8 Chapter 8 (1/2)
The next morning arrived, and Emma still has not told Wyatt about her being a laibah. She still fears that Wyatt would reject her feelings if he knew. The two of them come to class in the morning. The other students were talking about what they were going to do over the weekend, since the next day was Friday. When Refus came into the room, and after everyone took their seats, the room was unusually quiet. It seemed like less and less students were speaking up against having a laibah as a teacher as each day passes. At this point, no student was protesting Refus in the morning. At least, not out loud anymore. ”Good morning, class” Refus says. ”I hope you guys are extra awake today. Today we will be discussing a lot about economy, and I know how much most of you must hate this kind of thing”.
Some students groaned as everyone was taking out binders and books. ”I hope this won't be too long” a student complains.
”Don't worry” Refus says, ”today we're dealing less with the mathematical side of economics, and more on the reason why it's important. After that, we'll be moving on to-”.
As Refus was talking, Jessica leans in to ask Wyatt, Emma, Jackson and Aeris ”You guys have any extra paper? I think I ran out already”.
”Already?” Jackson whispers back. ”It's only the second week of school”.
”I know, I know!” Jessica whispers harshly. ”I didn't come prepared, and it's my fault, I get it. Please, just this once?”. Aeris hands a small stack of paper over to Jessica. ”Thanks!” Jessica says, ”you're a lifesaver!”.
”I mean...” Aeris says in an unenthusiastic tone, ”it's just... paper”.
”She's just scared she won't remember anything with that racked up brain of hers” Jackson says.
”I'm not scared” Jessica says, ”I KNOW I won't remember anything! I at least know my limits, Jack!”.
”I feel like giving out nicknames should be left to me” Jackson says. ”That was uncreative”.
”Dingus was uncreative” Wyatt says as he looks over at Jackson.
”Silence, Dingus” Jackson says with a laugh.
Emma begins to laugh, but suddenly ”Do you guys have something you wanted to share with the class?” Refus calls out from the front of the class.
”Shit...” Jackson says.
”Ah! Sorry, Mr. Maloney” Jessica says, ”it was my fault. It started with me asking for supplies”.
”Please don't continue disrupting the class” Refus says.
”Nice save” Aeris whispers to Jessica.
”You guys owe me” Jessica says.
”Didn't Aeris give you paper though?” Jackson asks. ”I thought she was 'a lifesaver' or something”.
Emma and Aeris begin giggling quietly, trying not to make a lot of noise so they won't get in trouble again. After the first class ended, Refus leaves the class feeling pretty motivated. This morning went by really well, compared to how it usually goes. The next teacher walks past Refus, bumping him in the shoulder on purpose. The next teacher, Jeff Hendricks, looks over at Refus and mumbles something to himself. Refus smiles back at Jeff, and Jeff enters the classroom, expecting the class to be out of control. However, when he gets in the classroom, everyone was composed and relatively calm. ”Is everyone expecting something good to happen soon?” Jeff asks the class as he enters, ”Or is everyone just having an unusually good day?”. As Jeff speaks, he was smiling a little, as if pleasantly surprised by the state of the class.
”It's just... a normal day” one of the students speak up.
”That's unusual” Jeff says to himself. ”Everyone is usually worked up about something. Perhaps that laibah is actually getting a grip. Well, I guess that's one burden off of my shoulders for now”.
After another class, the lunch period began again. The Rejects came to their usual spot to eat. Once they sit down, they began talking. ”Looks like the teachers are lightening up too” Jessica says. ”Not only were the other students unusually bearable today, but Mr. Hendricks was also pretty relaxed today”.
”It's almost like someone used anal bleach on the entire school” Jackson says.
”... what?” Wyatt asks, very confused.
”Because...” Jackson says as he prepares the punchline, ”all these assholes were able to lighten up a bit!”. Jackson, Aeris and Jessica laugh loudly, as Wyatt giggles. Emma however, seemed like she's had something on her mind all day.
After a little while of laughing, Wyatt looks over at Emma. ”Is everything alright, Emma?” Wyatt asks.
”Huh?” Emma asks. ”O-oh, yeah! Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, I was just... thinking about some stuff”.
”Like the festival again?” Wyatt asks.
”That's one of them...” Emma replies.
”Ooh!” Jessica speaks up, ”Are you guys going to the festival together!?”.
”Yeah” Emma says, ”it's my first time ever going to an event like that”.
”That's so cute, going together like that!” Jessica says.
”It's not...” Emma says as she slowly buried her face in her arms, as her face slowly turns red. ”It's not like... cute and- mmf hm”. Emma began mumbling inaudible words into her arms.
”I almost wanna go to the festival too” Jessica says, ”but I'm not sure if I'll have the money to go”.
”I would love to not go” Jackson says. ”Too many people for me”.
”As expected of Jackson, the Antisocial” Aeris says with a laugh.
”You're not wrong” Jackson says.
During lunch, Jeff and Refus meet in the teacher's lounge. ”I expected a mess of a class this morning” Jeff says to Refus as he sits down at the table.
”Is it time already for this 'insult the laibah' show?” Refus asks sarcastically.
”No, no” Jeff says, ”I must say, I only expected so little of you because of the students reaction of you. However, it looks like you're actually taking control now. Maybe you could work out as a teacher”.
”Oh... really?” Refus asks. ”I didn't think any of the other staff would come around like that”.
”Look” Jeff says, ”statistics are one thing... results, however, speak for themselves”.
”And here I just thought everyone was simply taking Quincy's side” Refus says.
”Quincy is a coworker to me” Jeff says, ”with a lot of good results. I trust him as a teacher, but that's it. This doesn't mean I trust you as a person though. I try not to converse with coworkers often, outside of work”.
”Fair enough” Refus says. ”I'll take what I can get”. As Refus and Jeff begin to leave the teacher's lounge, Refus thinks to himself. ”I guess Principal Schafold was right. Slowly, the other staff here will come around”.
After lunch ended, and The Rejects make their way back to class, Emma pulled Aeris and Jackson to the side to speak with them privately. ”I need to ask you guys for advice...” Emma says quietly.
”For the love of-” Jackson says as he turns around to look at Emma. ”If you're going to ask him out, just ask him. I'm not a specialist here!”.
”No, not that” Emma says. ”I've been thinking... if I should tell Wyatt about me being... you know, a laibah?”.
Jackson takes a stressful sigh and says ”I'm. Not. A. Specialist... tell him, don't tell him, whatever. I still have my doubts”.
”What are you talking about?” Aeris asks. ”These two weirdos would probably go well together no matter what they knew about each other. You're just a pessimist”.
”Whatever” Jackson says, ”I still think humans, no matter how trusting they can be, will only go so far for a laibah”.
”W-What do you mean?” Emma asks.
”I'm saying” Jackson says, ”that he may be fine with being friends... but I doubt any human would be faithful to a laibah”.
”You're giving her weird ideas, Jackson” Aeris says. ”Look, Emma, it's up to you to tell him. Don't believe that what Jackson says is always true. You've gotta trust your gut on this one”.
”My gut is an idiot” Emma says. ”It just wants to ask him out, and nothing else”.
”That's a riot, coming from the smartest student I know” Jackson says. ”You've got book smarts, but deep down, you lack in most other areas”.
”To be fair” Emma says, ”that's how everyone is, in some sense. Like most people who have streets smarts lack in book smarts. Some people have both street smarts and book smarts, but lack social behavior, and so on, so forth”.
”Yeah, thanks Copernicus” Jackson says. ”Look, if you feel like you have to tell Wyatt, then tell him. If you're not sure if you can tell him, then don't. That's pretty much all I can do to help”.
Emma sighs to herself and says ”I'm not sure if I can tell him though”.
”Then don't” Jackson says.
”But I need to be honest with him” Emma says.
”Then tell him” Aeris says.
Emma groans to herself and says ”I guess I just need more time to think about it”.
After school ended, Aeris and Jackson were leaving school together. ”Why don't you try helping them out?” Aeris asks Jackson.
”How so?” Jackson asks.