The next week during chemistry class, Isa and Bailey discussed in low tones with each other, as the teacher rambled on in his lesson.
“And she didn’t attack you? Even after her detention?” Bailey whispered in surprise.
“Yeah. And guess what she wanted to talk about. She asked me if my brother was my boyfriend and when I said yes, she was like ‘give him to me right now'” Isa narrated quietly.
Bailey gasped with her hands to her mouth, “no way!”
“Yes way” Isa replied.
“That girl is something else,” Bailey commented as she shook her head.
“Now everyone, perform this experiment with your partner by following what I do. Proceed with extreme caution…” the teacher announced, and everyone keenly watched and performed whatever they saw her do.
Isa sighed dramatically, “this class is boring, and I’ve got an even more boring one after this; study hall. What about you?”
“Nothing major, and definitely no study hall,” Bailey said with a smile.
Ducking her head, Isa groaned, “lucky. I wish I had nothing major. Study hall is another hour of mental torture…”
“I can help you get out of study hall if you want” Bailey interjected coolly.
“What? Really? I’d do anything to get out of study hall” begged Isa. “Well…” Bailey paused to think, making Isa inch closer expectantly.
“Well you could volunteer to help in the library by stacking bookshelves” suggested Bailey with an air of calmness. Isa blinked at her and did the mental math.
Me + Bookshelves + Vulture= Death!
“Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. I’m not doing any of that.” She shook her head wildly. Surprised, Bailey asked “why not?”
“Why not? Have you seen the vulture of a librarian there? The last time I was in the library, she had shot me a ‘get out’ so venomous that I almost died right there”. Chuckling, Bailey said “I didn’t tell you to talk to her everyday, i said you should come help me stack books during study hall”
“No way!”
“Enjoy study hall then” Bailey shrugged, grinning.
“…”
Just then, a boy in front of them had mixed the wrong chemicals in a conical flask which had started to smoke. Everyone paused, watching the rising smoke, then it suddenly caught on fire.
Students screamed and shouted as they scrambled for the doors. The fire alarm went off, sending warning signals to the whole building. It made everyone struggle for the door urgently.
Standing outside the school building, were a good number of students watching the firefighters doing their work. Some attended to students that had gotten injured during their frantic escape. The subject teacher along with the principal and a few teachers scolded the boy that had caused the fire.
Isa and Bailey sat on a bench, away from all the drama. They were calm and just looked on.
“You’re not getting enough sleep are you?” Bailey asked after taking a hard look at Isa. Isa raised her brows at her. How did she know? We’re there dark circles under her eyes? But she hadn’t seen anything that could give her away when she looked into the mirror this morning.
Was she behaving sluggish and tired?
No…she’d been agile all day and had even chased Dylan round the cafeteria when he snatched her taco.
Or was she dozing off in class?
Of course not. She’d been talking with Bailey throughout the lesson. Hmm, maybe her spirit was so broken, wronged and terrified so much that the negative energy poured out of her body without her knowing. Nope, she just sounded ridiculous.
“Of course I am. What makes you think I don’t get enough sleep?”
Bailey shrugged, “I feel it. Something’s bothering you, but you won’t tell anyone”.
“Nothing’s bothering me, and I don’t look like a sleep deprived zombie, so I’m alright” Isa replied dismissively.
Bailey touched Isa’s shoulder and gave her a friendly look, “you don’t have to bottle everything inside you, you know. You’ve got friends and family that are always here to listen to anything you have to say, no matter how crazy it might sound. If you keep it locked up inside you, one day it will break loose and then, it might be too late to do anything”.
Isa stared at Bailey in mild surprise. She said so few words that really got to her.
Maybe she was right…
Maybe she was really harming herself by keeping these things to herself. But weren’t they just nightmares that’ll eventually leave?
No…they aren’t just nightmares. They felt so real and terrified her so much. Then there’s the mirror demon and she could swear that it was really real. But who’d believe her?
She couldn’t tell Aaron. It’s possible that he’d think she’d gone nuts or was telling a joke. Hell! Anyone would think that she’d told a bad joke or something.
But she should confide in someone…anyone, right?”
Just as she was about to talk, Dylan and Oliver came over to their bench.
“Hey new girl. Long time no see huh?” Oliver greeted. He had a camera hung around his neck.
“Not so new Oliver. Haven’t seen you in a while” she said cheerfully, silently thanking him for intruding. “Where have you been?”
“Well, been here and there and doing this and that,” Oliver explained coolly.
Dylan who’d remained silent throughout spoke, “you two have met I suppose?”
“Yeah. Met at Meiller’s mole and talked about my weird art” Oliver grinned at Isa as she flushed with embarrassment. “Huh…what a weird place to meet, ” Dylan mumbled.
“Oh Bailey, didn’t see you there” Oliver said in surprise. Shrugging she replied, “eh, happens sometimes”.
“So what are you guys up to” Isa asked, eyeing Oliver’s camera. He caught her eyes and raised his camera. “We are heading out to the forest to take a few pictures for the school newspaper”. “Yeah. We wanted everyone to see the forest’s beauty” Dylan added.
“I’ve never been to the forest before” Isa mumbled her thoughts.
“I’d take you there if you want” Dylan rushed, “anytime you want. Just let me know. The forest is so beautiful that you’ll instantly feel connected to her”. Smiling she said, “I’ll hold you up on that”
After they left, the teacher gathered all the students together and announced, “listen students. Dilue to a fire caused by a childish and brazen behavior taken by one of you…” she shot a glare at the boy, making him now his head.
“We won’t be able to continue the lesson for the next two weeks”. Everyone erupted in shouts of joy and an annoyed teacher shouted down, “there will be NO free periods for any of you as your chemistry class will be replaced with study hall. Now you still have forty minutes of chemistry lesson left, so everyone, to study hall”
They groaned and complained as they walked back to the building. Isa couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Forty minutes plus another hour of study hall two times a week, for the next two weeks?!
Turning to Bailey she asked, “you were saying something about a…library assistant?”