"That is enough! Gauge, you sit back down and shut your mouth, or so help me I'll make certain that jaw of your stays closed. Got it? As for the rest of you, sit down and talk amongst yourselves. This is the first day of school, and I'll not have this kind of activity today, or on any other day in my class. Do I make myself abundantly clear?"
The anger behind his eyes melting away instantly to be replaced by embarrassment, Mark murmured an apology to the suddenly very involved teacher before he sat down at his desk. His cheeks burned. He never had outbursts like that, he prided himself on being a calm and rational person who was rarely ever prone to anger. Why had that wolf gotten so under his skin? He probably didn't know.
Either way, Mark very suddenly found that his desk surface became the most interesting thing in the room, oh-so fascinating. How he loved to stare at it. And not make eye contact with anybody else. He was distantly aware of the teacher having sat back down at her desk, at the others in the classroom going back to their spots. And then: "You guys better have good health plans. And you two. Those remarks just cost you each a broken arm. But feel free to run up the tab. I've got nothing but time and I plan to collect today."
Mark avoided letting his fear show outwardly, but inside, he shuddered. He could vaguely remember other first days in different towns, when he'd made new acquaintances and met those who would later become his best friends. Goodness, how much things could change.
But seriously, he was terrified out of his right mind. And why shouldn't he be? This student had just threatened to do him serious harm. Like, real bad stuff. Put him in the hospital kind of stuff. He glanced once at the wolf from earlier - who was nonchalantly reading - then at the gray fox, who didn't look fantastic either, at the sergal, who was distracted by a red panda, and finally at the dragon, whose closed eyes and lowered head said that he was the worst off from the almost fight. None of them even made eye contact with him. Were they mad at him? It had started as a result of him, after all . . .
It was here that the rational part of Mark's mind spoke up, calling out to him urgently as if it had just awoken from a nap and realized that it had missed part of a conversation in the next room. It was in fact more likely, given his experience with guys like Gauge in the past, that he was "all web and no paw" (as his Dad liked to say). It was more likely that the guy was making empty threats meant to inspire this exact kind of fear that Mark was feeling now, meant to gain this guy power over Mark. Hell, he could probably smell or sense his fear and was getting some messed-up satisfaction from it. And of course they weren't mad, Mark had done nothing wrong.
Straightening up, Mark pulled back out his phone, sitting farther away now from Gauge, before he realized that the morning announcements were up and running - so he listened in.
Pulled pork and beans for lunch today.
Tryouts for fall track would be in a week, and the next day would be tryouts for soccer, lacrosse, football, and field hockey.
Textbooks would be distributed on Wednesday.
And the day would be filled with sunshine and rainbows. Go learn some stuff, kiddies.
Mark didn't pride himself on his dumb inner commentary on the morning announcements, but he let himself feel satisfaction at the fact that he still had an intact sense of humor. At the chime of the bell, Mark looked around as the other students all filed out. On the board, Ms. Dancyon had written "1st Block English will be in the Library", and sure enough, Mark verified that's what he had as he checked his schedule again. Getting up to leave, he was too embarrassed to try to connect with any of those who had come to his aid earlier, or even to raise his head, instead keeping it down as he gloomily walked out of the classroom with his backpack slung over one shoulder, hands in his pockets.
Topic: Pellicius High School, 4200 Hanso Lane (Read 14631 times)