Chapter Four

Pulling into the parking lot I pull into one of the further parking spots. Parking any closer puts me in a closer proximity to the groups standing outside their vehicles and I just rather not be close. Walking on the far end of the lot and trying to avoid any stray looks I make it to the main entrance. The main building is huge. Tall brownstone with lots of windows and ornate columns in the front framing the main doors. Walking in I note the security. Three assembly lines of everyone getting their bags scanned and walking through metal detectors. This was what my old high school was setting up the year I graduated. It was pretty much simplistic compared to all this. I get the reasoning for it. People these days and all the violence has gotten out of control.

While waiting in the line I notice tables set up on the other side lined with people greeting their new fellow students. Which would include me once I'm done with the security check.

Making my way through, I just picked up my bag from the assembly and maybe got five steps away when a bubbly brunette pops right up in front of me with a huge smile on her face "Hello! I'm Aimee and I'm here to answer any questions you have and to help you along your way."

This girl had one to many coffees this morning. That or shes just innately peppy and hyper. "Thanks, Aimee. I think I'm good." I tell her.

"Oh come on. I need to sponser someone and everyone has a hard time adjusting here and finding their way around. Everyone could use some help. Besides, us girls need to stick together. Help me out, girl."

I look at her. Like really look at her. She was about 2 inches or so taller than me with shoulder length brunette hair. Mocha skin tone and big brown eyes. She seems just naturally sweet and naturally hyper. Shes the type of person that their moods can easily affect your own. I found myself nodding my head because I could even think about what I was actually agreeing to. And man did she bounce up on her toes and practically snatch me up. She took off walking, pulling me along with her. "Oh my gosh, this is going to be so much fun. I have been wanting to sponser someone forever now. You have no idea."

"Is there some type of reward thing for you if you sponsor someone?" I ask her.

"Nope. I just really love meeting new people and really just love helping whenever I can." she says.

"Yeeeaahh, I don't know how to talk to new people. I love helping, but I just know I lack needed social skills.''

She laughes "Girl, you came to the right place. Or rather I should say you met the right person and we are gonna be great friends I just know it already."

Usually my walls would start popping up warding off any type of relationship or friendship, but it kinda feels natural walking and talking with her.

She walks me into the front office so we could get my paper schedule and I take note of the place. Filling cabinets lining the back wall. Behind the counter where we are standing, there are two desks that are lined with scattered papers that that I would describe to be an organized chaos for the two little old ladies that seem to be running the place. One was rather helpful while the other one sat in front of her computer typing away looking mad at the world.

Aimee gives me a quick tour showing me the guidance office and the cafeteria. Which I loved by the way. It was rather large with a small buffet style set up for salads and such in the center. There was a wall lined with a variety of vending machines and the typical line up with a register. There was also a whole wall lined top to bottom with windows with an exit out to a courtyard with tables scattered about. The whole area was surrounded by neches and huge oak trees that provided just enough shade to the area making it a prime place to sit and enjoy your lunch while getting some air and sunshine.

"So, let me see that schedule of yours so we can get you where you need to go."

I hand her the folded up paper and she studies it. "Crazy awesome!" she says.

"I'm sorry. What?"

"Girl, we have all the same classes, but one! Don't ask me how that happened, but I think this schedule just bumped us up to future besties." We both laughed and she handed me the paper back. "Lets get going. Mrs. Riggin can be a real pain if someone shows up late. Noone likes her and she knows it and she could care less. Best advice is just keep your head down in her class and listen because you never know when she is going to randomly call on you. And let me tell you, she has caught me a time or two and the one time I was trying to hide my little sexting convo with the boyfriend and man did she throw cold water on me. Metaphorically of course, but still. She is like a catagory 5 bitch." 

I had to laugh at that analogy and honestly I am actually kind of curious in meeting this woman.

Entering the class Aimee has the same idea I do and we try to stick to the back of the class, but it seems that most everyone else had the same idea and the last several rows were already filled up. Guess we have no choice but to sit closer to the front than either of us would have liked. "We will have to try to get here sooner tomorrow and beat everyone for the good seats in the back." She says as we find our seats three seats back from the front. She didn't looked to thrilled with even being this close. Made me kinda nervous to be honest. I mean is it really THAT bad?

It wasn't much longer when Mrs. Riggen walked in the room and headed for her desk. She was tall and thin wearing a black pencil skirt with a white blouse and a pair of amazing 3 inch black heels that I couldn't even fathem trying to walk in myself. I always look like a new born calf trying to walk for the first time if I wear any kind of heel honestly. Sucks too, because the higher the heel the better your legs look and lordie knows I could use all the help I can get.

She immediatly starts off stern. "I am your Professor. I am not your friend or your confidant. I am here to teach you. Not to be a babysitter. Cell phones are to remain off for the duration of this class. If you slack off in my class you will be made aware of such failure in front of your peers. I don't accept excuses for any reason when it comes to missing your assignments and tardiness. I give ample enough time for you to complete your work and your tests. If you are unable to keep up then I suggest you find somewhere else to go because I do not coddle and nor should your peers. I get that everyone works at their own pace, but I insist you keep up or you will be left behind. No exceptions. To those who don't know yet, you may call me Mrs. Riggin. Now let us begin."

Holy shit! Catagory 5 bitch is right. I have never seen a teacher completely rip apart a class like she just did. I mean usually theres a nice greeting a few set rules that are mostly all a given and then maybe a little joke thrown in, but not her. She is cut throat. And just like that I wonder what the hell I got myself into.

I looked over at Aimee with my eyes bugging out of my head with the silent "Wow!'' thrown into that look. She mouthed "I told you." With her hand holding up five fingers. She wasn't kidding. 

We finished the class an hour later and I struggled taking all the notes which already tells me that I will most definitly have issues with keeping up in this class.

An hour later that class concluded and we all rushed to get the hell out of dodge. Aimee was right behind me when we made it to the hall. Getting out of the way of the remaining students we turned right and walked down the corridor. "Did I not tell you. That woman is nuts and brace yourself it doesn't get any better with her. Everyday she finds a new way to improve the bitch in her."

"I just love how you phrase things. But you were right about the category 5 bitch. I have never witnessed a teacher being that way. I suppose there's a first time for everything."

We got to the courtyard and sat on a nearby bench. "We have Historical History next and guess what?"

"Let me guess...that teacher is a real bitch too?"

She laughs and says "Oh no, girlfriend. You are going to looove this one. He is allll sex appeal. Tall dark and handsome. Kinda of a mystery too since he just got here not long ago, but he is  a tall drink of water and we all wish he would squench our thirst if you know what I'm saying. Every girl who has seen him. Wants him. No joke. You'll see." She wiggled her eyebrows at me and I laughed out loud. This teacher must be something else.

"I guess I'll see when we get there. Are we gonna make it there on time. I don't know when it starts."

"Oh yeah, totally. They give us all a decent amount of time to get where we need to be. I think that's why they say theres no excuse for tardiness, but mega bitch seems to be the only one who really enforces it. Everyone else pretty much lets you walk in and sit without calling attention to you. Not saying that a professor can be in some kind of mood and decide to be an ass, but I've never had any issues."

"Good to know." Rubbing my hands up and down my upper legs "You ready to lead the way then."

"Yep, girl lets get going to sexy town." She stands up and smiles and we are on our way. It wasn't a long walk to get there, but it was in a seperate building from the one we were just at. Walking into the class and totally prepared to sit in the back, but Aimee has a different idea. "Girl, we sit up front in this class. You'll thank me later."

Walking down to the front of the class we take the row to the left towards the middle. Theres the typical mohongany desk up front and a podium in the center with a large black board lining the wall with the name, Professor Belikov written in perfect handwriting. Aimee and I get our supplies out and she turns towards me. ''So, I didn't ask, but where are you from originally? I know you aren't from around here. You don't have the typical southern accent you here around here."

"Well I'm from Jersey. I moved here not too long ago. Wanted a fresh start with new scenery and I heard good things about Tennessee so I bought the cheapest car I could find after graduation and made the trip."

"Are you here alone?" she asked.

"Yep. No one but me down here, but thats no different from where I'm from anyways."

"Don't you have family?"

I don't like answering these questions so much, but I figured keeping it simple is always best. "No. My parents passed when I was fifteen and I have no other family. So, it didn't hurt any to move away from the area."

She reached out and touched my arm "That's so sad. I'm so sorry. I couldn't even imagine."

Not liking pity, I tell her "It's all good. Like I said I needed the move and there was nothing holding me back. Besides, I always make due with life throws at me no matter how messed up it is. I think we all do. That's life, ya know." Shrugging my shoulders.

She puts her hand back in her lap and says with a nod "Girl, you aren't alone here. Not as long as I'm around."

"I appreciate that, really. But I'm sure you have friends and family here and you can't be my sponser all the time." I laugh.

She is all serious. "Not really. I mean yeah I have family close and I do have friends, but I feel like the duff sometimes."

"What in the hell is a duff?"

"Oh, its "Designated. Ugly. Fat. Friend."

I look at her like she is insane. "Are you serious? You aren't ugly and you most definitly aren't fat! What do you weigh like 100 pounds!?"

She laughed so loud that everyone in the class got quiet and looked over at us. She gave them a look and leaned over towards me, smiled and kept a hushed tone. "I knew I liked you! I mean I guess we are our own worst critics, but I don't seem to fit in anywhere really."

"Join the club. I've been in it for as long as I can remember. I never had any friends though. Usually kept to myself, kept my head down, studied and I couldn't wait to get out of High School. I knew I was going to move as soon as possible after I graduated. So that was something to look forward I guess."

"Consider yourself friended up, girl. I am so glad I got to you first when you stepped in here because I may not have ever got to talk to you. It's also really rare someone has this many classes together, but it could be fate. You and me." She smiled.

"I don't believe in fate, but I do believe in luck and I consider myself lucky to be your first.'' I said with a wink. I truly am lucky she got me to sponser. Usually I don't feel comforatable around anyone, but it feels like I have known her forever.

The bell rings, we turn foward and in through the door walks in a man whom I have seen before. Just last night actually and I find myself dumbstruck once again.

My jaw must have dropped because I feel Aimee reach over and push it back closed. I look over at her and she is smiling from ear to ear. 

Looking back forward I look at my new professor and wouldn't you know it, he was looking straight at me.