The Pentagon Relationship

After lunch, I walked to my next class with Ethan and Peter, thinking about the new kid.

"So, what would you like to do?" asked Ethan suddenly. For a moment I forgot we had made plans to do something together this weekend.

"Umm, I’m not sure. I’ll get back to you. I have to get to class." And with that I stepped into my history class, while Ethan and Peter went to their computer science.

When I stepped inside the classroom, the first thing I noticed was a smile on the teacher’s face. Teachers at this school don’t smile. It’s one of the unwritten rules in our school manuals, along with "do not ask for a pencil in any class".

I took my seat next to the window, in the back. The sky was a little cloudy, and it looked like we were going to finally get the spring rain that was called for. Other students were coming inside the classroom now, still whispering to each other about the new kid from lunch. The bell rang to signal classes to begin.

"Alright everyone, take your seats. We have some important things to get through today. Mr. Arnold, would you please take your seat away from Miss Gallant, thank you," said Professor Carbuncle, as he stood up from his leather chair. People began to whisper again as they noticed the small smile that was forming as he walked over to the door.

"I would like to introduce the class to a new pupil, that will be attending our humble school. Come in don’t be shy now. Everyone, this is Mr. Cameron White."

In walked a tall fellow, with a blank face looking out the window. He seemed a bit bored at the fact of a new school. His brown hair swept across his eyes as he glanced at the classroom. New whispers of excitement filled the air at the newcomer. This must be the new European student.

"Now class, settle down. Mr. White has come, well, he could introduce himself, couldn’t you Cameron?" asked Mr. Carbuncle with a friendly smile to him. Cameron looked towards our history teacher and smirked.

"Europe, London actually."

"Isn’t that exciting class? Mr. White here has lived in London, maybe he could tell us something about the school system there. Cameron?" he looked expectantly at the outsider, as if daring him to object.

"The school system here," he paused and smirked again, "is cleaner."

Mr. Carbuncle looked startled, and the class burst out in laughter at this comment. After a bit of stuttering, he pointed at a seat in the back of the class for Cameron. Cameron walked over to it, gliding in pride at his new popularity in the classroom, and sat down. Girls giggled that were near him. I didn’t see what all the giggling was about, so I went back to staring out the window.

"Now," began Mr. Carbuncle, "take out your books to page 34, and read up to page 37. Then I want you to answer the questions on page 89."

I pulled my book out from my bag, and began to read. It was about landmarks in Paris. Why do I really have to know about the Arc de Triomphe?

I was probably halfway down the page, when I heard this slow clicking noise. Looking around, I saw that nobody else noticed the clicking noise, so I continued reading. The clicking stopped, and then began again, followed by a tapping noise. "Click, click, click, tap, tap, click, tap, tap, click, tap, tap, click, click, click."

I looked behind me, and saw Cameron, tapping his feet, and playing with a key chain. He saw me, and smiled, so I turned away. The clicking continued.

"Ugh…" I thought.