Chapter 6

Reece walks into class heading straight for the back seat. He was not comfortable taking the first seat for the very first time.

 Not wanting to listen to the incoming noise from the other students as they wait for the teacher, he lazily pulls up his hoodie, over his head, and lays still on the desk.

 "Hey," a voice wakes him from his slumber. 

"Wow..you look miserable." Frida pulls out a seat by his side.

 "How are you doing? You do not look good" she added. Reece was not ready to say a word. So much was happening in his life at the time and worrying his friend was the very last on his mind.

 "Nothing… just stress from home" he shrugs facing the front. The teacher was running late and so was Clarkson, not like it was an unusual habit of his. 

Just when the teacher walks in, Clarkson appears at the door requesting entry like a dog on rainy days. 

"Mr Clarkson, do you have a baby you breastfeed before class?" Mrs Lavenda asked, bringing out her English teacher's book from her bag. 

"No meme, I only have a pet raccoon which is as clingy as it gets" Clarkson replies not batting an eye. Mrs Lavenda sighs, waving her hand to him. 

Unlike other English teachers which they have had all over the years, Mrs Lavenda was cute for her age and way younger. Most of the boys were hitting on her and Clarkson was no exception. 

"I thought you would stay home" he voiced out quickly pulling out a seat from the other side of Reece.

 "I'm okay, it was only a blackout, nothing much... I'm not so weak" Reece sounded rather pissed. Clarkson quickly raises his hands in the air. 

"Sorry bro... Just worried. You freaked us out yesterday" he admitted. Reece did not want to be reminded of the previous day or the day before. He was too worried thinking of his next class. 

"Don't we have a history with Aryan after this?" ¬PAAAM¬ A loud noise echoed over the classroom and Reece was on his feet before he could realize what was happening. 

"What's the matter Mr Mcrocal?" The resounding voice of Mrs Lavenda brought back Reece. Sarah was holding onto his hand with a worried expression while Clarkson was paced out and unsure of what the fuck just happened. 

"I… I am. Nothing is wrong" he managed to say. "Then take your seat and no more banging on the tables, we are in a classroom and not some beer parlor if you haven't noticed" Reece quickly took his seat muttering and apologizing. 

"Dude.. what was that all about? If I did not know you well I would think you're scared of Ayan Tucker" Clarkson laughed but Reece could feel the cold air wash over him. His body stiffened at just the thought of Aryan.

 He did not want to be close to him, it was a rather weird feeling as they stayed for the moment. Flipping through his notebook, Reece could not wait for the class to come to an end. He wanted out, he wanted some quietness. 

Mrs Lavender's continuous chattering about verbs and tenses was not helping him. ¬triing¬ the sound of the bell came like freedom to a life-sentenced prisoner. Reece was out the door heading fast for the cafeteria before his friends could even have their books packed in their bags.

"Wow hungry I see" Frida comments, grabbing her back and following behind him. Reece did not take so much food, and apple and rice by the side was all he had on his plate as he played with his food, too distracted to notice the wandering eyes of his friends now stationed solely on him.

 "Spill" Frida demanded. Reece looks down at his hands which were visibly pale and much more skinny from a few days ago. 

"Ayan Turker" he muttered, not sharing eye contact with his friends. Frida stared at Clarkson as panic washed over them. Reece would be a liar if he did not notice the terror written all over his friends. 

"What's wrong? Isn't he a good guy?" he asked, not knowing what other phrase to use. Aryan Turkcer was the devil.. The devil he knew too well but they didn't know. "What's wrong?" Frida scoffs, pushing her plate to the side. 

"What's wrong is why they had to let him be a teacher here after what he did 5 years ago. He shouldn't be allowed to be close to children talkless teach them fucking history my ass" The anger and hate emanating from Frida did not go unnoticed by Reece.

 "But we aren't children Fri… we are adults" Reece corrected. "Adults.." Now it was Clarkson's turn to scoff.

 "He was only 18 when they claimed it was consensual. He was supposed to be his senior and teach him. And now he is back searching for his next victim" Reece did not like the direction this conversation was gradually heading at.

 "You're speaking in riddles. I want to know what Aryan Tucker did and why you hate him so much" he demanded, staring at his friends who suddenly went quiet. 

Why aren't you saying anything? Cats got your tongue?" it was taking everything within him not to scream at them before the entire cafeteria filled with both teachers and students.

 "Are you talking or not?" he demanded, but no answer came. Reece did not like the silence, he buried his face within his palms eagerly wishing the earth could open up and swallow every part of him. 

The pain in his heart was killing but the silence was like a fast poison eating deep within his body and soul. The tension around their table could be sliced through with a shape razor. 

"Reece… are you okay?" Frida suddenly asked in her attempt to change the topic. 

"I won't be okay if you don't tell me Frida. Who is Aryan Tucker? I want to know it and I want to know now" Frida looked over at Clarkson who nodded quickly burying his face into his palms. 

"Ayan Turker raped an 18year old junior left in his care on the night of his 18 birthday"