Chapter Six

Hot New Teacher

First day of school has arrived. It’s Senior Year!

 Louis Lockwood went to school wearing an Alexander McQueen cream-colored jacket and a black shirt underneath with black tight jeans and a shiny black supra.

He was brought to school by his dad. As he hopped out the car, he reminisced some of his moments during his high school years. Then, he turned around and waved his goodbyes to his dad.

“Have a great day,” his dad said.

“You too,” Louis responded. Then, he walked straight to the lobby entrance and saw students who were thrilled in seeing each other like they haven’t seen them for years. As he continue to walk down the hall, he saw Willie Hample, a nerdy eleventh grader who wears this huge glasses. His short wavy brown hair were comb properly. He never really changes because he always carry a math book with him: this time, that was a geometry book.

Willie greeted Louis and he greeted back.

“Well, it’s good to see you.” Willie quickly went to their first class but the bell has not rung yet.

“It’s good to see you, too!” Louis waved.

Louis went to his locker to put some things. As he was organizing his stuffs, someone touched his shoulders. “Louis?”

The voice was very familiar to him. He turned around to check if his guess on who it was was correct. In front of him stood a boy: a tall, lanky, Caucasian boy with a long dark messy hair wearing a dark-purple cardigan with a black V-neck underneath and a shiny-black fitted pants and a Converse shoes. 

“Travis!”

“Louis!”

Louis was so thrilled in seeing his best lad. They exchanged hugs and asked ‘how they have been?’

“You are even whiter, man,” Travis complimented.

“The weather is pretty much the same,” Louis explained.

As they were walking, Louis remembered the poster. He couldn’t resist to ask him about their missing leader, Edward. His tongue was really itchy to say it. “I’ve seen Edward’s ‘missing’ posters. I told you guys to give me update. Why didn’t you give me any?”

  Travis stopped and faced Louis, “how are we gonna give you updates if there aren’t any updates?”

 Louis turned silent for a second as both of them entered the classroom.

“No updates?” he whispered but Travis was already far from him to reply.

When he got inside, he immediately saw Richard Grayson and Ismail Ambani who were both seating on the arm chair and were surprised in seeing their friend back. They gave him a handshake and a hug.

Louis noticed how Richard’s wavy brown hair has been highlighted as well as Ismail’s long hair being trimmed. It was a sort of reunion for them as they hugged each other.

“Brill! You guys really had changed,” Louis complimented. He nudged Travis. “Just like what you said.”

“You looked amazing too,” Ismail said, “how was London?”

“Same,” Louis smiled and glanced at the students who were coming in, “you should all visit sometimes.”

“Did you learn something from that trip?” Richard asked.

“Of course,” Louis replied. His British accent got stronger. “I learned how to play Lacrosse. I even recorded some cool songs with my cousins.”

“Awesome!” Richard said. “What about girls?”

“What about them?” Louis asked.

“Well,” Richard shrugged. “Have you dated any?”

“I heard Brit babes are better,” Ismail added.

“Nonsense,” Louis defended. “They’re all the same.” Then, he remembered Claire Summers whom he met at Toby’s Coffee who happened to go to the same school as his.   

“You should have had sexed it up in London,” Ismail said.

“Ismail,” Travis said.

Richard just smiled. Then, he remembered the wristwatch of Edward. “Guys, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Travis asked as his left eyebrow rose but still wearing a smile in his face.

Richard showed the sealable plastic containing Edward’s watch. “The mechanic from the tow station handed this to me last night.”

“That’s Edward’s,” Travis touched the plastic.

“Where did they find it?” Ismail asked.

“Inside the van,” Richard answered.

“Just keep that safe, for a while,” Louis advised as he looked at the students entering. More students went inside the room.

Then, two goth-like looking teenagers walked to their direction. They were Quentin Hamilton and Jenna Lucas. They were Louis’ friends and since he had changed his lifestyle last year, they kind of like lost in touch.

Louis was so surprised seeing the two looking cuddly.

“Hey, Brit,” Quentin greeted in a punk-low tone just like how emo-dudes used to do.

“Hey!” Louis quizzically stared at them. “You’re looking all cuddled up, eh?”

“We’re together,” Jenna responded in a low voice as she wrapped her hands on Quentin’s left arm.

“Definitely together,” Quentin repeated then he grabbed Jenna’s head and kissed.

“I can see that,” Louis whispered to himself. “I never knew that you fancied each other.”

“Huh?” Quentin clarified.

Couple of months ago or even years, Quentin and Jenna weren’t really fond of each other’s company. It was Louis who made them bond. He had no clue that they would couple up that was why he was proudly yet shockingly staring at them. “Well... good luck, you two.” Then, he fled when Quentin and Jenna resumed smooching.

All the students went to their respective chairs. Their teacher had not came in yet, so Malcolm Schmidt, the drama club president, went in front and announced that they will conduct an audition for those students who wanted to join Drama Club. He also added that a new English teacher will replace Mr. Grimes – their former English teacher – because he took an opportunity at Oxford University which made everyone cheer in excitement. All of them were excited to know who their teacher would be: will it be a boy or girl, young or old, kind or strict. However, they were still anxious in knowing who it will be. 

After a second passed by, the new English teacher stepped inside the classroom. The students simultaneously moved their heads as they follow the teacher’s movement.

Suddenly, the teacher introduces himself. “Good morning.”

The teacher’s voice was modulated yet soothing which made Travis look up.

“I’m your new English teacher, Mr. Brent Jones,” he continued as he wrote his name on the blackboard. Then, he gave his educational background, rules and regulations, expectations, and many more. He definitely caught everyone’s attention especially the girls, including Travis.

The girls were blankly staring at Mr. Jones. Travis felt cloud nine as if the words that were being uttered from Brent Jones’ lips were muted. Travis was stunned and was mesmerized by the looks of their new teacher: he was tall, white, on his mid-twenties, with messy blond hair and physically fit physique who seemed to work-out every day due to his arm muscles boosting out from his sleeves.

Travis looked at him like he was hypnotized by his beauty. He was fantasizing him but the fantasy was cut by the chiming of his HTC. With that awkward moment, he fidgeted and blinked fast. His phone was loud. Its sound bounced the whole room and everyone gazed at him like “what the fuck?” especially the girls.

“Young man,” Mr. Jones called his attention but his voice was still soothing, “phones should be silent in class. Everyone. Silent your phones, please.”

Travis nodded. He caught his attention unintentionally which made him happy. Then, before silencing his phone, he looked at the text message first:

Those look of yours are weird. I might catch you someday fantasizing at Mr. Jones’s naked photo. Dead daddy will surely not like it. –E

There it was again! His eyes widened after reading the text and turned around to see who sent it to him and he saw Richard looking at him.

Richard beckoned at him if he was okay.

Travis pretended that he was okay even though he was not because he was shocked. Just like how he was shocked with their hot new teacher.