled. I counted the desks to find mine and moved towards it. I reached my desk and was about to sit when I came face to face with a certain Mathews.

"excuse me," Rome voiced out monotonously making me move out his way by bending over my desk. He exhaled out in annoyance and said, "you are in my way."

Now I sat down and gestured him to continue to wherever he had to but his eyes almost bulged out as he cursed out loud, "no! s**t!"

And that was when the realization decided to hit me, hard 'he was my neighbor'!?! Shocked was not even close to what I felt. I felt paralyzed as I regretted putting down the first chit and picking the other one. But hadn't he promised to be politer to me? So he wouldn't glare now. Guess, we could try to friends now. I looked up to him to find him stare at me clenching and unclenching his jaw. His hands rolled into fists. He turned to Mrs. Veronicas who had noticed the tension between us and asked, "Mrs. Veronicas, can you please change my partner? I'm not very comfortable with her."

I could hear the word 'very' echo around me making my heart drop. He still hated me...

His eyes lingered upon me just for a second before he turned to look at approaching figure of Mrs. Veronicas. She looked at me with pity in her eyes and then at Rome.

"sorry child. There is not going to be any sort of changes in the partners here. You must learn to accept whoever it is. It's a part of your education in my eyes. Acceptance and team work," she smiled politely.

"but ma'am-" she cut him off telling, "no ands or buts in my presence. Once I give my verdict, there is no changing it. You two look like you need help. Try becoming friends, it's not at all a bad thing." Rome gritted his teeth and sat down sulking beside me. He moved to the extreme corner trying to ignore me. I felt a sharp prickling as if someone just stabbed my heart, multiple times. Why was he going back on his promise? Fine, if he'd decide to ignore me, so will I return his favor by ignoring him. Like he was the air I breathe and I would just die without him! I would live better and much happier without his presence.

"open page number one forty two. This is the basic grammar. Please complete the activities given here and ask if you need any help," Mrs. Veronicas announced and we all immediately started off with it. She moved from desk to desk examining the answers written by the students. I finished the activities quickly and looked up to find her approaching us.

"do you need any help, my dear?" she asked me making me shake my head telling 'no'.

"I have completed the activities, ma'am," I replied.

"you are a fast one there, aren't you?" she smiled at me making me smile back.

"and what about you, my dear?" she asked Rome.

"um...er...I'm having a bit of trouble here," he replied embarrassed which shocked me. For his fluent accent and good English, I hadn't thought that he would have any trouble with grammar.

She just said, "okay," and then turned to me, "child, can you please help him with the activities?"

"no ma'am, I'll do it on my own or you can yourself help me," he reprimanded her request making me feel hurt. How much did he dislike me that he didn't want to take any help from me?

"this was supposed to be a team work, my dear. She will help you out," Mrs. Veronicas sternly said then added, "you must learn to communicate with each and everyone in the class, so you can take this as my order rather than a request to work with her."

She moved on to the next desk after she smiled at him as she finished. I turned to look at him. His hands were balled into fists and jaw clenched as he glared at his book.

"let me-" I reached out for his book but he hissed under his breath cutting me off, "Don't. Touch. My. Book." I backed away feeling tears brimming in my eyes, threatening to fall. I tried blinking them away as I pushed my book towards him so that he could copy and then turned away. At first, he just pushed it back harshly in reply but I constrained myself and did not react. His behavior didn't matter to me. I don't care about him! Why should I anyway? He wasn't a celebrity, but just an arrogant jerk.

Slowly he took the book back again and I didn't even bother to acknowledge what he was doing. The bell rang shortly and he pushed my book back towards me. Without another word exchanged, I walked out of the class. Tears threatened to stream down. But not this time. I would not feel a damn thing for him! I was going to be numb towards him. No feelings, no pain. He deserved nothing from me.