Sorry for the delay in getting new chapters out. Life and work get in the way sometimes. I am going to do my best to try to get at least one chapter of one of my stories out per week. I may not always be able to. I hope you understand.
Chapter 8
Michael's life is at a low point. His school life is the same, he talks with people at school but no one his age was a close friend. In the past that was ok he always had his mother and aunt to support him. However, over the last two weeks those relationships had become strained. He was too embarrassed to talk with them. His mother also seemed like she was avoiding him as well.
That is when Karli came into his life. He knew of her of course. He had even fantasized about her before. She seemed like the stereotypical popular girl. He had seen her and found her attractive, but he could not bring himself to talk with her. She was always surrounded with the popular crowd joining the cheerleading squad and hanging around all the jocks. They had just started their last semester, and both had chemistry together. They were paired off in the same lab group.
Michael was so nervous around her. She always smells so nice and is so friendly to everyone. He was unsure of her ethnicity. He figured that would be rude to ask, she had smooth light brown skin and dark wavy hair. He loved her brown eyes that always looked so warm and inviting. Michael was very excited for chemistry this semester.
The first week they did not really speak much, except to say hi. They mostly had to be quiet for Ms. Merritt lectures Monday through Thursday. On Friday Ms. Merritt had them do their lab work based on the week's lectures. Karli took this first opportunity of freedom.
"So cutie, what's your story?" She said leaning into him bumping him with her shoulder.
"What...me?" Michael looked around as if she could not possibly be talking to him.
"Of course silly, who else would I be talking to. It is just me and you in this group." She said with a warm smile on her face.
Michael did find it odd that they were in such a small group. Most groups had four people and one group had three so why would this last group have only two. It would make their final project harder.
"Well, there is not much to it. Lived here my whole life. Ready to be done with school." Michael said as he focused on their work.
"Come on, there has to be more than that. I asked around about you after we were paired together." Karli said smiling.
"Well, that is an odd thing to admit to me. Why were you asking about me?" Michael questioned.
"People do say I am really direct." Karli tilted her head with a smile. "I asked around because you would barely say hi to me all week. What choice did I have?" Karli said, still beaming the same smile seeming so full of energy.
"You did not need to ask around, you could have asked me." Michael said with a more aggressive tone than he had wanted.
Karli's smile did not dim at all, it seemed to get bigger as she chuckled a little. "Seems I did. We see how well asking you directly is going." Her joyful chuckle continued. All this attention made Michael nervous, and he looked around the room to see if anyone was looking at them. He only caught one pair of eyes on him and that was Ms. Merritt. Her normal stern face looked back at Michael before he averted his gaze from his teacher.
"Look, my story is not that interesting, ok." Michael turned to her frustration written across his face.
For the first time Karli's smile dimmed but only slightly. "Then let me help you make it more interesting. Come out with me and my friends tonight. It will be fun. Guaranteed!" She said, giving Michael a swift pat on the back.
"no thanks." Michael said, turning away from Karli.
"Aww come on I gave you my guarantee. Don't be such a stick in the mud." Karli said as she bumped her shoulder into Michael.
"Look, I said no! Just drop it and get your work done." Michael is unsure why he snapped at her. He was too shocked at himself to do anything. He just turned away from everyone and finished his work.
Karli's smile was finally replaced with a look of surprise. Instead of anger or frustration the look on her face soon shifted into compassion. "I am sorry I didn't mean to push. You looked like you could use a friend. If you are not ready for that I understand." Karli turned back to her work as well.
For the rest of the class the pair did not speak. A few murmurs could be heard as other groups looked his way. Michael was sure they were talking about what they had overheard. Michael tried to hide his embarrassment until the bell rang.
Karli leaned over her smile back on her face. "See you Monday." Before she left the room as well. Michael stayed at the lab table waiting for everyone to leave. It was the last period so everyone would be rushing home and the halls would be clear soon. He decided to wait for that.
"Mr. Kross, it is not like you to be so disruptive during my class." Ms. Merritt stood over Michael, her arms folded, her head held high but her eyes firmly looking down through her glasses. Michael had always liked Ms. Merritt. She was super smart. She was too smart to be a high school science teacher in such a small town. Everyone in school hated her, except Michael. She was strict and seemed to not like anyone. Michael knew she could seem rough on the outside, but he could tell she acted that way out of compassion. She wanted her students to be successful. Of all the people at school Ms. Merritt was the closest thing Michael had to a friend. He felt he could trust her. She always had very sound, but blunt advice.
"I am sorry." He said kind of mumbling.
Her ruler slammed on the desk "Sorry what!" She commanded.
Michael sat up straighter, "I am sorry Ms. Merritt."
"I have put too much time and effort into you to see you waste it." Ms. Merritt still stood over him.
She sighed heavily, her tone softening some. "You are an exceptional student, with your mind you will be able to lead a good life."
"However, I need you to learn one final skill" Her authoritative demeanor back in full force.
The sudden shift caused Michael to tense up. "What lesson is that?"
"Social skills." This time her ruler struck Michael on the knee. Michael winced more from shock then pain.
