Ch. 3: Chivalry

CHAPTER THREE:

Levi led the class through the rubric of a new project that he had apparently briefly introduced yesterday. We would be working with our teams over the next two or so weeks. Each member would be responsible for part of the project and we would need to meet on our own time to put the whole thing together on a giant poster that we would then need to present to the entire class. After some students passed out different research forms, I got my piece of the assignment. 

Throughout the class I noticed that the students really liked this teacher. He was strange and excited, in the best way. He was loud and full of knowledge. He was definitely entertaining. Already a thousand times better than the teachers at P.H., who all taught in monotone voices, with dead eyes.

I met the other two girls at my table - Lucy and Elizabeth. Both girls seemed to be much closer to each other than to Sarah. Sarah appeared to focus more on Levi. Lucy and Elizabeth seemed to be much more interested in the low-key note passing happening between them. 

When class ended I was approached by Bella, a girl at the table next to me. She was friendly and asked me where I had transferred from, and what class I had for sixth period. When I explained that I had Trigonometry, she excitedly told me that she had the same class. While Bella waved goodbye and told me she would see me in Trigonometry, I packed my things up. Levi was waiting in the front of the room, with a few papers in his hands.

“This is the class syllabus - gives an overview of the class for the year, my expectations, big projects, things like that. Here’s the list of supplies you’ll need by next class - make sure the notebook fits exactly this description. Do you have any questions for me?”

I thought for a moment, “Not yet, thanks. I think I’m just trying to feel everything out.”

“GREAT! Honest answer. I like it. Well, if you think of anything, jot it down and feel free to ask me next class. I’m also here before school if it’s something you’d rather keep from the whole class.” He patted my back. “Alright, well, have a good lunch! Do you know where the cafeteria is?”

“That’s okay, I brought my own stuff. Thanks.”

“See yeah!” Levi enthusiastically imparted as he reached behind his desk and grabbed a tupperware full of something green. Of course the food he ate was brightly colored. 

On that note, I walked out the door and back towards the front office and courtyard.

The sun had come out for lunchtime. What was left of the fog could be seen as thin wisps trailing down the mountain like lines all pointing to the pier. It warmed my arms, which were already toasty from the warm classroom I had just left. I walked through a river of students. Some were clearly as unsure and young-looking as I probably looked. Freshmen. They sure are easy to distinguish. I passed the double doors to the office and entered the courtyard. Here, the river of students opened to a calm but lively sea. There were people of all colors and sizes seated on benches along the outer rim of the courtyard and in the picnic tables in the center. This was the geographical heart of the school. It had two long hallways that rounded like a bird’s wings, while the courtyard and cafeteria behind it functioned as the backbone. Of course, like most of the hallways here, this courtyard was completely uncovered open space. 

People in pairs and in groups crossed the courtyard, some with food in their hands, and some holding books probably heading towards their lockers. I tried to remember where Maxine and Marsha told me to go. They had described a bench along the outer rim, but with all of these people milling about, I wasn’t spotting them.

Something brushed my left shoulder and I turned. Sean.

“Hey Rachel,” Sean playfully bumped into me. The contact, even through my jacket, sent a shock up my spine. Now that we were standing, I realized how freaking tall he was. He actually towered over me.

“Uh, hey Sean.” Stupid. Can’t say anything without “uh” in it? What is he thinking still talking to me?

He adjusted his backpack and took a half step away from me. “Looking for someone?” The last word stretched in tone, like he was implying I had been looking for him. I could play this game.

I brushed my hair behind my ear and met his gaze, strong. “I’m actually looking for Maxine and Marsha. Know where they’re at?” Snap, that was too much attitude.

He didn’t seem to notice. He might’ve even liked it? Sean just laughed.

“Of course!” He laughed again. God those eyes. They were sucking me in. I had the weird urge to reach out and touch him. He continued, pointing to the outer rim of the courtyard, closest to the cafeteria, “I think they are usually over there.”

“Thanks.” I couldn’t think of anything else and started to turn away.

“I’ll walk you,” he insisted. Before I could protest he started walking that way. 

I had a short circuit misfire in my brain, standing there like I hadn’t heard him. He turned back, noticing I wasn’t beside him, “You coming?”

I couldn’t think of anything clever, so I didn’t say a thing. I just told my feet to move, and I caught up with Sean just as he started walking again.

“So, Rachel, you said you transferred from P.H., right? How long were you there? Since freshman year? Or do you do this whole ‘new school, new girl’ thing often?”

The multiple questions took me a second to process. He didn’t push for a fast response as we walked together past two picnic tables of guys loudly making fun of each other.

“Oh, um. Yeah, I’m from P.H. I was there for my first two years. I started this year there for a couple weeks, but got out.” I waited for a response, but he seemed to just be totally focused on either walking me to my destination or on what I was saying. He nodded. I decided to keep going. “I’m, uh, actually a junior right now. I just really knew P.H. wasn’t the place for me.”

Something struck his features, I couldn’t decipher the expression. Before I could ask, I heard a high-pitched voice.

“Rachel! You found us!” Marsha squealed. Was she always this excited?

“Um, yeah. Sean helped me out though, there are more people out here than I would’ve thought.” I looked up at Sean, who seemed to have already been looking at me. I couldn’t breathe. After what felt like too long, I looked away, probably as red as the wagon I had as a kid. I sucked in a breath. Apparently I had actually forgotten to breathe.

Marsha tried to cover the sound with, “Sean! Thanks for getting my new friend to safety. I’ve got her now, you are released from your charge.” She waved her hands in a ‘shoo’ motion like he was an unwanted dog bothering her at a park.

I blinked and snuck a quick look at Sean from the side of my vision. Thankfully he was now looking at Marsha, mid fake-bow. 

“My ladies,” his right hand rolling in a completely exaggerated showcase of chivalry. 

Marsha and I laughed, as Sean rolled his way back up and casually said, “See you around Rachel,” that smooth, easy smile glinting at me.

As soon as he was out of earshot Marsha squeezed my arm, “Holy mutha-squeaking crap! Rachel! Oh my new friend Rachel. Your first day here and you have officially caught Sean’s attention. Girl, you do not realize the significance of this.”

“Significance of what?” Maxine came up from Marsha’s left, tray of pizza in hand. “Does this have something to do with Sean? I just saw him walking away from here... God damn that long line in the caf! I can’t keep missing stuff like this!” She sat down next to Marsha, seated forward to meet my eyes. “Spill,” she demanded, bringing the slice of pizza to her mouth.

Marsha caught Maxine up on what she had seen, and I backtracked to explain where I had run into him.

“Holy mother - Rachel. He friggin’ touched you. Like went out of his way to brush against your shoulder and then bumped into you again. He literally touched you like three times in the five minutes it took for you guys to get over here. He totally likes you,” Maxine concluded, all matter-of-fact, taking another bite into the pizza crust.

“I just got here, I mean, it’s cause I’m new,” I jabbered on with half sentences. “I’m sure it’ll blow over. Especially once it sinks in that I’m just a junior.”

“Wait what? You’re a junior?” Marsha asked.

“Ohhh, you were just in our homeroom today because of Chu, huh?” Maxine asked, seeming to put things together.

“Oh, I didn’t even ask.” Marsha reflected, eyes trying to roll back from how hard she was thinking.

“Uh yeah, just a junior here.” I repeated, deflated.

“Oh whatever, Rachel, Sean is still into you. It’s a year’s difference, not the friggin’ end of the world. It’s not even a gross difference.” Maxine posed, now done with her pizza.

I suddenly needed to be away from them. Ally, I need to talk to Ally.

“Um, hey guys, thanks for inviting me to lunch with you guys, but I really need to find someone,” I transitioned, beginning to stand.

“You really need to find Sean, is what you need to do,” Marsha ordered, voice as sure as a statement about gravity.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, “No, uh. I have to find my friend Ally. I’ll catch up with you later.” I turned on my heel and walked as briskly as I could.

No way this is happening to me today. I’ve been at this school for a handful of hours and I already am getting sucked into something I am definitely not ready for.