Behind Classroom Doors

VII

VII

I wake up to my phone going off. Without thinking twice I groggily answer, putting the phone to my ear. My eyes feel weighed down, but I force them to stay open on an effort to stay awake. "Hello?" My throat is so dry from sleep. I probably sound like an old man.

"Livia! Are you okay?" Becca's voice booms. I flinch at the volume of her voice and turn to look at the time. It's 6 am. Time to get up anyway.

"I'm fine why?" I inquire. I stand up from my bed to stretch out while simultaneously holding the phone to my ear.

"Dean called trying to get me to talk to you, and he said you wouldn't answer your phone." I roll my eyes and walk to the bathroom, filling some water in a cup to drink. I chug the water in seconds. I must’ve been thirstier than I thought.

"Yeah, we just fought...kind of." She gasps over the other line as I set my cup back onto the counter.

"You two never fight." She states matter of factly.

"No, we fight, just never enough for me to ignore him," I tell her while I put my hair in a messy bun and brush my teeth quickly.

"So what happened?"

Spitting out the paste I wipe my mouth and say, ”Hunter came over to work on an assignment. Dean didn’t like the fact that I would be alone with him." I explain, realizing my anger is a little silly, but it doesn’t change how I feel.

Bee hesitates before responding, “Hunter who? Is it that kid with the red hair?”

I laugh, “Jake has red hair too ya know.”

“Yeah, but his name isn’t Hunter.” She has a point. “Anyway, Hunter seems harmless. I see your issue.”

"Yup." I say popping the 'P.' "I don't know where it came from. He's never been that...way before. I mean yeah he's been jealous but nothing less than a few dirty looks towards the guy." He has especially never taken it out on me.

"Huh." She finally says."Maybe he's just worried he'll lose you. I mean, this is our last year. You two might not be going to the same college."

I shake my head even though she can't see me. "He doesn't even want me to go to college. That’s a whole other story. Anyway, I didn't deserve how he treated me. Can you take me to school?" I question realizing Dean is usually my ride.

"Sure, What time does Dean usually pick you up?"

"7:30."

"I'll be there at Seven." Bee hangs up, and I sigh. I'm glad I have such great friends that I can count on, but I wish Dean and I weren’t fighting right now.

I try not to think about my feelings toward him and finish getting ready. I put on some light jeans and a loose white Tee. I didn't bother buttoning the flannel I had over my shirt since I kind of like the look.

As soon as the clock hits seven Bee pulls into the driveway. I walk out and almost laugh as Luke gets kicked to the back so I could go up front. They don’t always ride together since they both drive, but I guess today they wanted to.

"Hey." I greet as I get inside and put my seat belt on. Luke got booted to the back when they pulled in.

"Sup," Luke said back.

"We're going to go get coffee since we have an hour until we have to be at school." I nod in agreement. Coffee sounds like life right now.

"I'm sorry about this. I really should get a license" I tell her sincerely.

"Don't worry about it; I'd do anything for you." The ride to the coffee shop is mostly silent. Bee and Luke make a few comments to each other, and I envy their relationship. Don't get me wrong. I love mine, but I'm upset right now. I keep replaying the conversation over in my head. How easily he snapped.

The coffee shop is small but cozy. I love it. I’d be lying if I said it’s mostly because of the bear claws. "Oh my god, I love this place," I tell them as I take another bite of my bear claw.

"I know right. Luke and I try to come here as often as possible." Bee says in return. Luke puts his hand on her knee under the table, and I raised my eyebrow suggestively at her. She shakes her head and smiles, moving Luke's hand off of her knee and onto the table. After we finish our coffee, I check my phone and realize it’s time to head to school. Dean is still blowing up my phone, but I choose to ignore it.

When we get to school, I go to my locker and am relieved when Dean isn't there waiting for me. The hallways are clear so I know I have to hurry if I'm going to make it to class on time. As I make my way across the hall Dean comes from around the corner and grabs my arm, stopping me halfway.

"We need to talk." He states aggressively.

"Not now, I have to get to-" I am interrupted by the bell ringing and groan. Great, exactly what I needed.

"We need to talk now." He stands in front of me to block my way, my gaze is anywhere but on him.

"What?" I snap in defeat. I pull my arm from his grip. He doesn’t stop me.

"Where were you this morning?" He questions. I open my mouth in shock, is that really what he wants to talk to me about?

"That’s what you want to talk about? Where I was?” I roll my eyes, “Bee gave me a ride, now excuse me." I say trying to walk past him. He grabs my arm again and turns me to face him.

"We are not done here." He tells me in a low voice that startles me.

"Why are you mad?" I ask in a calm tone. My anger will only make things worse.

"I-" He trails off for a moment, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough, you have to explain to me what the real issue is or I’m leaving.”

“You’re not going anywhere Liv.” He says, almost demanding.

I try to turn away from him, but his grip tightens on me. "Ow. Dean, you're hurting me." Dean's eyes are clouded. At my words, he loosens his grip extremely but still doesn’t let go.

"Liv, I'm-"

"What's going on out here?" The sound of Mr. Morgan's voice makes me jump. Dean finally lets go of me completely. I rub my arm, hoping to ease the slight pain and look at the teacher. Mr. Morgan is standing at the doorway with a stone face, and his arms are crossed over his chest.

"Nothing," I mumble, taking the opportunity to end this conversation and walk past him, into the classroom.

Dean follows behind me, and Mr. Morgan keeps his eyes on Dean warily. I sit down at my seat, and Dean moves to sit by me. "Mr. Cooper sit up front please." He ordered, and for that I am thankful. I guess he noticed that I don't want to sit by him right now.

The class didn't seem to realize what had happened making me once again thankful. Dean sulks the whole class period, and when the bell rings, I grab my things to get out as quick as possible. Of course, that doesn’t happen. "Ms. Gardner please stay after class." I stop midstep and wait for the class to pile out. Dean gives him an evil look and me, a sympathetic one.

"I'll wait for you outside." He tells me, but I turn my cheek to face away from him.

"Don't bother." He huffs and walks out. I know I'm childish, but I can't stand the way he talked to me.

I walk up to Mr. Morgan's desk as he stands to come up to me. "Let me see your arm." He demands. I hesitate but eventually take off my flannel so he could examine it. I wince at his touch. My arm hurts more than it should."That's going to leave a bruise. I should call the principle." He decides.

"No!" I yell, snapping my arm back and shrugging my flannel back on. "It was an accident, and Dean would never hurt me," I add.

"And yet he did." Mr. Morgan's full lips are pressed into a thin line. He keeps glancing at my arm.

"Look, just don't call the principle, he didn't mean it." His face hardens making him look almost mad?

“This is serious Livia, what if he hits you the next time he gets angry” I let Mr. Morgan’s words sink in for a moment.

“No, he isn’t like that.” He has never intentionally hurt me. I have to believe he never will.

"If I find out he hurt you again I won't be so lenient." He warns. I gulp but nod nonetheless.

"As for you, you have detention again." He adds.

"What? Why?"

"You were late to class." Mr. Morgan shrugs and writes me a slip. As if it's no big deal that I'm getting detention yet again. If this goes on my permanent record than Dean might get his way after all.

"So was Dean!" I argue.

He looks at me narrowing his eyes. "I was going to give him detention tomorrow since I doubt you'd want him in here with you." I scoff but take the slip, hastily walking out of the room.

Dean is nowhere to be found, and I sigh. At least I don't have to deal with that right now.