computer on? wondered Monson. He stared at Mr. Gatt, who looked annoyed for some reason, though Monson couldn’t figure out why. The computer was on, wasn’t it?
“ Unfortunately, this building is very old,” stated Mr. Gatt without looking up from the computer screen. “The electrical system at times prevents electronics from working properly.”
The bell abruptly rang, but not before Monson caught a glimpse of the image projected on the screen. A skeletal humanoid figure propped against a grainy wall in a dark, sandy-looking room flashed across the screen. The picture looked like it was underground. He thought humanoid rather than human because the skeleton looked like it had extra limbs. Maybe it was deformed. He looked more closely at the image. It reminded him of those human-looking monkeys that scientists claimed were ancestors of the human race— the whole missing link thing. Maybe this was another long-forgotten race of early humans. He cocked his head as he took in the picture. He was not one to put much stock into that whole evolution thing, but maybe there was some truth to it. Who knew?
Students started to pack up their things. Taris, like always, lingered for a moment…until Derek came striding over. It was like clockwork. Derek would show up, she would smile as he attempted to engage her in conversation, all while letting the fingers fly on the keypad of her phone. Seconds later, a text would appear on Monson’s phone about how distasteful she found him. Texting had become the primary mode of communication for Monson and Taris. In fact, ever since Artorius’ tryout, it was nonstop. He still needed to change her name in his phone.
His phone buzzed. He read her message.
FROM: My Princess
u coming to practice today?
2:19 pm
He thought a moment before typing.
To: My Princess
ya i guess
2:20 pm
FROM: My Princess
good…i will c u later…
make sure u miss me!
2:21 pm
Monson did not have an answer for that and watched Taris walk away. He laughed at the look on Derek’s face as she moved rapidly away from him; Derek was obviously upset by the abrupt dismissal. His attention quickly turned to Monson and he snapped, “What are you laughing at, Grey?”
Monson smiled pleasantly at him. “Just the voices in my head, Derek.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed. “You and your mouth are going to get you in trouble.”
“ Don’t I know it.” Monson continued to smile.
Derek leaned towards him. “I hope you're enjoying yourself. I don’t suspect it will last much longer.”
Monson placed a hand to his temple as if he were coming down with a headache. More of the same. Monson had to wonder: Had he wronged Derek in another life? Was Derek ever going to get over whatever it was that put his panties in such a twist?
“ I believe we’ve had this conversation before. What is it now, Derek?”
Derek’s smile looked slightly deranged. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.” He walked away before Monson could answer.
Monson was not scared of Derek. Really, there was no reason to be. After all, there was not much he could do about the whole thing. There were already enough rumors to keep most people away from Monson, so unless Derek could figure how to effectively incite the rest of student body against him, there was really no reason to be afraid.
Monson stood up and started to gather his things, moving slowly to make sure he was the last person to leave the classroom. After several weeks of harassment he realized that if he simply waited, most of the undesirable altercations could be avoided.
“ Forgive my intrusion, Mr. Grey, but you look troubled.”
Mr. Gatt spoke to him in a conversational tone. Monson, almost instinctively, steered himself away from the door and towards Mr. Gatt at the front of the room.
“ Not really,” said Monson, “Just your normal high school stuff.”
Mr. Gatt’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern.
“ Unfortunately, this building is very old,” stated Mr. Gatt without looking up from the computer screen. “The electrical system at times prevents electronics from working properly.”
The bell abruptly rang, but not before Monson caught a glimpse of the image projected on the screen. A skeletal humanoid figure propped against a grainy wall in a dark, sandy-looking room flashed across the screen. The picture looked like it was underground. He thought humanoid rather than human because the skeleton looked like it had extra limbs. Maybe it was deformed. He looked more closely at the image. It reminded him of those human-looking monkeys that scientists claimed were ancestors of the human race— the whole missing link thing. Maybe this was another long-forgotten race of early humans. He cocked his head as he took in the picture. He was not one to put much stock into that whole evolution thing, but maybe there was some truth to it. Who knew?
Students started to pack up their things. Taris, like always, lingered for a moment…until Derek came striding over. It was like clockwork. Derek would show up, she would smile as he attempted to engage her in conversation, all while letting the fingers fly on the keypad of her phone. Seconds later, a text would appear on Monson’s phone about how distasteful she found him. Texting had become the primary mode of communication for Monson and Taris. In fact, ever since Artorius’ tryout, it was nonstop. He still needed to change her name in his phone.
His phone buzzed. He read her message.
FROM: My Princess
u coming to practice today?
2:19 pm
He thought a moment before typing.
To: My Princess
ya i guess
2:20 pm
FROM: My Princess
good…i will c u later…
make sure u miss me!
2:21 pm
Monson did not have an answer for that and watched Taris walk away. He laughed at the look on Derek’s face as she moved rapidly away from him; Derek was obviously upset by the abrupt dismissal. His attention quickly turned to Monson and he snapped, “What are you laughing at, Grey?”
Monson smiled pleasantly at him. “Just the voices in my head, Derek.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed. “You and your mouth are going to get you in trouble.”
“ Don’t I know it.” Monson continued to smile.
Derek leaned towards him. “I hope you're enjoying yourself. I don’t suspect it will last much longer.”
Monson placed a hand to his temple as if he were coming down with a headache. More of the same. Monson had to wonder: Had he wronged Derek in another life? Was Derek ever going to get over whatever it was that put his panties in such a twist?
“ I believe we’ve had this conversation before. What is it now, Derek?”
Derek’s smile looked slightly deranged. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.” He walked away before Monson could answer.
Monson was not scared of Derek. Really, there was no reason to be. After all, there was not much he could do about the whole thing. There were already enough rumors to keep most people away from Monson, so unless Derek could figure how to effectively incite the rest of student body against him, there was really no reason to be afraid.
Monson stood up and started to gather his things, moving slowly to make sure he was the last person to leave the classroom. After several weeks of harassment he realized that if he simply waited, most of the undesirable altercations could be avoided.
“ Forgive my intrusion, Mr. Grey, but you look troubled.”
Mr. Gatt spoke to him in a conversational tone. Monson, almost instinctively, steered himself away from the door and towards Mr. Gatt at the front of the room.
“ Not really,” said Monson, “Just your normal high school stuff.”
Mr. Gatt’s smile faded, replaced by a look of concern.
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