Chapter 13 - 13: After School

Thomas started paying attention to Ms. Goff, so he didn't appear rude for talking his way through his first class. The only reason they probably got away with the talking they were doing was because they spoke only Spanish. Emmett's accent was a little hard to place but it seemed like an older vocabulary, he must have learned from someone who was from a rural area in the dialect. At one point after Ms. Goff had given out her assignment for the day, she began walking around the classroom and speaking to some of the struggling students. I had answered all 10 of the review questions quickly and was now just marking time for class to end. Ms. Goff came to the back of the room and spoke to Emmett. "I noticed Edward didn't come today, is everything ok Emmett?" "Yes Ms. Goff, he got a headache during lunch and was trying to tough it out during Biology, but it must have been too much for him. I will give him the assignment at home so he can turn it in tomorrow." "Thank you, I hope he gets to feeling better soon." When she was done talking, she drifted back to the front of the class. As the class was close to ending, everybody started to put their books away and wait for the last minute or two before the bell released us to the world. I looked over at Emmett, "It was good talking to you, Emmett. See you tomorrow." Emmett gave his good-natured smile and returned the sentiment. "Yeah, see you tomorrow man." With gym class being the last on Bella's schedule I knew I wouldn't catch her before she got done and seeing as it was in the same building as the main office she would get there before me. Ready to be done with the place, I got to the office just before a girl opened the door. I grabbed it keeping it open while she stepped in and dropped a small slip of paper in a wire basket, then she turned to leave just to see me holding the door for her. She hesitated for a moment but seeing I wasn't blocking the door she left quickly. I walked in and didn't pay any attention to the rush of wind when I allowed the door behind me to close, I moved to stand near Bella so we could turn in our class schedules together when I noticed the bronze-haired guy Edward standing stiffly at the desk. He turned and gave Bella a furious look before saying something I didn't catch to the secretary, then he stormed out of the office. His attitude earned a frown from me, as I really didn't like the look he directed at Bella. Bella and I approached and turned in our signed schedule and the secretary asked, "How was your first day?" I just shrugged and said, "It's different from what I'm used to but it's ok." Bella answered with a simple, "Fine." which I could tell was a lie. I wondered if she would talk about it on the way home or stay the silent martyr like normal. We walked to her truck, and I could tell she was struggling with something. I knew better than to press her, so I waited for her to say something. Once we were in the truck and waiting for it to warm up a little like you have to with older vehicles, she sniffed her hair and then turned to me, "Do I smell funny?" I looked her in the eyes, "Here I thought it was me that stepped in dog crap, but that smell is coming from you?" She had a horrified look on her face, and I just couldn't help laughing at her. "No Bell's, you smell like your normal self, Strawberries, and lilies. Why?" She suddenly started hitting me almost in tears. "Don't. Why You!! That. That's not FUNNY!" She punctuated each hit to my arm and chest with a word as I just laughed and squirmed in the truck seat. After hitting me a few more times she finally settled down and threw the truck into gear and drove us home. "Just for that, we are having noodle summer salad for dinner, no meat!!!" "Nooo, that's not fair..." I cried out in horror; I really should learn to cook more than just a few breakfast things, so she doesn't have this power over me. "Can we run by the sporting goods store before heading home? I need to get some gym clothes and shoes. I also wanted to look at their weight selection. The station doesn't have some of the equipment I like. "Point the way, we will stop by the grocery store on the way back so you can't take too long at the sports store." She told me. She still had a little anger in her voice. Newton's Olympic Outfitters leaned very heavily into the hiking and camping gear, but I managed to find a shirt and shorts for my gym class. Unfortunately, they didn't have any black sweats in my size. Shoes were very limited also as I refused to wear Nike. Once I was old enough to do my own research on the slave labor rumors and after watching crybaby basketball stars get rich of endorsements, I swore that brand off. I knew Adidas had just stepped up their push for an ethical union in Indonesia, so I was good with their running shoes. Most of the other brands in the store weren't ones I would work with if I had any other option. I was also disappointed in their weight selection, all they had was concrete covered in plastic style. I didn't like them because they were awkward, and they took up too much room on the bar. However, I did manage to find a decent curl bar to replace the bent one at the police station. As soon as we had walked in, Bella was ambushed by a kid with short blond hair and a greasy smile. After a few moments I finally remembered he was in our government class, he had the feel of a generic rich kid, but I knew better than to make snap judgments. As I checked out, I asked if they did special orders and was disappointed that any orders were limited to clothing only. "Guess we will be making a trip out of town at some point before long," I said to Bella as we walked towards her truck. She seemed very happy to have gotten away from Mark, or was it, Matt? I didn't care to remember. After grocery shopping, I requested Bella drop me at the police station so I could get in my afternoon workout and told her I would ride back with Charlie. I could tell that Bella wanted some time to herself and she preferred working things out on her own rather than talking everything through. Maybe if she got caught up enough in her thoughts, she would forget her threat about dinner. I grabbed the new curl bar and made my way into the police station, I smiled at Geraldine the dispatcher for the station. She told me to call her Gerie and had already given me the rundown on all the single girls she thought I would be interested in. She even brought up a couple of girls at the reservation she knew through friends. One named Leah was apparently hitting some major rocks in her relationship, and she thought I could be the cure. Rumor was that her boyfriend took off for a couple of weeks and refused to say where he went. I remembered that my great-grandmother came from the Quileute reservation back in the day. The family story was she ran off with an oriental merchant and brought shame to the Tribe, the Black family specifically as her brother was the Chief at the time. Hmm, I guess that made me part Indian. I would have to remember that when I put in for scholarships and grants. Though like all Americans anymore, I'm just a mutt. A general mixed breed from all over the world. After my workout, Charlie drove me home but I guess Ken called in sick today so Charlie would have to go back after dinner and spend the night at the station. I had a theory that Ken hurt his back trying to lift weights like he did in his younger days, but my only proof was some weights being moved around and his sudden illness. Bella and I assured Charlie it was no big deal as we both wanted to impact his normal routine as little as possible. That night I could hear Bella struggle to sleep as the rain and wind were a new sound to the two of us. I dreamed again that night, the mall, as usual. When I woke up this time, I felt like my body had been trampled by the fleeing crowd again. The kicks hurt my body and curses I was so familiar with echoed in my mind as I lay panting and staring at the ceiling. "Welcome to Tuesday Thomas" I said as I sat up.