Brighter Days; Eric

[Eric Sutton]

"I didn't want them all." I grumble, deftly catching the bag. I unzip it before leaning back and sticking a cheeto into my mouth before changing the slide. I roll my eyes as Sierra pulls out a soda and oreos. Did she have a whole fucking vending machine in there? I decide not to ask for an oreo, sintead sticking a couple more cheetos into my mouth, after a couple minutes I change the slide again. If she wanted to find a way to shut me up, this was working pretty good. Soon I finish the slides and I stand, walking to the front of the room to flip the lights back on and cross to my desk. "Page 401, questions 1-12, raise your hand if you have any questions." I state, plopping down in my swivel chair before turning in circles. Martin, a kid who usually didn't pay attention, raised his hand and I raise my eyebrows. "Do your knuckles actually read 'Fuck This'?"

[Sierra Eckler]

I shrug as he grumbles and take a bite from an oreo before tossing the bag into my purse. The lights come on after the slide show and I growl slightly as he mentions the work. I huff and pull out a book, not paying attention to anyone or anything and just answering the questions before tossing the book back into the desk. We had about twenty minutes left in class and I decided that it would be better for me to just eat the rest of my oreos. I look up and notice one of the guys across the room ask a question. I didn't listen to it or care about it.

[Eric Sutton]

The room goes quiet and I sit there for a moment, not sure what to say. Finally I just make fists and hold my hands up, my rings covering the U. "Now, instead of asking dumb ass questions, how about you do the work? You can't afford to have a lower grade than you already do." I suggest, and people look away. I usually didn't get pissed off, and I still wasn't, but I was starting to get annoyed. Finally I start spinning again, sticking a couple more cheetos into my mouth, brushing my hair out of my face. People were probably wondering what the 'Fuck This' was all about, what it was for. I did occasionally put them together and point towards my crotch, but I usually didn't.

[Sierra Eckler]

I look around for a minute before resting my legs in the desk in front of me and leaning back. I hear a guy whistle and roll my eyes before closing them and relaxing. Sure, I was wearing a skirt and at the moment I had no care about whatever anyone saw. I was too tired to care. I take a sip from my soda before looking away again. "Era, you done?" I hear the girl beside me ask and I nod before yawning.

[Eric Sutton]

I glance up at the whistle, my blue eyes landing on Sierra. I quickly glance away, sticking anotehr cheeto in my mouth as I keep spinning, reaching fro my phone. I check all my text messages, replying to a few before setting it back on my desk. "If you're done, you can come set it on my desk." I say, looking at the time. Only about seven minutes before class ended, and, along with it, the school day. I'd leave immediately after, to get home and back to Sam. I'd been anxious and worried all day, and I just hoped that it didn't show. I sigh at the though of her and push my hair out of my face, picking up the few papers that had already been placed on my desk and reading over them.

[Sierra Eckler]

I sit up for a second before hearing him say that we can put him on his desk. I noticed that he had been a bit...weird all day and write, "Everything okay?" on my paper before getting up and laying on his desk, walking back to my desk and relaxing. I pull out my phone and shrug as I see that I have no texts. I was okay with that. Not like I had anything to do after school. I didn't live with my family or anything. Just with one of my aunt's friends who really didn't care what the hell I did.

[Eric Sutton]

I put the paper I'd just read over on the bottom and skim over the next one. I raise my eyebrows at the question on the bottom and pause as I decide whether or not to reply. Finally I do, grabbing a pencil and scrawling 'nothing you need to worry about' under the question before looking at the name. "Sierra, come check this question." I say, looking up. I didn't know how else to give it back to her without folding it into a paper airplane and tossing it to her, and that wouldn't be the most subtle of ways to give her a simple reply.

[Sierra Eckler]

I get up as I'm told to check a question and bring my pencil with me before writing 'you sure?' on it and looking at him. I take it again and take a second to write 'just tell me if you need to talk,' I write before going back to my seat and taking a sip of my soda and grabbing my stuff before the bell rings. The kids walk out of the door and I take a second to look around before standing at his desk and looking at him. "So, what the hell is the deal?" I ask, knowing I was acting much different than I did with other teachers.

[Eric Sutton]

I watch her get up to walk over to my desk and I pop another cheeto in my mouth, spinning around once as she wrote. I start to take it from her before she writes something else. I take the paper, eyebrows raising as I read. Tell a student about my problems. Yeah, that was going to happen. The bell rings and I stand, taking the remaining papers and putting them into a neat stack before stuffing them into a folder and putting them into my bag to grade at home. I quickly grab my phone and put the cheetoes on my bag to, wanting to run out the door to my truck and speed home to Sam. I push a hand through my hair, looking up as Sierra comes over. "Its nothing, you should go, don't miss your bus or soemthing." I reply, looking over my desk to make sure I didn miss anything. Suddenly I plop back in my chair and pull up the attendance on the computer, shaking my head. I'd forgotten to take roll. "Can you tell me who was here? Hilary was, Tyler, Martin." I mumble to myself, checking them off as my blue eyes find Sierra's face again.

[Sierra Eckler]

I sigh as he tells me it's nothing and shrug. I walked here so there was nothing to miss. I watch as he plops down into the chair and shakes his head. "Everyone except Claira, Allison, Brian, and Collin," I reply, shrugging my shoulders before pulling out my phone and scrolling through, not really having anything. "Come on, what is it. Family member? Too much stress?" I continue on, knowing he would give in sooner or later. I pull my jacket on and walk around the room for a second before sitting on his desk and looking at him.

[Eric Sutton]

"Mmm." I reply as she tells me and I check off everyone one except the ones that Sierra had just named. I click another button and it sends and I close out before logging off. I run a hand down my face at her question and a lump suddenly forms in my throat. I'd had Sam since she was a tiny little puppy, and I force myself to calm down. She'd be fine.. I hoped. "Its my dog, she's sick. I don't know what's wrong with her." I finally reply, looking past her to where Ms. Bell as wiping off her board and sneaking glances over. I roll my eyes and look down at my desk before standing. "Don't you have a bus to get on?" I ask bluntly, grabbing my bag and stuffing my phone into my pocket.

[Sierra Eckler]

I frown when he finally tells me and I nod. When he rolls his eyes, I can't help but smile and stand. "Nope, I walk," I say, my mind still on his dog. "Uh, while it's on my mind, I lived with vets all my life so would you like me to take a look at her?" I ask, looking at him and taking a sip of my soda. It probably wasn't going to work but I had a soft spot for animals. I stuff my phone into the side pocket of my bag and look at him for a minute before walking to the door and leaning against it.

[Eric Sutton]

I nod as she replies that she walks and I pick up my bag, following her back towards the door. I dig my keys out of my pocket, shooing Sierra out of the way before closing it and locking it. "Okay." I finally say, nodding after a moment. It went against my better judgement, but I'd do anything to help Sam get better. "Will your parents flip out?" I ask, looking down at her and pausing at my door. "Eric, leaving so soon?" a voice comes and I close my eyes before putting a grin on my face. "Yeah, Ms. Bell, just talking to Sierra real fast." I say, starting down the now empty hall at a fast apce, hoping that she'd stay in her room. I should've never encouraged her.

[Sierra Eckler]

I shake my head as he asks if my parents would freak. "Hell, my parents wouldn't even know. I don't live with any of my family," I say with a shrug before a female voice come by. I follow him through the empty hallway and look down for a second. I giggle when we're out of Ms. Bell's audio reach and shake my head. "Oh, Eric, you're not going to stay and help me grade papers?" I mock, sticking my tongue out at him. It was obvious she had a thing for him and I just found it funny for some reason. From what I could tell, he had no interest in her.

[Eric Sutton]

"Oh." I reply, feeling stupid for a moment before I'm more intent on getting down the hall and away from Ms. Bell. I choke out a laugh as Sierra speaks and I shake my head. "I wouldn't want to grade any of her papers." I spit out, shaking my head through there was a grin on my face. It was sort of funny. Though, it was party my fault, I had made out with her in the teacher's lounge once.. but it was once. I push open the door and hold it for her, stuffing my hand into my pocket to dig my keys out. "It okay if you ride with me, I'm pretty lazy, and I live sorta far away." I ask, looking over at her.