Chapter 13- Some dragons to slay

Trying to find a parking spot for my car in this school was never an easy task. You see, most students (or teachers, for all I know) seem to have taken their parking lessons at a fifth-category videogame.

Seriously, it isn't that hard. There are two lines, one vehicle. The only thing you have to do is make the damn car fit in that space, for crying out loud!

After about five long minutes of me cursing the entire school people and driving in circles, I finally spotted a spot. Hehe, that sounded funny.

The problem was, it was right next to a very familiar automobile. One which belonged to Ariel dearest.

Just shoot me now.

It may seem like I'm overreacting here, but it's not really the case. Ever since that fatidical day at lunch, when I told her we should be just friends, she hasn't left me alone, which showed that the results of our conversation turned out to be adverse. And I thought I had managed to deliver the message clearly...

"What do you mean, you can't stand my presence anymore?!" She had yelled, making a scene I would have been glad to avoid, but didn't give a damn, really.

"It's just... You're always here, surrounding me, you know? Some personal space would be appreciated."

"But we have something great going on! Can't you see it, babe?! Can't you see how much effort I put into this relationship?" I had blocked every word of her desperate (and loud) rant after that. We never were and never would be in a relationship.

"Look Ariel," I had tried reasoning after she finally stopped babbling, "we don't even know each other very well." She got quiet, which allowed me to try and comfort her, somehow. I only stroked her arm lightly, not wanting to give any wrong impressions. "You're such a beautiful girl, I'm sure you'll find someone perfect for you in no time."

Those had been my final words before I left, not giving her much of a chance to say anything else. I hoped that would make her feel better. Well, at least that's what the guy who dumps the girl in the movies says.

Did I feel bad about it? Yes, of course. No one must like to be rejected, I suppose. Do I regret it, though? Nope. Specially after I realized my words must have caused a reverse effect on her. For the following days, she had been catching up with me again, non stop, the only difference was the larger time gaps between each time she spoke to me.

Last week, for example, she approached me about three times on the same day (and that's actually progress). At lunch, she had even gone as far as spilling her drink on me by accident. Or so she said, anyway. I got angry, but not about being drenched in ice tea or whatever the hell it was she was drinking.

Why would she go as far as doing that to simply get my attention? She didn't know me, that's a fact. Was it possible that people just got drawn to me by the way I looked? That has always been something that infuriated me, and eventually made me lose my hope in humanity in general. That thought was in my head as I walked across the cafeteria to go get myself cleaned, before I saw something that made me do a double check.

Ella, sat at her usual table with friends I have seen before, was on a heated argument with some guys I recognized, but didn't remember the names. I wasn't in the mood to listen to all of it, my patience and energy already having been drained by Ariel and her unthoughtful actions. So I just stood there watching for a few moments, brooding over how different Ella acted at that moment. She looked quite mad and her then red face contorted into several positions as she spoke. Damn, I wouldn't want to be on their skin right now, I had thought.

About to leave and mind my own business, I heard one of them about to insult her and as a gentleman, that wouldn't sound very pleasant to my ears, so I decided to intervene.

I hadn't had any idea of what was going on or why they were arguing, and even after another guy named Jack or James showed up and started messing with a chubby dude that sat beside Ella, I was just confused and out of place.

Fed up with his arrogant attitude though (and props to Ariel for my then short temper), I put Jack or James in his place and watched he and his little colleagues leave. Keep walking, I had thought.

Later that day, to my surprise, Ella approached me to 'thank me for what I had done earlier', whatever that meant. I felt pleased, not many people used to thank me for something the way she did. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I didn't usually do favors to people. Seeing her smile again seemed to lighten up my mood too, somehow. It looked so genuine.

Anyway, it isn't the best time to keep reminiscing on past events when there's only ten minutes left to get to class and you're still in the parking lot thinking of ways to get out of the car and not be seen by a certain clingy redhead who hasn't got a clue.

Turning my head to the left, I tried to see if the said girl was in the car. She was, applying something I recognized to be lipstick. Damn it.

Okay, this can't be so hard.

Putting on some shades I kept in the glovebox just in case for emergencies like this and pulling the hood of my large hoodie over my head, I was ready to leave.

I hopped of the car speedily, and walked even faster. She wouldn't see me, and if she did, she wouldn't be able to catch up with my fast pace.

Going inside the school building, I moved over to my locker, being greeted by some people on the way there. Gladly for them, my sunglasses didn't let show how bluntly I rolled my eyes after each excited and fake 'morning, Collin!'.

I got the books I needed for the first class of the day and went to meet my lovely teacher once again.

"Hey, Mr. Myers. How ya doin'?" I saluted him with two fingers as soon as I entered the classroom.

"Hello Collin", his voice was strained and he didn't even try to hide it. "Good morning. I'm gonna have to ask you to take off your sunglasses and let your hood down, please."

"Fine." I did as he asked. The man seemed tired. Was it just because of me? Wow, I feel so honored.

As usual, I was early and didn't have much to do, so I just waited and read some useless paragraphs until everyone showed up and he started his class. Just as usual, after about eight minutes within the class, famous-for-tardiness Ms. Carson hastened into the classroom in a swift movement, in which she only opened a crack of the door and got inside, her slim body not making it any difficult for her to squeeze through that tiny slit.

Mr. Myers stopped talking and shifted his attention to her, along with everyone else.

"Ms. Carson, it's past 8:10 already." It wasn't, actually. She knew it too, because she gazed at the clock reading 8:08, but no words left her lips about it. "I have no other option than to send you to Mrs. Kennedy's office, I'm afraid." He said, already scribbling his signature on a paper they used to book whoever was late, before handing it to her.

She took it and didn't say anything, didn't look at anyone. Her gaze hung low and so did her head as she quietly answered him, "Okay, thank you."

And then she left, as velociously as she had come in, leaving me to wonder about many things regarding her, as our teacher resumed his speech.

Thank you? What the hell did she have to thank him for? Being a snitch? Why didn't she say anything? She could've protested. And why is she late all the time?

I guess she really did have some dragons to slay in the morning.