Elipse

Chapter 3: Strange

.Bill asked Jose with a straight face, “That I am going to get into trouble?” he paused a bit “Wha- -Yes” Jose shot back quickly, stopping him from speaking any further “You got to stop this attitude of yours or you’re going to get into trouble, Big time” he said still whispering, with emphasis on the big time. “Don’t you dare tell me what I should and shouldn’t do” Bill said as his anger slowly began to rise “You’re not my dad” he continued with his face now solemn “I may not be your dad, but I give you an advice as a friend, my best friend” Jose said “The question is if I am yours” and with that Jose went away from where Bill stood, not telling him what he heard the lady say.

Everyone stood still wondering how the snakes even got into the locker in the first place, at the same time Jose was in the middle of a fierce battle with his subconscious self on the matter of whether he should just go ahead and tell everyone who the culprit was, “If I go telling on him, he’d say I’m being the bad guy, and he might never speak to me ever again.’….he thought to himself silently as he watched as the fear tinged with a bit of excitement that engulfed everyone just a minute ago….’But if I don’t, he’d continue and most certainly get into trouble way worse than the punishment that awaited him right now” shortly after that, Sylvia came walking by the hall when she caught sight of a crowd gathered in front of Greg’s classroom, she stopped and watched them for a good number of minutes almost forgetting where she was going and the task she had to complete, wondering what was going on “Humph” she said abruptly as she continued on her way. Later that day, the report of what happened went down to the principal’s office resulting in Greg receiving a call from the principal’s office.

After Bill had left the class, Greg sat there staring into nothingness as he found nothing to do. He headed out of the class to get some air “Mr. Greg” called a voice from behind him as he walked close to the doors of the hallway, turning his head, he found someone waving at him as the figure came closer and closer to where he stood gasping for air and Greg didn’t need anyone to tell him as he already knew that the pace the person was previously in was in a slight run. “Mr. Greg” said the person again as he finally reached where he stood “Harlow” Greg called looking at the young person in front of him that was evidently short of breath “I’ve been looking everywhere for you” Greg looked at him with one brow raised in question as to what he was talking about, seeing the expression on Greg’s face he went ahead to ask “Didn’t you get my letter yesterday” …. “I did” Greg said with no enthusiasm as he wasn’t in the mood to start a conversation. How did he know it was me Harlow asked himself internally as Greg didn’t look confused at his question, “Very well” he said taking a good look at Greg from head to foot “follow me, then” He said with a smile on his lips “Let’s go find somewhere quiet” he said and the both of them walked down the quiet hallway.

Reaching a door, Harlow turned the knob and entered in followed by Greg, “What did you say you wanted to talk to me about?” came the question from Greg’s lips as he took a seat on one of the chairs. “I can see you got my letter” Harlow said abruptly, looking everywhere charily, he went to pull the window blinds just to make sure no one was seeing them and also going out to make sure that no one was within earshot. “The reason I called you here is to pass information that is confidential to you” he said as he was sure no one would hear whatever they were about to say to each other “Where were you all this time?” Harlow asked with concern, “I have been around” Greg replied with dull eyes as he stared at Harlow “What’s happened?” he continued “The Council has been in need of your skills and expertise, and you were nowhere to be found” came the reply from Harlow as he sat down on the other side of the table “Oh really” “Yes, there’s something coming” he paused a bit looking sternly at Greg “Something big” he stopped there as he watched Greg’s expression not change “That’s the reason they called for the meeting on Thursday” he said in whispers. “So what could possibly be the problem, so big that the Council of Elders can’t handle on their own that they require my help?” Greg asked still with no light in his eyes as he let out sigh “Because you are the best we’ve got” Harlow said, and this gained another dry gaze from Greg, making him wonder if Harlow was sent here to flatter him. “And I’m not just saying this” Harlow said, before he could talk any further, the door swung open to reveal Sylvia standing in front of the door with some textbooks and notebooks in her hand as she walked into the room both men were in.

“Hello Harlow” she said with a smile as she came to drop the books in her hand on the table that sat there in the left corner of the room, "Hello, Sylvia" The man named Harlow replied with a smile on his face too, which revealed some of his dentition. Greg, who was seated there watched quietly as she walked past him without even sparing a glance as she went to place the load she carried on the table.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, referring to Harlow still with the smile stuck to her face. "Ehhhnnn" He said as he shrugged His shoulders "Nothing much" he said looking at her "Just discussing some matters that needs the top most attention" he continued, "Ain't that right, Greg?". He asked, still smiling as he turned his head to look at Greg, trying to get him involved in the conversation which he was having right now, which failed utterly because Greg did nothing to show his interest in their little talk, he didn't like to get involved in nonsense talk as he termed it in his own words

Seeing no reply coming from Greg, He turned his head again to face the woman whom he was talking with "So?, what are you doing here?" He asked her in turn "As you can see, I came to drop off these books." She replied, she took in a breath of fresh air and opened her mouth to speak when "Harlow" Greg called from where he sat. Getting up, "I'd be leaving now." He said with lackluster eyes as he stood up straight, dusting his shirt and pants, "I think it's best we discuss this at another time and a more convenient place." He said looking at Harlow and Sylvia interchangeably "Where there would be no distractions"

He said as his eyes slowly came to meet the ones on Sylvia's face, stressing the word distractions and making the syllables audible for everyone to notice, which was planned on ruffling her feathers, and it did. Sylvia stood there speechless, staring at him with rage slowly seeping into them, which he noticed but didn't care. He silently walked out of the room and went his way back to class as the bell had been rung, notifying all teachers to get back to work.

"I don't like that guy" Sylvia said as she knew he was out of earshot with a look of disgust in her eyes, "He always finds a way to get on my nerves" she continued in a tone that showed visibly that he irritated her to the core "Really?" Harlow asked her with one brow raised "He's really a nice guy you know" he said as he walked closer to where she stood only to receive a questioning look in her eyes that held disbelief in them "Once you get to know him" he said with a snicker as he came to stand in front of her

"That would be like a dream come true" she said sarcastically shaking her head and hands in a very peculiar way that amused Harlow that the couldn't help but laugh at the silly performance she was exhibiting right there in front of him, "What?" She asked Seeing him muster a smile on his face "Nothing" he said as he mustered a smile on his face.

Silence blew into the room and it dawned on her that the closeness they shared at that moment was somewhat strange and it came with an awkward feeling rising in her chest. "Well, I best be going now" she said, breaking the deafening silence that surrounded them.