The Mask of Mr. Connel

CHAPTER 2

It was a bleak Tuesday morning. Alexis was expecting her twelfth grade chemistry class to arrive, so she patiently waited, knowing that Justin will show up soon. As usual Connel sat at the back while paying no attention to his surroundings. At spontaneous times during the lesson Alexis would look up at Justin as if she were saying hello but Justin could not be any less bothered. The next lesson was signalled by the blaring bell. Connel took his time as he was approached Jane

“Hello to you too.” said Alexis.

“Good morning Alexis.”

“We agreed to tell each other first names but not to refer to each other by them.” argued Jane, “I am still not a class friend.”

“Let’s just agree to disagree on that... Alexis. See you during recess.”

After that Justin walked off and was not seen for the rest of the day even though he had told Jane that he would meet in the recess session, strangely enough, that only made Alexis want to see him even more. Part of her tried to bury this sort of thinking before it got out of hand but the other part, liked it.

It was the end of a long and monotonous day. Jane was at her apartment and she was just lying in her bedroom until her iPhone made a loud beeping sound which signalled that a text message was received. She picked up the phone to view the message but it was from an unsaved number. The texts read:

• Good evening Miss Alexis Jane (20:08)

• Helo, who is this? (20:09) -Alexis

• I challenge you to take a wild guess. (20:13)

• I cnt say that I knw u. (20:13) -Alexis

• Surprising. (20:14)

• Wel I dnt believe that I hve met u b4. (20:15) -Alexis

Alexis had a feint suspicion for who it might have been but she needed to be sure before she could have made any assumptions.

• You know what, just call me Mr. Blue. (20:19)

• Ok Mr. Blue. I guess that I dnt need an introduction since u knw who I am. (20:20) -Alexis

• So how are you doing? (20:32)

• I'm doing fine, n u? (20:33) -Alexis

• I am good now. How old are you? (20:36)

• Smooth talker? I am 24, n u? (20:36) -Alexis

• I guess you could say that. My age is not of importance. (20:45)

• It doesn’t work lyk that, I tel u mine n u tel me urs. (20:46) -Alexis

• That is not how I work. By the way, how is your dysfunctional/illusive relationship? (20:50)

• Justin?! WTH, how did u gt my cell no. (20:50) -Alexis

• It’s about time that you figured out who I am. (20:56)

• Stop trying 2 avoid my question. R u stalking me?! (20:57) -Alexis

• Of course I’m not; you give me too little credit Alexis. (21:07)

• Then how did u gt my cell no.? (21:09) -Alexis

• You do not need to worry yourself with that kind of information. (21:13)

• Justin! I want an answer. Stop avoiding my question! (21:14) -Alexis

• JUSTIN!!! (21:34) -Alexis

• Answer dammit! (21:49) -Alexis

After the chemistry class on the following day, Alexis violently grabbed his arm, which was much larger than she had expected, in an effort to stop and confront him about the preceding evening. Trying to hide her intimidation for Connel, she put on her best ‘Don’t Mess with Me’ look.

“Justin! How the hell did you contact me last night?” shouted Jane.

“With my cell phone.” wittily responded Justin.

“Drop the cool guy act! How did you get my number?”

“I’m not the kind of person to go into details, but if it is so important to you, I’ll get rid of It.” said Connel.

“This is an invasion of privacy, which is a prosecutable offence.”

“Then sue Me.” remarked Connel.

“What is wrong with you? I’m not your class friend, so stop fooling yourself into thinking that I am. Now leave... Mr. Connel.” said Alexis by placing an emphasis on his name.

With his accustomed heedless attitude, he walked out of the classroom with a grin on his face, almost as if nothing had ever happened.

Thursday afternoon, when the school day was finally over, Alexis went in search of Connel. She never saw him since she had reproached him. She walked down the corridors looking from left to right until she saw him locking up his locker. Jane rushed over to talk to him.

“Justin?”

“Yes Miss Jane?” said Justin sounding rather sarcastic.

“Listen Justin, before you say anything, I want to apologise for taking off with you yesterday.” said a guilty looking Jane.

“Why are you apologising if you were so convinced that I was wrong?”

“Well I guess that my overreaction to the whole situation was uncalled for and I should have known that you meant no harm.” responded Jane.

“You know, I do not like when people talk to me like I'm six, but apology accepted. Just by the way I was never angry, actually I was quite happy that you could stand up for yourself. I’ve never been wrong in a long time.”

As Justin left, Alexis began to ruminate on why she had worried so much about his opinion of her. It seemed to be that she was developing some sort of emotion for him, so she instinctively tried to dismiss it as an unimportant fantasy that her mind developed out of boredom but she could not, because she actually started to like it.