HSMTMTS: The Core Four

10

And having to feel that pain, in the middle of class, trying to fight the urge to yell in pain and cry and ultimately fail and give in. Especially with everyone in there who would watch me.

To take my mind off that nightmare and pain, I think about what I told Ricky, he shouldn't care about what Andrew and his gang say, he's just a jerk who hurts Ricky just to make him feel better about himself. I think I cheered him up, that smile he gave though, a small, sweet, heartwarming smile. I haven't seen him smile like that in a long time, it's so great to see him look happy again.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I look up to see Gina smiling at me. "Oh, hey Gina" I smile at her. "Class is over, come on," she says. The class was over already?  How long was I don't zoned out?  I grab my stuff and try to walk out the room but are stopped when Mr. Mazarra calls our names.

"Mr. Caswell, Ms. Porter."

We both turn around, I could tell that she was nervous, guess she heard the tales about the nerve-shaking Mr.  Mazzara.  I take and squeeze her hand hoping to get her to calm down, it seems to work cause her leg stops bouncing.

"I wanted to talk to you 2 about something. There's a field trip happening Friday. Were taking students to a Chemical Laboratory, a place equipped to conduct scientific experiments or tests or to manufacture chemicals. I'm hoping to see you two on this trip."

He hands both of us papers with the information.

We both say thank you and Gina walks out, I'm still holding her hand but I don't think she notices, but I don't care, her hand is actually soft and warm, it's really nice.

"Mr. Caswell, a moment?"

I turn around with a small smile on my face, Gina lets go of my hand and walks out. To everyone, Mr. Mazarra was a tough and strong-willed teacher who doesn't have any emotions. But I kinda got to know a softer and more compassionate side of him, he was the first one outside of my friends who noticed me acting differently after my parents died. One day after class he asked me what's wrong and I just told him about my parents with a few tears. He told me the story of his relationship with his dad to make me feel better, so in a couple ways, he became a mentor to me like dad and Uncle Dennis.

"How are you doing?"

"Not great" I sigh, I walk up to him and sit on the desk, playing with my leather bracelet. Ashlyn and I went somewhere fun a while back and some people had us make these bracelets, hers were beaded while mine were leather.

"Listen, I know I'm not...the most soft-hearted person, but I will try my best to help you through your rough spots."

"Thank you, Mr. Mazzara" I smile at him. He rubs my shoulder and smiles, I know I said I've seen his softer side, but he wasn't the best at affection, but despite that, he's actually a nice guy with great advice, maybe I should tell him about how I feel, or how I've felt. No!  Not even Mr.  Mazarra can understand that kinda feeling.

After a moment of sitting in comfortable silence, I grab my bags and walk out. "See you later, Mr. Mazzara" I smile at him walking out.

"I hope so, Mr. Caswell."

I walk out with a smile on my face, until someone jumps out, giving me a scare and making me yelp.

"Hey, Eej!"

I thought it was Ashlyn since she called me that nickname in our group friends the most, but it was actually Gina, leaving a shocked look on my face.

"What did you doing here?"

"I waited for you."

"Really, that's...sorta sweet

"Hey, what are new friends if not sorta sweet."

"And since I'm sorta sweet, I won't tell anyone about that girly yelp" she laughs, I close my eyes and give her an embarrassing smile.  What?  She scared me.  I give her a wide smile and we walk down the halls to our next class together. For a new girl who I thought was scary at first, she was pretty cool.

"So, you and Mr. Mazarra close?" She asks.

"Yeah, he kinda helps me with my problems when my family can't.  He's like that one person I can go for advice and help."

"Oh, I wish I had a relationship with someone like that" she chuckles.

"Well, maybe one of your new friends can be that person."

I can see her cheeks grow a tinted pink and she smiles, I also see her trying to hide it, which makes me slightly laugh. When she hears me, she slightly punches my arm. "Ouch, I'm sorry" I smirk. "Yeah, whatever, Caswell" she laughs, playing with her beautiful ring.

She's pretty cool and sweet, in general, for a new girl who I really don't know and all.

Wait, I'm just realizing, did Mr. Mazzara say the field trip is to a Laboratory? Like the one that exploded in my nightmares? No, maybe it's just a coincidence that it's a Chemical Laboratory, yeah, it doesn't mean anything, does it?

Here will go, while I was writing this, I wanted to include Mr. Mazarra someway, then I remember how he helped EJ with his problems after getting rejected from Duke, and I kinda saw them growing close in like a father-son type of way or something like that, so as this story goes on, they might have the same relationship as Ricky and Miss Jenn. My favorite ship, more than Rini, Redlyn, Kowie, and Seblos, is Portwell, they're my ultimate favorite, so like Ricky and Nini in this book, even though they're not gonna be together, they're gonna be close. Now I promise that all the main stuff will happen in the next chapter, I swear, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Be safe and have a great day or night, wherever you are.