Troubled

NINETEEN

CORA PHILIPS

I was so stunned to see him there that I couldn't produce words. He looked just as shocked to see me as well so I couldn't possibly say he followed me here, besides as far as I knew, nobody else knew I come to school too early and sit in very dark places.

So what were the possibilities that he followed me here to accept payment for his phone repairs? Slim right?

"What the f**k? Cora?" His voice was laced with confusion. The scream that tore out his mouth made him seem less like the boy everyone loved so much.

"What the hell are doing here?" He was obviously perplexed and maybe a bit crazy if he thought he could talk to me like he and I were friends.

"I could ask you the same thing, what are you doing here?"

"I came to get an education."

I snort inwardly, he must have thought he was smart after saying that. Wasn't that the purpose of school?

"Me too." My answer was plain, simple and short. Meaning he needed to leave me the hell alone so I could finish what I was drawing.

I was drawing the eye I saw in my dream, because the image refused to leave my mind. So I drew just the eye the pencil impaled, without the rest of the face, because I couldn't put either of their faces on such a grotesque drawing.

"What are you doing sitting in the dark all by yourself?" His voice reminded me of his presence, I almost thought he had gone.

"Privacy. A concept that seems surreal to you I see." I say, hoping to pass across the message that I was irritated by just his presence and he needed to leave.

Either the boy let the fame go into his over sized head or he really didn't get the concept of privacy because he flung himself over the desk and was standing beside me now.

"What are you doing?" Dumb question I know. But dealing with this guy made me loose a few of my screws. Not in a good way.

He sat down heavily on the seat beside me and I felt like kicking him outside, outside of earth.

"Why beside me? Why this class?" I was beginning to get infuriated.

"It's also my school, I just happen to want to sit here." He said looking smug.

"It's a huge school, you can pick any of the classes you want." I argue.

He only shrugged. But that only triggered a memory of the dream. I saw the pencil move in my hand, it went into his eye in a fluid motion. I curse inwardly, there were pencils all around me, the ones I used to draw.

"I'll be going then." I shove all of my stuff into my bag, in a bid to run away. I couldn't stay there a minute longer, who knows what might happen. I couldn't be responsible for anybody's death. Or hurt.

But because he had an inflated head and was not used to anyone walking out on him, he held my hand in a feeble attempt to stop me. I scoff silently before pulling my hand away from him.

"No stay. I won't bother you. Besides you were here first, you shouldn't give up your spot because of me." His face had a look of sincerity. So unfortunate that I didn't believe.

I let an unattractive snort come out of me before walking away. The boy was ridiculous, the size of his ego was even more ridiculous. As I walk out of the classroom I briefly hear the sound of his laughter. The boy was crazy, maybe that was why he was visiting Miss Suzie. I felt sorry for her, she had enough on her plate with me alone, and if you add Kyle and his ego? It won't be long now before she quit being our therapist/psychologist.

I wandered back to the class I had for the day, hoping to finish up my drawing before students started to pile in.

Pouring the contents of my bag on the desk, I search through the rumble. There was sign of the drawing that was yet to be completed. I checked under the desk.

"That fucker." I sigh.

Kyle had made me forget the drawing on the desk. And I couldn't go back, I didn't want to see him again. At least not in the next six million years.

I groan. If I didn't finish drawing that, I would have another nightmare about it again. I drew to ease them, once I drew them, they never came back. And there was no time to start another one.

Right on cue I hear the warning bell ring. My eyes fluttered shut as I try to calm myself down, if I got riled up about Kyle, who knows what could happen to the rest of my innocent class mates?

"Cora!" I hear Xander call out.

Somehow a familiar voice made me feel comfortable.

"You left me yesterday!" He sat down beside me. I peel my eyes open to find him pouting at me.

"Don't do that. Ever."

He shrugged. Reminding me of that Kyle. He loved shrugging, maybe that was why he played football. Did that even make sense? I think it did, they wear shoulder pads to play football right?

Xander snapped his finger in my face.

"Hello? Earth to Cora? What are you thinking of?"

I blink before settling my eyes on him. He was frowning a bit.

"What?"

"I asked where you were, and I asked for your phone number because I realized yesterday that I didn't have it."

I pull out my dingy phone and give it to him.

"Oh by the way, the talent show is next month."

I nod absent mindedly, I never cared about talent shows, it was not why I attended this school. Like I said, I just needed to graduate.

"You really need to get a new phone, this is so.. old?" Xander said as he examined my phone with curiosity. I pluck the phone out of his hand and stuff it into my pocket.

"Will you be doing the talent hunt?" I ask him to make conversation.

He nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, I signed up yesterday. I'll be playing the piano." He looked so excited as he talked. I found myself smiling too, it was contagious.

"Cora Philips?" I hear someone call from the doorway.

I look up to find a first year. Her eyes scanned the entire class room hoping to find the person. I raise my hand to signify it was me.

Her eyes bulged, she must have heard the rumors about me. I could see she never imagined it was me.

"The..art teacher is.. asking for you." She stammared and ran away.

I roll my eyes.

"Seems it isn't just you that believe the rumors." I tell Xander as I walk to the teacher's office.

"Mr. Stevens?" I call out. He was backing me. Once he heard my voice he turned to face me. His crazy eyes looked even more crazy.

Mr Stevens was the only teacher in school that I could stand, mostly because he wasn't scared of me, or didn't care about his life. He only cared about art.

"My dear sweet Cora!"

I walk towards him tentatively. He was known for outbursts when he couldn't control his excitement.

"Did you hear about this year's talent hunt?"

I sigh drily. This again. I should have known.

"Yes." I kept my response clipped so he knows I'm not interested.

"What you don't know is, college scouts will be there. I know you don't want to participate but, think about it, boosting your chances at college, one measly day!"

My eyes widened.

"Mr Stevens." I say because there was nothing else to say. I would love to go to any college at all, but an art school? That would be out of this world awesome.

He smiled his usual crazy smile at me.

"You have never signed up, hiding your talent from the world. I guess this year, everyone outside these doors can see it."

I refused to get emotional.

"Where do I sign up?"

He beamed at me.

"Right there." He pointed towards a board on the wall. We walked towards it together, only to find my name at the bottom of the list.

"What the hell?" I ask in confusion.

"Who signed up for you?"

I didn't even know the emotion I felt that time.

"I did."