Chapter 5: An Uneventful School Day

Chapter 5: An Uneventful School Day

Forest Lake High School, Temperance, South Dakota....

      Layla arrived at the front of the school with plenty of time as Derrick exited his mother's car, a white four door sedan and approached her just as Amy came rushing up to them clutching her loose books into her chest with both arms. It seemed they were down to being a just a trio once more with Casey off doing her cheerleader thing and they made their way toward the front doors of the school after meeting up. It was still quite warm out and all of the other students were taking their collective sweet time to file inside before the bell rang. This day seemed just as unappealing and mundane as all of the other days and nights Layla spent in Temperance. She just had her friends and dreams for her future to keep her going despite not even wanting to climb out of bed much of the time. 

The none too eager students made their journey into the school veering off toward their respective 1st period classes and dreading the other classes to come as the morning finally seemed to get underway. Layla had English her first period class and wasn't particularly looking forward to it. She walked in as she always had and managed to secure the seat in the farthest part of the room away from the teacher and definately beyond many of the students. She wasn't the social type with anyone that wasn't in her already close group of friends and wasn't in the least impressed with the trappings of High School life. For her, as with many like-minded students, High school was just a stepping stone in a vast road to the future she desired more than anything.

Layla sat quietly at her desk pulling out the black notebook she always scribbled in when she'd finished whatever assignment Mr. Weller had concocted for them that day. Despite appearances, and her lack of enthusiasm for going to the class in general, Layla had actually been on of the top scoring students to ever venture into Mr. Weller's classroom. Her reluctance participation was due to him favoring her on all topics due to her vast knowledge of them. While she didn't consider herself as a literary genius, he did and it made her uncomfortable to have to deal with it.

The moment she stepped foot in the classroom, Mr. Weller decided to approach her with one of her previously written assignments in hand. Mr. Weller, an average man given to wearing grotesque sweater vests and long sleeve checkered shirts and beige khakis was always seen as the uncool teacher and someone most would have shoved into a locker if he'd had gone to school with them. He was sheepish in nature and had orange hair that he kept neatly combed in a style befitting a boring teacher and he had a thick muchstance which he also kept neat when teaching.  Often he regaled the class often with tales of how long it took him to grow it.

Layla found him to be something of a nerd herself, but he had appreciated her work in a way that she never did. He was married, the golden wedding band on his ring finger always evident, there was also the fact that it was well known that his wife had been similar in looks and manner to him. Both worse glasses, hers were red with wide frames and she often liked cotton flower dresses in browns and greens. She smelled of baked goods due to her personal cooking hobby and always brought something fresh for her husband's lunch. 

She was a nice woman and more of a mother figure in Layla's eyes than her own mother had been before her untimely demise. 

"This work is outstanding as always Miss Quinn," said Mr. Weller as he approached holding her recently graded assignment. 

She could already tell she had an A plus from the way he held it in his hand. 

"It's a shame you don't volunteer to showcase your work when in class, perhaps you could teach your fellow classmates a thing or two." he said with a smile. 

"Thanks, but no thanks." replied Layla not at all interested in giving a class speech. 

Mr. Weller seemed disappointed, but handed her the graded work nonetheless. 

"Well, in any case keep up the good work." he said before heading back toward his own desk as she settled into her seat and the other students started to file into class. 

Layla took a look at her work for a moment before filing it into her backpack and getting out her notebook for class. She was already looking forward to the assignment despite her initial reaction to speaking with her teacher. 

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Forest Lake High School, Temperance, South Dakota....

     Lunch came and not a moment too soon as the day continued to drag on with class after class passing by and more work being piled up due to teachers getting a special kick out of forcing their students to take it home with them. Derrick had been all smiles as he, and Amy approached Layla whom had just gotten out of class. They were all apparently pleased to be reunited after the grueling afternoon of their respective classes and the shuffling through the halls.

"I don't know about you girls...but I'm starving." said Derrick with a smirk. 

"Me too." replied Amy. "Imagine sitting in Comp Science with your stomach growling from bell to bell."

Layla laughed in agreement. 

"Bet it was loud enough for everyone to hear it." she said. 

"I think it set their stomachs off too, had a whole "need lunch chorus" in there." replied Amy. 

The three of them made their way toward the cafeteria secretly hoping the menu had improved over the previous day, but knew all too well that it hadn't. 

They strolled up to the counter where Layla ordered a pre wrapped sandwich and a can of off brand cola and Amy settled for a bottle of water and a salad, or what passed for one before she worked her magic so to speak and made it at least edible. Derrick took his chances with the mystery meat and of course grabbed a tray where they proceeded to give him corn and salad on the side along with a carton of chocolate milk. 

The three of them sat in their usual space huddled together like always since they first began sharing lunches since Kindergarten. The only one missing was Casey and it was mostly due to her cheer practice and then group meeting to discuss her upcoming routine for the game at the end of the week. 

She was still one of them as far as she was concerned just a bit more popular and busy ever since starting High school. 

Layla had been pleased to be surrounded by friends, they afforded her the comfort and the mental break she craved when she had not been at home going stir crazy in her bedroom with Jarrett running about the place drunk and half clothed and his dog Brutus being used to keep her in line. 

She couldn't wait until the day she bid goodbye to Temperance and ventured out into the world on her own. She highly doubt she'd even look back. Even for Jarrette. Years of being his servant of sorts in place of her mother had truly taken a toll on her and she wished to put as much distance between them as possible. 

For the time being, she just resolved herself to enjoying as much time as she could spend with her friends as possible.