Chapter 1- Jane Doe

"Good morning everyone."

"Morning, Mr. Myers." The class said in unison, some students not even bothering to look up from their phones, others still putting their material on their desks. I was doing the latter.

"You can open your books on page 257. Today we will continue to discuss last class's topic about globalization."

Super. Can't we discuss something else, like how you're still stuck in the 80's with that mustache, thinking that you're Freddie Mercury or something? I chuckled at my own stupid thought.

"So, Mr. Lopez, read the first paragraph out loud for everyone, please."

"Okay. 'Globalization is the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world's economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by..."

I tuned out the rest of it. Why is geography so boring? Sure, there were a few cool topics, like the tectonic plates being the origin of earthquakes and the explosions of volcanoes, but globalization? Really? We got it already. The world's technology has evolved, as a result, the distances got theoretically shorter (because communicating got easier), blah blah blah, we have Face Time now. The end. Man, I should become a teacher one day.

"Thank you, Mr. Lopez. Could anyone explain in other words what he just read?"

Someone raised his hand, " Basically, the world's technology has evolved?"

"And as a result, the distances got theoretically shorter, because communicating got easier?" Someone else tried.

Forgot about the Face Time, dude.

"Well, that is not wrong, but I would like a more expanded answer. Anyone else?"

I groaned, resting my head on my desk. I sat on one of the rows in the back, so Mr. Myers didn't hear or see it. Not that I would bother too much if he did. I lifted my head slightly to take a glance at the clock hung on the wall behind him. Only seven minutes have passed. Well, only 53 more to go. Yay!, I thought in a girl's voice.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and went back to my previous position.

Then I heard the door open and lifted my head again to see if it was who I thought it was.

Bullseye.

"Hi, good morning. Sorry I'm late."

Mr. Myers sighed, before replying to her. "Ms. Carson, it's the sixth time you're late to my class and it's just been a month since school started."

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't hear my alarm go off."

"Again? Maybe you should get it fixed or, I don't know, get a rooster." A few people laughed at that. I'll admit it was a little funny. Good one Myers, come get your cookie. I didn't laugh, though.

"Well, I'm sorry. I'll try to be on time next class."

Mr. Myers sighed again, "Okay Ella, I'll let it slide this time. You can go sit down."

"Okay, thank you."

This girl has started to intrigue me now. And I don't usually get intrigued by people. Like Mr. Myers said, she was usually late for class and oftentimes looked really tired. I don't think I've ever seen her at school the past years. But now, in senior year, I see her in almost all of my classes.

Her eyes began searching hastily for an empty seat amongst all the already occupied ones.

Soon, she found one in the middle and started walking towards it. Her hair was dripping wet, as if she had just taken a shower. She was breathing heavily, indicating she had run to try to get to class in time. I wish I knew her name, to stop referring to her as "she" all the time, I'm being too repetitive. Well, she looked very energetic right now, seems like that shower did the job. Or her little jog on the way to class got her wide awake.

Oh hey, hold up. Mr. Myers said her name, didn't he? Stella? Emma? Veronica? Damn, it's on the tip of my tongue, I know it! Think, Collin. Come on, use this brain of yours.

Oh, I got it!

Melissa! That's it! Right? Hmm, but she doesn't look like a Melissa to me. And it was a shorter name.

I sighed. Well, I guess I'll just call her Jane Doe. In my head.

"So where was I? Oh, yes. Globalization, as Mr. Lopez read for us, is the word that explains to us the interdependence of the world's economies, cultures, and..." He looked at his book to say the rest. When he asks for a 'more expanded answer', he basically wants you to say what the book says. Don't even know why he bothers to say "explain in other words". Well, at least he started answering himself and forgot he asked someone to do it. It happened quite often, as Jane Doe over there came into class late, she got him distracted every time. A lot of people appreciated that. Also, the fact that she asked a lot of questions during class (actually about the topic and not stupid ones that are obviously purposed to stall the teacher) took a lot of its time, which the students also appreciated her for.

I want to know what's her deal. How come she is almost always late for class, looks like she's about to pass out from tiredness, but still pays one hundred percent of attention?

"Mr. Benson. Mr. Benson!" Mr. Myers called my name, having me stop staring at JD (it's Jane Doe, if you didn't get it).

"Yes?"

"Do you know the answer?"

To what, again? I must have been staring at her for a while if he had the time to finish rereading that stupid paragraph and ask me something.

"Would you be so kind and refresh my memory on what the question was again?"

"Were you even paying attention?" He asked me, annoyed.

I gasped, putting a hand over my heart, "Of course..."- wait for it-

"Well, then"-

"...not." The whole class (or most of them) burst out laughing at that. Oh, come on, wasn't even that funny. But people tended to laugh at what I said. Especially the girls.

"Very funny, Mr. Benson. Stop looking around the class and focus your attention on me."

I snorted. Sorry, but you're not really my type, man.

"Okay, won't happen again, captain." I replied saluting him like a soldier, with a serious expression. More laughter and giggles from the girls.

He pinched his nose, sighing. "Just keep quiet, Collin."

Oh, you're already going for first name basis?

I made the zipping my mouth and throwing out the key move to him, which earned me an eye roll from him, and of course, more laughter from the others.

He proceeded to expand on whatever he was saying before, and I turned my gaze back to the girl and was surprised to see she was already looking at me. She turned back around to Mr. Myers as soon as we locked eyes, for a millisecond.

Well, okay then.

~~~

"Wait, so it means globalization actually caused the spreading of diseases among the whole planet to get faster?" Guess who just asked that.

"Correct, Ms. Carson. Good to know someone is actually paying attention." He muttered this last part. "You have precisely explained the whole paragraph in one sentence." Yep, that's right. She said it. If only I remembered her- "I really enjoy your participation, Ella. I will-"

"That's it!" I screamed excitedly, slamming my hands on my desk, having the whole class stare and Mr. Myers glare at me. "Uh, my bad. I couldn't find the eraser that I dropped earlier. Just found it." I lifted the green eraser off my desk and shook it to show Mr. Myers and the curious classmates who were now probably wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

"Mr. Benson, if you disrupt my class one more time I'll send you to the principal's office right away." Mr. Myers said sternly.

Ooh, I'm so scared.

"Okay."

He rolled his eyes- again- letting out a big sigh and went back to lecturing the class.

Just 20 more minutes.

~~~

"C'mon, Collin! You're walking so sloooow!"

Ariel said, pulling me towards an empty classroom, in which I'd be having my next period right after lunch break. In 8 minutes, to be precise.

"Um, you know, there's only 8 minutes until next period and your next class is, I don't know, not this one. Maybe we shouldn't-"

"Don't be silly, I can walk fast to my next class. Besides, I missed you, babe." She said, looking at me flirtatiously.

Well, I didn't miss you, considering you've been on me like this just yesterday. Don't get me wrong, but I need a break. From you.

"C'mon, there's no one here, I think." She sounded excited as she continued pulling me into the empty class.

Nice.

As we walked through the door, though, I couldn't help but notice that the classroom wasn't as empty as I thought (and Ariel wished) it was.

People, can I get an amen?