Dante
All through class, I couldn't get the conversation I had with Mateo out of my head. Which was a bummer because the Ethics lecturer was doing some actual lecturing. She was a middle-aged woman. Maybe her forties or late thirties, and she spoke like ethics was the most interesting subject in the world. In many ways, maybe it was.
The lecture hall was filled with twice as many students as the archeology class. Either a lot of students liked Ethics as a subject, or they were just here for the hot teacher. I heard a couple of guys behind me say something to that effect. I didn't think she looked hot. She was beautiful, charming. But I couldn't see her the way the other guys were. Maybe because she reminded me too much of my mother.
The topic she was talking about was interesting, but I couldn't pay attention. There were too many things on my mind.
"It's Asher Lowell. Everyone's got something against him."
Mateo had said that. But did everyone have something against Asher, or did Mateo in particular? I mean, I get it. Asher was intimidating and a bully. Half the school was scared of him. But that look in Mateo's eyes said something more. Something like a Vendetta against Asher Lowell. And if that were the case, was it possible I was just a pawn? Bait?
Because now that I thought about it, there was no reason Mateo and I became friends. He was a sophomore, and I was a freshman. He'd helped me get settled in and invited me to a party. He didn't have to do that. I bet he didn't do that for every new male student who arrived in school. He'd stuck by me through the party, came to my room first thing in the morning to check in on me.
Why?
The class laughed out loud at something the Ethics lecturer had said, and I turned my attention back to class, feeling left out at having missed the joke. To my shock, I saw the lecturer was only a few feet in front of me. She turned, and our eyes met.
"I'm guessing you don't find it funny?" She said with a smirk.
"What? Oh. Err, no. I mean, yes, I do find it funny. " I gave an awkward laugh that came out louder than I intended. The lecture hall had chosen that instant to go deathly quiet.
"Is that so? What part of it did you find funny?" She walked closer to me, 6seat, and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Er. All of it. I mean, the whole thing was, you know, hilarious." I chuckled nervously.
"Even the part about Hitler eating babies?" She widened her eyes in shock.
"What?! No! I didn't,...He ate babies?" I looked around at the faces of the other kids. I caught a lot of sniggering.
"Well, I wouldn't know. I wasn't there, and it was never documented." She said with a mischievous smile on her face. The lecture hall burst into laughter again, and I felt the heat of embarrassment crawl up my neck and settle on my cheeks. "You really should pay more attention in class. Especially on the first day."
"I was, I just... I'm sorry." I replied, contrite.
"No, you weren't. What's your name?"
"Dante. Or Dan." I answered, really hoping she'd let this go. The entire class had its eyes on me, and I'm sure a lot of them would never forget this moment for as long as we were in school together. It was too early to draw attention to myself.
"Well, Dan, consider this your last warning. I require absolute concentration from my students. Is that clear?" The smile was gone, and in its place, a stern glare that seemed to completely change her features and made her even more beautiful.
"Yes, ma'am." I nodded eagerly.
"That's Mrs Porter to you. You didn't hear that part either." She shook her head and walked back to the front of the class to resume teaching. I heard more sniggering and whispers. First day of class was sucking major ass.
I hated it.
Even with her warning, my thoughts continued to ruminate, although I managed to pay attention a little more now. Mainly because Mrs porter's eyes kept straying to me.
I was almost convinced I was a pawn to Mateo now. He claimed not to have known Asher Lowell was my roommate. But I was beginning to doubt the possibility of that. It was part of his job to assign dorms or at least know what dorms were assigned. Asher was a returning student; there's no way he didn't know which room he was in.
But would that mean Mateo was only being friends with me to get close enough to Asher?
The bell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I tried to make my getaway quickly before Mrs Porter had the thought of calling me for an after-class chat. Someone else was in a hurry to leave class, and I slammed into her in my hurry. Her bag fell to the ground with a thud, and so did my glasses.
"Watch where you're going, turd!" She yelled.
I picked up my glasses before I answered her, "Maybe you should also watch where you're going?" I turned to face her, head on, but met a space. I had to look down. She must've been a maximum of five feet. Nothing added, nothing removed.
"The hell did you say?" Her eyes furrowed in fury. I was the taller and bigger one. But there was something about her tone and demeanour that told me she wasn't to be messed with.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you," I said instead. Taking a step back away from all five feet of pure vengeance.
"Damm right you are." She shoved past me and walked away. I heard more sniggering and the word 'pushover'.
I sighed wearily. Fucking shitty day.