Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

First and second period passed as usual. Jeff kept his head down while those around him whispered and passed notes back and forth. By third period, he’d deduced there were about eighteen thousand seconds left in the school day and was eagerly counting them down, until a curveball appeared in the form of a new student.

“Class,” Mr. Drake put his hand on the newcomer’s shoulder. “I’d like you to meet Aarav Jain.”

A boy, not much different from any other boy in the class (except Jeff for obvious reasons), stood at the front of the room. His open flannel shirt showcased a faded black tee underneath, and his Converse shoes squeaked as he shifted in place. The noise made a few students grimace, but Jeff’s unease came from the fact that the room’s only vacant seat was next to him.

“Aarav just transferred here from . . . ” Mr. Drake looked at him. “Apologies. Where did you say you moved from?”

Aarav brushed a few strands of dark wavy hair across his forehead. “Oregon,” he said in a thick Eastern accent.

“You don’t sound like you’re from Oregon!”

Jeff knew who caused the disruption without having to look.

“Preston,” Mr. Drake said. “People don’t always sound a certain way. In fact, if memory serves me, your father moved you here from Australia when you were younger, but you don’t have an accent.” Mr. Drake squinted. “Unless you’re keeping it down under wraps.” His use of air quotes around ‘down under’ got a few chuckles from the class.

Preston shifted in his chair.

“Get my drift?” Mr. Drake paused, ready for any smart comment Preston might offer, but none came. “Right, then.” The teacher scanned the room. “Aarav, there’s a seat for you.” He indicated the empty desk near Jeff. “Unless you need accommodations for any vision challenges?”

Aarav shook his head.

“Mental challenges, maybe.” Preston scoffed at his own comment, but he was the only one. After not getting the reaction he’d hoped for, he pretended to scribble in his notebook.

Mr. Drake ignored him. “Great.” He directed Aarav toward the back. “I’m sure your desk neighbor will be more than happy to show you what chapter we’re reading from today.” The teacher nodded at Jeff. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Pritchet?”

“Yes, Mr. Drake.” Jeff’s voice rose just above a whisper.

“Yes, Mr. Drake.” Preston mimicked Jeff in an effeminate tone and threw a bent wrist forward. Two of his buddies giggled.

“Principal’s office, Preston.” Mr. Drake jerked his head toward the door. “Now.”

Oohs and aahhs reverberated through the class, and Preston slammed his pen on his desk, then shoved back his chair. “Yes, sir!” He marched down the narrow aisle and knocked another kid’s books to the floor. “Figures the arachnid would be the science teacher’s pet.”

Mr. Drake raised his eyebrows. “You just bought yourself Saturday detention.”

“Good,” Preston said with a smirk. “I needed something to do tomorrow.”

The teacher’s face was the same color red as the decorative apple pencil holder on his desk. “Principal’s office! Go!”

Preston sauntered from the room, letting the door slam behind him.

Mr. Drake watched until he was halfway down the hall before continuing. “Well, Mr. Jain, that’s not the first impression I like to make. What do you say we start from scratch?”

“Not a problem,” Aarav said.

“Okay then. Welcome to our humble abode.” He pointed. “Please have a seat.”

Aarav made his way between desks, stepping over the backpacks obstructing his path. He tossed his own bag down, and when pencils toppled out, Jeff reached down to pick them up.

“Whoa,” Aarav said, pulling back and giving Jeff a look. “Cool mask.”

Jeff’s body flushed as he handed him the pencils, then faced the front. “It’s not a mask,” he mumbled, not wanting to disturb the lecture. “It’s my face.”

“No way!”

A few students looked at them, but Aarav didn’t notice. He removed a notebook from his bag and tore out a blank sheet of paper. “So, what—you’re like a spider boy or something?”

“Just my face. The rest of me is human.”

Aarav wrote his name on the paper. “Cool. How’d that happen?”

“I was just born that way. Now, shh.” Jeff raised a finger to his mouth. “I’m trying to hear the lecture.”

Aarav turned in his chair. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve just never seen a boy with a spider face before.”

Jeff shrugged. “Now you have, okay?”

“Got it. Won’t mention it again.” He started sketching an outline.

Jeff looked down and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a rough morning. And I’m starving.”

Aarav pulled a wrapped breakfast pastry from his backpack. “Here. It’s cinnamon swirl.”

Jeff took the peace offering and quietly tore open the wrapper. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem.”

Aarav had already begun shading the shape. Jeff chewed the pastry and studied the way his brow creased with concentration as he drew. His lips were dark and full, his skin smooth, not pimply like many boys’ their age.

He swallowed. “Hey, do you want to eat lunch with me today? It’s right after fourth period.”

Aarav didn’t take his eyes off the paper. “Sure.”

Jeff held back a smile and gave a nod. “Cool.”

As students dumped their textbooks into backpacks and rushed toward the door, Jeff snapped from his thoughts and looked at the clock. “I didn’t even hear the bell,” he said to Aarav, who—based on his surprised look—had also been in a world of his own.

“Me neither.” He crumpled up the drawing and grabbed his notebook. “What class do you have next?”

“Algebra.” Jeff sighed. “My least favorite class.” They moved through the aisles. “Where are you headed?”

Aarav checked a printed schedule he pulled from his pocket. “Looks like one of my electives: Drama 101.”

“Oh, cool. I’ll show you where the auditorium is.”

“Thanks, I’d appreciate—”

“Mr. Pritchet, may I see you for a moment?” Mr. Drake caught them at the door.

“Um, sure.” Jeff turned to Aarav. “I’ll just be a second.”

“No worries. I’m pretty sure I know where it is. I can manage.” He smiled and hoisted his bag over his shoulder, then tossed the crumpled drawing in the wastebasket next to the door.

Jeff followed him into the hall. “Are you sure? Cause it’ll only—”

“I’m sure.” Aarav looked over his shoulder. “Bye, Mr. Drake. It was nice to meet you.”

The teacher held up a hand. “Welcome to school, Aarav. I’ll see you next time.”

Aarav merged into a sea of students; a lone fish swept into a chaotic school of perch. Jeff re-entered the room.

“I won’t keep you long, Jeff.” Mr. Drake leaned against his desk and crossed one foot over the other. “I wanted to check on you after the incident with Preston.”

For a moment, Jeff had no clue what he meant.

Mr. Drake must have noticed the blank stare on his face. “You know,” he said, pointing to Preston’s empty chair, “earlier when—”

“Oh! That.” Jeff remembered the countless times over the years Preston had harassed him. “That was nothing. I’d already forgotten about it.”

“Okay, because you know you can always talk to me if something’s wrong or someone’s bothering you. I, too, was somewhat of an outcast in school, and I know how it feels when people—”

“It’s all good, Mr. Drake.” Jeff peered into the hall, hoping Aarav had had trouble locating the auditorium and needed his help after all. He appreciated Mr. Drake’s concern, but it sometimes brought more embarrassment than comfort.

“Right.” Mr. Drake nodded. “Kids like Preston, they sometimes have deeper problems than—”

Jeff pointed to the clock. “I hate to run, but I don’t want to be late to my next class.”

The teacher smiled. He seemed to get the hint and walked back to his desk. While his back was turned, Jeff reached in the garbage and picked out the balled-up piece of paper Aarav had tossed inside before the man could see.

Mr. Drake’s chair squeaked beneath his weight. “I’m here anytime, Jeff. Just remember that.”

“I will, Mr. Drake. And thank you.”

Jeff was the only person in the hall, leading him to believe Aarav had found the auditorium without a hitch. Walking toward the Algebra room, he smoothed out the drawing and felt an unfamiliar flutter in his stomach. Aarav had drawn the face of a spider, and quite well.

He was too captivated by the image to hear the tardy bell overhead.