In My Mind Only

"I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother, Mr. Way. Please, take as much time as you need." Wow. The principle was nicer than I remembered. I nodded.

"Thank you, sir. Very much." I walked out of the office and was heading towards the door when I realized that I forgot to grade the rest of the journals. I only had one more class of pretty much 6 students, so I suppose I'll finish them quickly. As I made my way towards my classroom, I noticed Frank walking into the restroom. I was thinking about confronting him, but decided against, because that would make it seem as if I were more of a pervert than I already am.

I sat down at my desk after grabbing the journals and began to read them one my one.
"Mr. Way, I believe that Romeo and Juliet were meant to be together!" I wanted to roll my eyes. Of course they were! It was basically said throughout the entire play.

"That's a great observation!" I wrote back. This is what I loved most about my class. Reading the things they trust me with and seeing them excited about reading what I wrote back. I continued with my reading and answering until I heard the door open.

"Sir?" I raised my head up and saw Frank. I froze. I took a deep breath and straightened my back.

"Yes, Mr. Iero?" He walked right up to my desk. I noticed there were fresher bruises on his face. The ones from earlier were darker. What is happening to him?

"Listen, I'm sorry about what I said earlier today. I understand, um, well, not exactly understand how you're feeling. But, um, I want to help you, I guess," he rambled.

Help?

"Help?" I repeated aloud. Help me what exactly? What is he saying?

"Well, if you thought no one could notice you staring at Ray, then you're horribly mistaken."

"But I wasn't-"

"Sir, don't try it. I saw. I watched. I concluded," he said. I clenched my jaw without realizing. I stood up from my chair, walked right over to the door and locked it.

"Listen, I don't care what you thought you saw, you shouldn't be watching me if I'm not giving a lesson," I raised my voice.

"You were teaching a lesson. Don't get caught. Did you not hear what I'd said earlier? I. Want. To. Help. You," he said slowly as if I were stupid. His scowl didn't help his situation either. I refused to say anything more. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Shut up," I said. I sat back down in my chair and angrily opened the next journal, yet.. I couldn't even focus on the reading with him towering over me.

"Are you going to stay there staring at me or are you going to get the hell out?" I asked harshly. He chuckled. Chuckled?! I raised my head up to meet his eyes, glaring at him. He had the same look on his face. As if he never chuckled. Had he?

"All right. Here. This is my number. While you're on vacation, alone with your thoughts, go ahead and call me and we'll arrange a meeting. I'll help you get the guy, in this case." I never said a word as he turned and made his way towards the door. "Oh, yeah," he paused, " that girl, she wrote about how Romeo killed Juliet. How he was a bastard like all other men. You know how girls are. Annoying, right?" He said and then just left.

"You're just as annoying, asshole," I mumbled. I read the journal entry.

"This Romeo obviously just killed her because he thought he was being romantic. Men, they are nothing but bastards. All trouble!" I sighed. He was right. He never even looked at the journal. Just me. How did he know?
I wrote back, "Lindsey, all people in the world are good. There are just some people who aren't good to others. Give people a chance. Don't be so quick to judge, okay? :)"

I looked at the paper Frank left. I grabbed it and crumbled it up. I grimaced as I shoved it into my coat pocket. After putting the journals back in their spots, I turned off the classroom lights and left.
Getting into my car, I sat in silence for a while before starting the car. I drove off, looking at the school in the rear-view mirror. God, this is going to be a long vacation. I could still feel myself crumbling Frank's number in my hand. It was hurting.

Why would he want to help me? More than that, though, why hadn't I questioned him on his new fresh bruises? Was he being bullied? No, that couldn't be it, could it? The kids in JROTC were looked up to, especially the only girl who was in there. She was practically a Goddess in that place. Frank, I heard, was the one who was the highest rank at Captain in five months. Their company commander, I could also say. But why would he take a high interest in my interest? None of this is making sense. There's a piece of information missing. All right. I'll call him and make a deal. He can help me, since he seems so keen on doing so, if he answers all my questions.

Notes

Still hoping this goes as well as I think it will. Once again, excuse my newbie-ness :D

-OAIF <3