Balancer's Soul (3 page)

In science Mr. V. began asking what
were the parts contained in atoms. The teacher looked directly at
Connor and asked “What is
this
part?” he pointed at a representation of an atom.

His only reply was to look silent and beaten
while saying “I don’t know, sir. I didn’t have time to study last
night.”

Mr. V’s snide remark wasn’t original in
the least. “What a surprise!” Connor thought to himself
“Get over yourself. I really do know you pompous
fool. There are three basic parts to an atom; the proton, neutron
and the electron. And all of the elements are categorized by the
atomic index and all matter…”

Finally came the last period of the day,
American History, and not a moment too soon. Mark sat next to
Connor because it’s the only class they have together. “Ready to
meet our new teacher?” Mark asked in a barely suppressed joy. The
desks were designed for two people to share and individual chairs
to slide in and out of the desk. The classroom held a total of
twenty annoying students, if they all were present.

“Thrilled!” Connor exclaimed in a chipper
tone while actually being bored and wasn’t thrilled in the least.
Mark knew his friend well enough to know when he was having another
bad day so Mark jumped on to another topic.

When Mark finished chatting on his Algebra
assignment that he passed with perfect numbers, yet again, Connor
looked out the window to see two squirrels fighting over an acorn.
They chased each other up and down the oak tree merrily, in fast
moving circles, sometimes jumping from one tree to the next. Their
lively excitement became the perfect distraction and balm for his
mood. Connor began laughing to himself quietly at seeing the
jokesters of the animal kingdom. One of the rodents got a hold of
the nut and began fleeing from his pursuer. But then another
squirrel jumped out and began the chase anew.

The final bell to get to class rang
loudly.

Just as the chime died Connor heard the
classroom door open.
Here we go again,
someone new to laugh at me for their expense!

This was the first day Connor
met
her
.

When she walked behind the desk Connor
realized this stunning creature has to be the new teacher Mark
spoke of earlier this morning, but she looked more like a student.
But there was something about her sent his instinct off.

Connor tore his eyes away from her so
he continued to blandly stare outside, but unfortunately he got
a
very
good look at her. She
stood far shorter than he, barely five foot at most. She could be
about the same height as Kara if not slightly shorter, by his
initial guess. Her figure was obviously petite with a heart shaped
face and perfect porcelain skin. She looks about to be in her late
teens or early twenties and has a flawless complexion. Long, silky
brown hair flowed down to the small of her back. The hair looked
thick and held only the slightest touch of natural curls, but she
kept her hair loose. Her long hair reminded him of healthy,
nutritious earth
.
What really
caught his eye in that single moment he looked upon her were those
knowledgeable emerald green eyes. It’s the
color of
life and also his favorite color
.

As he continued to stare out the window,
hoping to find the playful creatures again, Mark sharply elbowed
Connor’s in the ribs. He felt surprised that Mark didn’t hurt
himself to gain his attention. Connor casually turned to look at
him and he heard something unexpected. “Look at this new teacher;
she is as bland and plain as the wallpaper. Talk about giving your
hopes up.” He said in a very quiet voice that only Connor could
possibly hear. And Mark’s eyes were hiding something else as he
looked upon her… or did Connor imagine it? Mark’s eyes must be
playing tricks again.

Connor looked at him fully, but didn’t
say anything. Inside his head it was a different matter.
“Who are you talking about? Not the new teacher?
Why would you say that about her? She’s perfect! I just wish I was
older and braver to ask her out on a date one day…Dream on…”
He shook his head to clear out the random thoughts growing
out of control.

She then wrote her name on the board. Ms.
Sarah Branderson

Connor had to look away from her again
because he could feel something in the air,
energy?
drawing him in. And finally she
spoke.

“Hello everyone I’m your new history
teacher, Ms. Sarah.” She had a very feminine and velvety voice. She
is also quite soft spoken.
“Where in the
world did I hear her voice from? ... Wait! Is she my new
neighbor?”
She went on saying “This is my first time
teaching so bear with me if I make a mistake.” Her tone and the
sudden shift of her eyes spoke otherwise.
“Why are you lying?”
But Connor remained quiet.
Sometimes catching someone in a lie and confronting them about it
was the worst thing a person could do. She ended her introduction
with a question “Since this is a history class and time is always a
factor and constantly moving forward, adding that much more to our
histories. How do you personally tell time?”

Connor assumed the class looked around at
each other in confusion. Some of the talkers went silent while some
chairs grated on the floor as the person it supported tried finding
a comfortable position. Mathew, who is also in class, answered
first. “ You mean like a clock?” She nodded her head approvingly
when Connor caught her vague reflection on the glass. Why, even
when he tried looking for the squirrels, did his eyes seek hers,
even in a reflection? She went on and calmly, asking every student
how they tell time. Some said their TV, her watch, his calendar,
computer, cell phone and so on.

Connor could hear her steps and even they
were perfect.

Mark then answered her with “My
Tablet!” as he pilled it out, fully displaying the time boldly
across the screen which made everyone in the class laugh and it
pulled Connor out of his rampantly warring mind. Finally she got to
him.
“Great, now everyone will laugh. Oh
well I’ll just do it regardless.”

Ms. Sarah called “What’s your name, Sir?”

“Connor.” He said, forcing himself to look
out of the window and not directly into her exquisite eyes. Just
thinking about them again quickened the pace of his heart and he
began feeling slightly flush. Thankfully his hair would hide most
evidence of his reaction.

“Ok, Mr. Connor. How do
you
tell time?” She asked
innocently.

“You’ll laugh like everyone else.” Taking a
deep breath through his nose was a mistake because she smelled too
pleasant. Her fragrant smell already permeated the room. She
smelled just like apples and strawberries. “I use nature as my time
keeper!” He blurted out before the smell of her could make him any
worse or spontaneously combust.

Everyone laughed, just as expected, but
Connor heard a distinctive sigh amongst the boisterous laughter. He
had to make sure he didn’t hear his imagination getting ahead of
him once again.

Through the hair that shaded others from his
eyes he looked at everyone around and for some reason Ms. Sarah
stepped up right in front of his desk. By their will alone, his
eyes went up and met her lovely emerald green eyes and noticed she
wasn’t laughing or making fun at his expense, like the others. It
was a first and for some reason Connor cherished her ignorant
innocence of not knowing what everyone else thought of him. And she
asked in her velvet coated voice “Can you give us some
examples?”

Connor stared at her for a long moment
and noticed that no one in the class currently laughed at his
expense any longer. He forcibly tore his eyes away from her and
noticed all of his classmates were staring slack jawed at her. He
thought it was because no one has ever asked him such a question,
in a polite way before. Only two people were smiling in
encouragement, both Mark and Sarah.
“No
Connor, its Ms. Sarah.”

At last he answered what he knew that
few others did, looking out the window again “The sun and the moon
reveal day and night and were the original means of establishing
time. There are four seasons; Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. I
use the phases of the moon to tell the date, for even it is
constant for setting time and date. It is more accurate than our
calendar system because it stays remarkably the same, even as it
moves further from the planet each year. Also tonight there will be
a full moon, if you’re wondering. There is also the sun dial which
our ancestors used as a clock by reading the dial’s shadow during
the daylight hours. It must always face north to function
properly.” Connor finished with confidence because he knew
precisely what he was talking about. He finally looked up at Ms.
Sarah and she had a look of nostalgia written on her expression
(probably remembering something from her past.) The look revealed
compelled him say something that apparently caught her off guard.
“Another thing that would be pertinent Ms. Sarah, our ancestors
also regarded balance as nature’s one true law. It’s balance is the
only reason we
can
create a
timeline.”

Ms. Sarah gasped and for the first time she
truly looked upon him. Her green eyes were blazing with intensity,
and he got the feeling that she was looking through him. Also there
was this sudden and weird sensation, like someone scratching at his
brain. It became quite irritating.

After a few moments, she turned away quickly
and started to the front board. She said “Everyone please read
chapter nine, section six and answer question number seven. Then
turn your answers in at the end of class.” As she finished writing
on the board, she slid into her chair. Her brow furrowed and Connor
knew that look all too well. She began having a bad migraine.

While everyone began working on the
assignment Mark leaned in close and quietly asked “What was that
all about? Connor seriously, when you said something about
balance
, she looked like you were a
long lost friend or lover. Or maybe a snake would be more precise.”
adding a smile he continued “And you look like you finally found
something you’ve always strived for, Buddy.”

“I’m just glad it’s Friday.” He sighed while
trying to change the subject and answer the book’s question. When
he finished answering the lengthy answer he looked up from his
paper to noticed Ms. Sarah glancing back at him from under long
eyelashes with a curious and delicate brow raised. Then she bit her
bottom lip nervously, but the migraine remained, plaguing her.

The bell rang and he turned in his answers,
on her desk. Connor then strolled out the door and on his way. Kara
sometime later met up with him at their usual spot. Pulling out the
wagon from the thicket Kara asked “How was your day, Brother?”

Only one word came out “Weird” and he took
off running back home.

***

Sarah asked an average good looking boy
with silver eyes and jet-black hair the same question and he
answered with “My Tablet!” and everyone giggled.
“I have found another class clown.”
Walking around the obvious jokester she saw the next
participant.
“Now let’s ask the big guy
staring out the window.”
His shaggy hair covered most
of his feature and his eyes were hidden. He was wearing a black
long sleeve shirt with black jeans.
“Black
on Black? Not too many people can pull that off, but he can. His
sandy blonde hair makes a good contrast to his outfit. He looks
like he is avoiding me for some reason.”
To see if it
was true she asked him “What’s your name, Sir?”

He still stared outside and answered the
question without emotion.

“Ok, Mr. Connor. How do
you
tell time?”
“Please, I hope someone in here tells it like I
do.”

He replied. “You’ll laugh like everyone
else.” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “I use nature as my
time keeper!” And everyone in the class actually laughed at his
honest answer.

Sarah sighed after finally finding the
rare dying treasure, a person who can tell time without modern
conveniences. And he abruptly looked away from the window and
started scanning the room.
“Wow he heard me
sigh during everyone’s vigorous laughter, he has good hearing. And
the way he is scanning everything, he has the eyes of a hunter
searching for his prey. Let’s test that theory.”

Sarah moved forward, barley a half step
and finally saw the color of his eyes through his hair. Hazel eyes
zeroed in on her instantly and her heart jumped in fright.
“Yes, he defiantly has the eyes of a predator, but
there is something else too… What is it?”
She
continued smiling and asked politely while feeling like something
highly dangerous sat in the class. “Can you give some examples?”
Everyone in the room became eerily silent.

“What’s so shocking? Does
anyone like this kid? Is he an outcast or something?”
She looked at his table partner Mark.
“He seems to be the only one encouraging Connor.”
That’s when their eyes fully connected and she felt a massive
sensation flow through her body.
“Whoa, who
is this kid? He is not like your typical student in this day and
age. Also what in the world was that feeling?”