The next day, Annabelle made it to school with all of her homework done. It took her most of the night, because Landon’s voice kept distracting her.
She sank into her desk in History class. Her eyes could barely stay open and Landon’s voice continued to haunt her in between the teacher’s lecture. Mr. Parsons kept saying things that she knew she could comment on, but as soon as she would think of something it would get replaced with “Keep your mouth shut.” One thing was certain in her head, she was glad that English was the only class she shared with Landon.
Mr. Parsons had apparently just asked an open ended question and was looking around the room for an answer. His eyes came to Annabelle and so did the eyes of half the class.
She opened her mouth trying to scramble for anything intelligent to say but the truth was that she had missed half of the lecture and truly had no idea what the question was that was being asked. She looked at him for a while and slowly shook her head that she didn’t have anything to say.
He paused for a moment and passed on to the rest of the class. Everyone else slowly turned away from her but not without a few lingering puzzled looks.
She thought, “Do I really give my opinion that often?”
She barely heard the rest of the class and grabbed her books when the bell rang. She remained lost in her thoughts.
“Annabelle?” The voice jolted through her. “Annabelle?” It was Mr. Parsons.
“Yeah? I mean yes, sir.”
“Are you alright?”
She looked at him with her head cocked.
“You seem distracted.”
“To say the least.”
“Will you be alright?”
“I think so. Just an off day I guess.” She continued walking, trying to avoid further conversation.
She wandered through the hallway clutching her books to her chest and keeping her eyes on the ground. She wondered how someone so frustrating could have turned her world so upside down. She had never cared what Landon thought of her before, why was she starting now? Maybe it was because he seemed to speak for everyone. The looks she got when she didn’t give an answer were very revealing. But why shouldn’t she talk? She always contributed good ideas to the conversation.
She wasn’t looking forward to Physics and Jerry. They would probably be broken off into pairs again. She sighed as she opened the door to the classroom and saw the instructions on the board: “Since you read chapter twleve last night, break into groups of three and work the problems at the end of the chapter.”
Annabelle noticed the substitute in her teacher’s chair. She wore a stern countenance and an awkwardly fitting gray suit. Normally Annabelle would have thought of the ways that this woman could be made to look better, but today she simply didn’t care.
She wandered to her desk and noticed Jerry. The groups of three idea didn’t faze her; she knew that she would still be working with Jerry and Jerry alone.
The bell rang and the substitute stood in front of the classroom. Her countenance didn’t change, “You will stand when I call you and you will be put in groups that way. I will not tolerate complaining, whining or negotiating. I will not tolerate loud talking or constant moving. And I certainly will not tolerate cheating.” She seemed to take the time to stare down every single student before proceeding with her list.
Annabelle’s name was called, followed immediately by Jerry’s. She accepted already that this would be her fate. What she didn’t expect was that Heather’s name would be called as well. The three of them gathered the desks together and opened their books without a word.
Annabelle opened her book and stared at the large number 12 on the page, waiting for someone else to speak.
Heather spoke first, “Don’t you have something to say, Annabelle?”
Annabelle heard the tone and the sigh that came before it. The weight of Landon’s words sounded loudly in her ears. “No, I don’t. I thought we’d let Jerry start. Jerry, do you have any idea how to solve the first question?”
Jerry’s jaw dropped slightly. “I, uh. I…” He looked at Annabelle in confusion and then at Heather.
Heather looked at him, “Did you even read the chapter?” Her tone was sharp and biting.
Annabelle thought that this was unfair. Sure Jerry smelled and never said much, but maybe he knew how to do everything. Annabelle was sure she caught the edge of his last quiz when they were handed back and he managed to make an A. Annabelle had only made a B+.
Jerry looked at Heather with a glare, “No, I didn’t.”
Heather rolled her eyes, “Of course, you didn’t. And the one day Annabelle decides not to talk is the day that I get put into a group with the two of you.”
Annabelle snickered.
“Why are you laughing?” Heather clearly didn’t think it was funny. But Annabelle did catch a slight smile from Jerry.
Annabelle turned to him, “Do you ever read the chapters?”
He grinned a little more.
“Of course not, he works with you and you do everything for him.” Heather was only getting more upset.
“I don’t take his tests for him.”
“No?”
“Of course she doesn’t. I’m a lot of things, including lazy, but I’m definitely not a cheater. Who do you think you are coming into our group and messing up our work strategy?”
“You think I want to be with you two?”
“You’ve made it quite clear that you don’t.” Jerry had just said more than Annabelle had ever heard but she was beginning to realize some things about him.
“Wait.” Annabelle looked at Jerry, “You always volunteer to turn our assignments in, don’t you?”
He blushed a little as this recognition.
“You fix the mistakes that I make, don’t you?”
His eyes dropped to the desk and his lips tightened.
“Huh. You don’t read the book because you don’t have to, do you? What’s the answer to number 1?”
“I, uh. I don’t know.”
Heather watched the two of them closely and looked at Jerry finally, “Yes, you do.”
There was a short silence.
“If I answer, will you stop staring at me?”
Both girls nodded.
“23.”
They took five minutes between them to find that the answer was in fact 23.
Jerry looked thoroughly disappointed.
“Why are you upset? You’re a physics genius?” Heather looked like she had struck gold. “You’ve been giving Annabelle the answers the whole time?”
“Of course not. I just fix a few things here and there, nothing big. I mean it’s partner work, isn’t it? That’s my contribution. I don’t always fix everything. Otherwise how would Annabelle learn the things that I already know? That wouldn’t do anybody any good.” Jerry ran his hand through his frustrated with the situation.
Heather smiled.
“Don’t get any ideas, Heather. Annabelle is my partner and I’d like to keep it that way. As long as that’s ok with you.” His hazel eyes looked to her for safety.
“That’s great with me.”
Heather sighed again. “Well, we’re in a group together today so I suggest we get started.” She was annoyed that Jerry refused to be her partner before she had even gotten the chance to ask.
They continued to work on the problems and Jerry only gave the occasional nod or shake of the head to let them know if they were on the right track. Heather resented it, but Annabelle remained appreciative of the help in actually learning the material. They barely finished before the bell.
Heather snapped her book closed and rushed through the door.
Annabelle looked at Jerry and no longer noticed the smell, “Thanks, for everything.”
He just smiled at her and walked out of class.
Annabelle was able to lift her head walking to the next class, even when Heather glared at her from her locker.
She knew that English was next and tried to imagine the way that things would go with Landon. She thought about taking a longer way to class so that she could arrive right before class started, but that would give her too much anxiety. Then she realized that Landon never walked in until right before the bell himself. She was better to just walk there and hope that he kept to his normal routine. She had just decided that this would be the case when she felt someone from behind her and start whispering into her ear.
“You’re smiling.”
She knew the voice because it had been haunting her for the last 23 hours. “And why shouldn’t I be?”
“No reason.”
“If I stop smiling, it’s going to be because of you.”
“Is that so?” His eyes shone more blue than usual. It may have been because of the shirt he was wearing.
“You annoy me more than anyone I’ve ever met.”
He smiled, proud of himself.
“But I suppose I have to thank you. So thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He winked at her.
She stopped and stood upright, “Just because I thanked you, does not mean that I will fall for your charm like every other girl. I think I prefer physics geniuses.”
With that she proceeded into class, ready to listen to whatever her classmates might have to say.
