you can cruise through the material without any problems.” Laura cursed herself for failing to pay attention earlier. “So I’ll tell you what,” Mrs. Millburn continued, “you and Mr. Sutherby can come in afterschool today, to this very classroom, in order to begin your new assignment together. You’ll come in every day after school this week, and you’ll be getting him caught up.”
“But Mrs. Millburn,” Laura began, desperately trying to protest, to say that she didn’t do anything to warrant the punishment. She was cut off as Mrs. Millburn loudly smacked a ruler on her desk, causing her and nearly everyone around her to jump.
“Every day this week,” Mrs. Millburn said precisely, emphasizing each word. “I will see you, and Mr. Sutherby, in this classroom at exactly 3:15PM every day this week.” Satisfied, Mrs. Millburn turned around, head held high. Laura slumped in her seat. What a horrible way to start the week.
Just then Mrs. Millburn turned around, a kind smile on her face. “Oh, I just thought of something,” she said sweetly, “that will ensure your compliance. The lowest mark between the two of you in my class at semester’s end will be the mark that goes on both your report cards.” Mrs. Millburn nodded happily to herself, and returned to her position at the front of the classroom.
Laura groaned. By the time class ended 90 minutes later, she could still hear the giggles from her classmates in her head.
Chapter Three
~Punishment~
Laura dragged her feet as she made her way to the math classroom after school. Thankfully, she hadn’t had any classes throughout the rest of the day with “Mr. Sutherby” – she didn’t know his first name – so there wasn’t any awkwardness between them. Not yet, anyway.
She wasn’t looking forward to the arrangement that her math teacher had set up for her, and thought that the punishment she received what completely out of proportion with anything she may have done. All she did was look back at him for a second! Mrs. Millburn was known for a harsh demeanor, though, and Laura was caught experiencing it firsthand. She hadn’t bumped into Brady today, either, which only worsened her mood.
And then she had to endure her friends’ ominous projections of what being forced to spend time with the new student was going to be like. They had picked up all sorts of new, swirling rumors about him, and now that some of them had put a face to him, it only made them exaggerate the tales even more.
“Have you seen him?” Molly asked Laura at lunch, before shaking her head quickly. “Of course you have. You had class with him this morning, after all. He’s scary, isn’t he? Looks like an axe murderer to me. Like those creepy guys you see in the movies. And he’s quiet, too. Secretive, maybe. Like he’s hiding something.” She laughed uneasily. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, though.”
“I heard he started a massive fire at his old school,” Kelly added, “that nearly killed half the students. And he jammed the doors so that they couldn’t get out. Luckily, the sprinkler system kicked in to stop it. He looks like the type to do something like that, doesn’t he? That’s just crazy.”
Before Laura could interrupt, her friend Stacy jumped in, adding all the bits and pieces that she had heard. And on and on it went, despite Laura repeatedly trying to assure her friends that it wouldn’t be that bad, that he couldn’t have possibly done all those things, and that people were just excited by a new student in school so couldn’t help but spread those rumors.
In the end, Laura just gave up, and did her best to ignore the more disturbing pieces of gossip that came her way during the day. But despite being absolutely certain there was little truth in the rumors, she still found herself feeling apprehensive as the clock ticked closer and closer to 3:15 PM. Which was exactly the time her cell phone showed, now.
Laura sighed and pushed open the door to the classroom. It was empty, except for Mrs. Millburn seated at her desk.
“You’re early, Miss Cubus,” Mrs. Millburn said without looking up. “Take your seat, please, and wait quietly for Mr. Sutherby to arrive.”
“Yes, Mrs. Millburn,” Laura sighed, and walked over to a seat at the far back of the classroom. If she was going to be spending time with this new kid, she wanted to at least be able to talk to him without Mrs. Millburn