VII: Introductions

"Ugh, I swear, if no one shows up and Kai starts snoring..." Gail groaned, trailing off, making the said snorer laugh in amusement. 

"Hey, it's not my fault I do this! And anyway, I heard there finally is going to be a new English teacher and I hear she's young and hot."

Cece rolled her eyes and kicked Kai's leg, under the chair from behind him. 

Gail, who sat in the middle of my and Kai's shoulders slammed her head on the table. 

And Nina, who was chatting up with some people on her phone, silently turned around at us then back to her screen, nodding her head in disapproval. 

Kai's bruised cheek, by the way, was not too visible now.

Just as someone else altogether was about to complain about the lack of facilitators present, the front door swung open and the sound of heels clicking on the ground followed. 

"Good morning," files and a bag was placed on the front desk, "Long story-short," a whiteboard marker was pulled out and used to scribble legibly on the board, "I'm going to be your new English teacher," the woman in a pencil skirt and a long sleeved cream blouse turned and smiled softy, stunningly, "and the name's Amelia Bedivere, but you can call me Mrs. Bedivere.

"Okay, since I don't want to waste time, let me-" the front door flew open and then came a wide eyed guy with a guilty-ish looking smile. 

"Sorry I'm late," he turned to me, "my car is in the shop." The sun kissed skinned man then made his way to his usual seat in the far back, gladly away from me. 

The interupted teacher brushed it off and continued with what she was saying. "Right, well, I don't want to waste time so I'll introduce myself and call everyone at random and ask them to stand as I question them about themselves. Okay? Okay.

"So once again, my name is Amelia, Bedivere being my husband's last name. I'm 33 and I've been teaching english for almost a decade now. My favorite book at the moment is The Very Hungry Caterpillar because it brings my five year old daughter to sleep in an instant." she smiled fondly, "I also very much enforce discipline so, Mr. Late, take note," she pointed to the said being, "and please stand."

He knit his brows, "What?"

Mrs. Bedivere chuckled, "Stand. Don't worry, I'm just going to ask you some quick introductory questions."

He begrudingly stood and raised his brows. Our new English teacher smirked, "What's your name?"

"Javier."

"Is it just Javier?"

Javier pursed his lips in a thin line, "My full name is Andrés Cristíano Javíer Emanuél Alonzo Rosarío."

The woman smiled in amusement, "So you're Spanish?"

"Brazilian actually."

"What's your favorite book?"

"Uh... I don't really have a favorite... if I like I book, I like it."

I raised my brows, I never thought that the hot headed boy would be a reader.

Mrs. Bedivere hums, "but at the top of your head, what would be the first book you think of."

"To Kill A Mockingbird," he spoke flatly. 

Mrs. Bedivere nodded her head, "Maycomb county had recently been told that-" 

"they had nothing to fear but fear itself." Javier finished. 

Our teacher smiled, "Okay, you may sit now. She then turns away and points to another, "now lets do... you. Please stand."

And thus Nina stood up and pursed her lips in expectance. "Name?"

"Karenina Von Wolff; you can call me Nina."

"Alright Nina, what's your favorite thing about yourself?"

The red head cocked her head to the side then chuckled, "Uh... I guess it would be my red hair. It sets me apart from a lot of people."

"Good. I too happen to be a fan of red hair." Mrs. Bedivere replied and moved on to the next person.

She didn't repeat any of the questions she asked, well besides our names. Her converstations with students varied in length, and slowly everyone was called until I was left.

She then pointed and motioned for me to stand and she asked me for my name.

I exhaled, "Lilac Dahlberg, ma'am."

The corner of her lips arched up and she crossed her brows, "So miss Lilac Dahlberg, how long have you been going to school here."

"It'll be an entire weekday now tomorrow."

"Oh, so you're new here. How do you like the school so far?"

I shrugged and gave a polite smile. "In truth, I miss my old school."

"Understandable. Where did you go to school before?"

"Steadmore High." Mrs. Bedivere raised her brows in surprise, "In New York? I have friend whose son goes there. Do you know a William Croner?"

I smiled brightly, "Yes, yes, he was in my history and art class."

She laughed, "It's a long way from New York, what brings you here?" I bit my lower lip and shrugged, "Family conflict."

"Enough said." She nodded and dismissed notcing my hesitation on the subject. She then motioned I sit down and soon she changed the subject.

"Alright, I'll arranging you in pair who will be your partners until I ever change them. I will change these arrangements only if I see fault, if anything else, I will disregard it."

And so I felt a little nervous as there was a possiblity I be paired with Mr. Rude snarky pants. As slowly names were called, the chances of me ending up with Javier increased.

Then I was called, "Miss Lilac Dahlberg," Mrs. Bedivere called, "and mister," 

holy crap, 

"Kai Antali'i."

I exhaled the breath I held in in relief and turned to Kai who I then high-fived as we walked to our new designated seats.

"Aren't I just super lucky?" Kai teased as he sat down after me. 

I smiled, "Gosh, I am too. I don't know what I'd if I ended up with-" 

"mister Javier Rosario and miss Cece Consuelo."

I turned to my dark haired friend in sympathy as she pouted, shrugged and sat down along with Javier. 

Kai snickered at the sight of them, "You can bet they'll be pulling each other's eyes out and end up blind at the end of the year." he mumbled under breath.

I chuckled softly at that but did not allow the relief I felt be taken over by guilt.

        

"Hey Dahlberg!" A voice called out for me as I walked off with my Gail to our next class, blasted mathematics. I turned around and caught sight of Javier running towards me. I knit my brows and turned to Gail who returned a knowing look as she latched onto my arm tightly. 

"I got you," she whispered under her breath.

Once Javier was upon us, he huffed and placed his hands on his hips. "I need to talk to you."

I stay put in my spot, arm linked with Gail's. Javier pursed his lips and exhaled loudly, "alone."

I knit my brows in caution. "Whatever you want to say to her, I'm sure you can say it in front of me" My dark haired friend stated, making me nod and mimic her stern expression. 

Javier smirked, "Ay, it's just that I always thought apologies were more sincere when you're not speaking it to a crowd." Both of our brows rose at what the conniving guy spoke. "Let me say it again, bonita, I need to talk to you alone."

What the hell was this supposed to be?

Hecking what?

This was obviously some sort of trick.

... right?

"Oh come on Dahlberg, don't make me say please." Javier added with some sort of genuine expression. I knit my brows in confusion then turned to Gail who looked equally conflicted. 

In her expression however, I could see that she was curious and that she wanted me to find out if this guys was actually going to apologise, further confirmed by a subtle head nod to his direction. 

I snapped my head back to Javier and found myself sighing in defeat. Breaking away from my friend, I walked over to Javier who moved away until we were far enough from Gail.

I looked at him expectantly and pursed my lips slightly. Javier looked me straight in the eye, "I'm sorry for what I did to you before, for both the fresh meat thing and the vinegar. I know saying this won't change anything and it's much worse that I only partially feel obligated to do so because your brother slashed my tires," he spoke thoroughly with dramatic sighs amidst his statements, "but, it would be far worse if I go on and pretend like nothing happened."

I found myself chuckling out a scoff at that. "And you really want to apologise?"

He smiled, "I know it sounds like BS, but yes, I do. I want to be on your good side from now on." I raised my brows and felt my jaw slacken. "I might get killed by multiple family members if something like that happens to my car again." he spoke as a partial motive. 

"And I mean it's alright if you don't accept my apology, now or ever." he spoke in nonchalance, making me raise my brows even higher. "I just wanted you to know this, that I am sorry." he finished.

For a moment I looked at him, trying to decipher whether or not I should believe him, or slap him, or ignore him, or what. But my conscience took ahold of the wheel and I involuntarily found myself nodding in disagreement. "Thank you for doing this, it makes me feel ten times better." 

Upon saying this, I could see a glint in his eyes, a glint of satisfaction and malice also evident in his growing grin.

 I internally scoffed at that; idiot, I caught you red handed. "But I can't forgive you like this."

Javier's brows quirked up in surprise, "Wh-what? What do I have to do then?" he suttered, mouth ending up agape.

I clenched my jaw and started moving from where I stood, "Stay away and don't bother me." I forced a smile and then turned about to meet Gail who was watching from not too far.

"What the hell was that?" Gail asked in a high whisper as we quickly marched off to our next subject.

"Honestly, I have not a damn clue." I pushed my shoulders up.

Javier watched the two girls walk off and found himself chuckling lowly in amusement. "She didn't accept my apology," he laughed. 

"Either way this is progress and a big point to Javier Rosario." he smirked smgly as he turned the other way and prepared a speech for when he was to gloat out his small victory to his pals. 

"Ahh, I am such a good sweet talker."