Chapter Four

In The class.

Miranda hesitantly stepped into the noisy classroom, but as soon as her classmates saw her, the room fell silent. The weight of their stares felt like a physical pressure on her, and for the first time, she felt exposed and vulnerable. It was a feeling she wouldn't have noticed if Taylor, her friend, were still by her side.

The classroom was almost at maximum capacity, with only two empty tables available at the back - one by the window. Miranda headed for the table by the window, hoping that being able to gaze outside would provide some much-needed mental relief when the class became too much to bear.

As she pulled out her chair and sat down, Miranda took a moment observing how everyone was engaged in conversations with each other. Faith Abel's voice rang out, her laughter echoing across the room as she talked with her seatmate and friend, Lady P. Miranda couldn't help but stare, feeling envious as she watched the popular girls effortlessly socializing.

When Faith caught her staring, Miranda felt awkward and quickly forced a smile, hoping for a friendly smile in return. But Faith barely acknowledged her presence and returned to her conversation. Miranda rolled her eyes, wondering why she even bothered.

Faith Abel was known as the school's tigress - a pretty girl with a fierce temper who nobody dared to mess with. Miranda had heard rumors of Faith's violent streak and how she once beat up a senior who tried to bully her. "She really gave her the beating of her life. She even stuffed her into a locker in the girls' locker room. It was hilarious. I was laughing like a madwoman," Taylor had said.Miranda knew that if it wasn't for her powers, she would have been intimidated by the raven-haired, Faith Abel.

The door slides open and Zikki enters the classroom. The sudden surge of excitement fills the air, making it feel as though a celebrity had just arrived. As Zikki walks in, some of the female students are hesitant to approach him because of his ex-girlfriend's presence. However, they still greet him with waves. When Zikki finally reaches Faith's table, a smile spreads across his face. Faith returns a smile, feeling relieved that things are not awkward between them.

As Zikki surveyed the room, he noticed that the only empty table was beside Miranda, the girl he and his friends had wronged. While he settled down on one of the seats, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Miranda, who didn't bother to acknowledge his presence. He wants to apologies but wasn’t sure if this was the right time to do so.

As the door creaked open, the once lively classroom fell silent in dread. The students' worst fears had come true - Avatar Sam, the most reviled teacher in the school, had arrived. His peculiar appearance earned him his nickname, as he sported a patch of stark white hair on the crown of his head, surrounded by a sea of black.

With a shrill and piercing voice, Avatar Sam bellowed his first command, "Sit down!" The timid students who had been standing shuffled to their seats, afraid to draw his attention. Most teachers would have started the class by having students introduce themselves, but Avatar Sam was not like most teachers. Instead, he scanned the room, looking for familiar faces. Suddenly, he spotted Faith Abel.

"Faith Abel!" he shouted. "How are your parents?" The rest of the class watched as Avatar Sam approached Faith's table.

"They're doing well," she replied, forcing a smile despite her inner disgust.

"I appreciate the message they sent me. Please convey my gratitude to them," he said, He then turned to face the class. "Miranda's parents are great people who respect and appreciate teachers. Unlike some other parents, who seem to think they're above us."

A student whispered to another in front of Miranda, "Looks like someone wants special treatment."

As the teacher spotted Zikki, he moved forward and said, "Our star football player is here! How's your dad doing?"

"He's doing fine," Zikki replied.

"Of course he would be," he said, lowering his head towards Zikki. "He gave me a speeding ticket just two days ago." He offered a friendly smile before straightening up. "I hope you do well in this class," he added, giving Zikki a pat on the back.

As he walked away, he noticed Miranda gazing out of the window, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around her. "Why is your hair looking like that?" he began, reaching out to touch it. Miranda sensing someone about to touch her, grabbed his hand tightly only releasing it when she recognized the high-pitched tone yelling for her to let go.

"I am so sorry sir," Miranda says, standing up.

"Your grip is quite strong," he says, rubbing his hand. "And your hair, it's a bit distracting."

Miranda nervously touches her hair. "I'm sorry, sir. I'll make sure to fix it."

"You should be sorry," he responds sternly. "Luckily for you, it's the first day of school. Next time, you'll be headed straight to detention."

Miranda takes a deep breath, trying to conceal her annoyance. "I understand, sir."

He walks away, mentally labeling her as a weirdo.

As he walked to the chalkboard, ready to write something, the door slid open, drawing everyone's attention. A disheveled student stumbled in, his clothes smeared with mud, his glasses askew, and his hair in disarray. He kept his eyes glued to the floor.

Avatar Sam surveyed him with a quick glance. "And who might you be?" he asked.

The student stuttered, "I-I'm Chandler Rowley, sir."

"Are you supposed to be in this class?"

He nodded timidly. "Yes, sir."

Sam looked at him with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief. "Then why do you look like you've been traipsing through the jungle to get here? Do you live in the bushes?"

Some of the students snickered, but Chandler remained silent.

"Go and find a seat," Sam said with a note of disgust. "Wait… sit next to that weirdo over there.” He pointed to Miranda.

As he settled down next to Miranda, she greeted him with a warm smile. Despite the medicated glasses that obscured his eyes, Miranda couldn't help but notice his striking blue eyes. Miranda's smile was genuine, and her well-maintained walnut skin and wild hair added to her natural beauty.

He returned her smile, though she could sense his nerves.

"Let's begin with logarithms. Turn to chapter one NOW!" Avatar Sam instructed the class.