Becoming Normal

Chapter 4

During one of his classes, Tanner had to leave to use the restroom. And since it was during the middle of the class, there was barely anyone in the hallways so it was dead silent. That is until as he was getting a drink from the water fountain, he suddenly heard voices coming to his direction as he turned and spotted Autumn strolling with a female staff. He didn’t know who the staff was, but he could hear her having a conversation with Autumn. But since Autumn’s voice was so quiet, he could barely make out what they were saying until they got closer.

“So how’s your sister doing?” the staff questioned Autumn in a calm tone.

“She’s fine” Autumn replied quietly with her hands clasped in front of her while at the same time keeping her head down.

Remembering what Max told him, Tanner stepped out of the way for them to pass, figuring now wasn’t the best time to talk to Autumn.

“How are you feeling?” the staff continued to ask her as they strolled down the hall.

“Fine, I guess” Autumn replied still quietly.

“Have you talked to any of your classmates yet?”

“No.”

She would have talked to Tanner if she had replied to his greeting in the library earlier. But supposing that she had social anxiety, it would have made sense why she didn’t reply. But as she and the staff continued down the hall, Tanner began to wonder who was the staff lady? And where were they going?

__________

Just like he promised, Tanner joined Dayna at her home where they hung out in her room. Well, more like did their own things as Dayna ran through the clothes of her closet while Tanner chilled on her desk chair and texted Max.

Max: U at Dayna’s?

Tanner: Yeah, she’s running through her closet again

Max: What is it with girls and clothes?

Tanner: Don’t know, and don’t care. I’m already getting bored

Max: Then go home

Tanner: Oh damn why didn’t I think of that?

“Babe-” Dayna suddenly spoke, “I need your help.”

He looked up to see her holding a different shirt in each hand.

“Which one of these shirts should I wear tomorrow?” she inquired.

He just sat there dully, not knowing why she was asking him this.

“Uh, why are you asking me this?” he questioned.

“Because if I wanna look good I need your opinion” she replied casually “So tell me, which one should I wear tomorrow?”

Instead of answering, Tanner gave a small chuckle.

“Dayna-” he said, “You shouldn’t be asking me this, this is a you thing.”

“I know-” she groaned like it was obvious “That’s why I’m asking you this. Which one makes me look hotter?”

“Dayna” he stood up, hiding his frustration “If you really want my opinion, I suggest you flip a coin. Now if you would excuse me, I have to go home, my mom needs me.”

“Already?” she complained, “You’ve only been here for 15 minutes.”

“I know-” he pretended to sigh “But my mom really does need me. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”

And with that he patted her head with a fake smile before heading out, leaving her baffled by his response.

“Flip a coin?” she questioned herself “How do I do that?”

__________

A few weeks have passed, and everything seemed normal so far. And during English class, Tanner wasn’t paying attention to what Mr. Turner was saying as he was more focused on the sketch of the bird he was drawing on a piece of paper. With one ear opened and the other closed, he could only hear haft of what Mr. Turner was saying when he suddenly felt a slight pat on his shoulder.

“Dude-” Max whispered, “Did you hear what Mr. Turner said?”

“No why?” Tanner asked, “And since when do you pay attention?”

Max ignored the question as he continued “He said for the first assignment we have to work with a partner, you in?”

“Yeah man,” he responded, “Although you have to tell me what the assignment’s about because I wasn’t listening.”

Max gave a quiet chuckle as they listened as Mr. Turner began to call out the students' names and who they were working with. But when he called out Autumn’s name, everyone turned their eyes to the back corner as Autumn looked up from her notebook. And as always, her hair was draped to the sides of her face as she nervously tucked her body in.

“Who will you be working with?” Mr. Turner asked.

Autumn appeared frozen as she tensely quivered her lips, feeling all the eyes on her as she crossed her arms in front of her while using her fingers to rub her light smooth skin.

“Um-” she mumbled while avoiding eye contact “Can I work alone?”

“If you do it’s gonna be twice the work” Mr. Turner responded “Are you sure you want to work alone? It’ll be easier with a partner.”

Everyone waited for her response as she continued to look down while biting her lip. Tanner could see how nervous she was, if she kept this up she would most likely go into a panic attack, and he couldn’t let that happen.

“I’ll work with her” he suddenly volunteered.

He could feel Autumn’s and Max’s surprised looks on him, he was even a bit surprised himself. Never once has he volunteered to work with someone he barely knew, but at the same time, he felt glad he did.

“Very well” Mr. Turner concluded as he continued on.

Tanner turned to Autumn who shyly looked away while gripping tightly onto her arms.

“Dude-” Max whispered still surprised “What the hell, I thought we already agreed on working together?”

“I know but-” he whispered back followed by a sigh “I just couldn’t let her go into a panic attack, you saw how nervous she was.”

“Yeah but, do you really wanna work with her?” he questioned a bit concerned “She seems so... I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“Relax, I can handle it. And besides, this may be my only chance on solving the mystery on who she really is and why she’s who she is.”

“Whatever man” Max held his hands up “Good luck. Now I gotta find a new partner.”

Tanner gave his friend a pat on the shoulder to show no hard feelings. And when he turned back to Autumn who was still hiding her face, all he could think about was who was she and if he’ll ever find out.