Balancer's Soul (34 page)

Connor startled him and the rest of
the class by laughing. “Didn’t anyone miss me this past month or
did you find another person to torment in my stead?” He looked
around at everyone’s stunned silence. “I guess no one missed me
whatsoever.” He shifted in the seat and sat straight up. “The
reason for my absence was that I received many acceptance letters
and scholarships from well recognized Colleges. Harvard, Yale,
Brown. Mainly in the path of science, after I took their
specialized tests when they didn’t believe that I intentionally
skewed my high school transcripts to the bare minimum on purpose. I
had to prove my knowledge because of my low school grades. I’ve
been holding back, trying to keep my grades from making me be more
noticed. If I tried I could easily go beyond an A in every test you
threw at me.” Their stunned faces couldn’t be more priceless as
they believed his well rehearsed lie. “What? You all thought that
not only was I unattractive, but also ignorant?” he started
laughing again. “It looks like not even one person knew who I was,
let alone any of my capabilities. You’re all simpleminded
fools.”

One kid on the other side of the class
room said under his breath “Well I feel a little
shallow.”

Connor looked directly at him “You all
should.” His face went white and he nodded saying “Yes, I heard
you.” He looked up at Mr. V. “Now can we finish the lesson before
the bell rings or all of you going to stare like frightened deer in
front of a car? Either way I win. Or do you need another lesson in
humility and that your lessons are so outdated I learned them in
the fifth grade?” Connor was finally having the greatest day of his
life. School didn’t feel so miserable now that he could prove he
was more than their shallow misconceptions.

Mr. V. started class again,
but spoke quietly for the rest of the class and he kept glancing at
Connor with malice for making him look bad.
“
Welcome into my former place, old
man.”

Finally the bell rang and the class
left silently. Connor’s favorite class was next. Meeting Mark in
the hallway and entering History class just before the class
started he was stopped in his tracks.

***

Throughout the entire
school day Sarah kept hearing rumors of a good looking body builder
in the school. And she knew who exactly they spoke of, he’s her
fiancé and hers alone. Just like he said this morning. All of the
young men were talking about how he could have achieved those
muscles while the girls wanted to meet him.
“
Kara, you were right. I am jealous.
I can feel the hackles on the back of my neck rising. I need to
control myself… Control… Control.”

As most of the students settled in for
the final class of the day Sarah wondered where Connor could be.
Her fears were relieved as he walked in the door as the bell rang.
What shocked her, Connor and Mark came next.

Almost everyone stood up and started
applauding for Connor, but a snide person remained silent. People
were saying “Congratulations” and “Welcome back.” Connor finally
unfroze and looked at everyone, he then asked the class “What’s
going on in here?”

One of the girls in the class answered
“All of us wanted to say good job for making Mr. V. look like an
idiot.” Her name is Caliegh; a former cheerleader.

“You did what?” Sarah looked at him as
he turned to look at her with a smile that relieved her
worry.

The girl answered for Connor. “I was
in science when Mr. V. was lecturing us on the elements again.
Connor made him look like a frightened child when he stood up.
Connor proved that our teacher was lacking compared to his
surprising knowledge. We were all surprised. Mr. V. quizzed him in
the classroom and he answered everything perfectly. It was almost
funny.”

“Well it’s no wonder, my
man is a genius after all.” Sarah said under her breath and she saw
Connor smile.
“
I
know. I know. You heard me.”

Connor still stood at the door along
with Mark when another student stood up. “I know all of us treated
you like garbage. I was wondering if you would forgive our
actions.”

Connor’s face became an
unreadable mask. “No.” He said evenly. Everyone’s eyes went wide
including Sarah’s.
“
Connor, why don’t you forgive them like you do everything
else?”
“What? You think forgiveness is a
right you deserve to be given? You’re all ignorant, pathetic, and
lazy children if you think that way. Forgiveness is not given, it
is earned! Prove it to yourselves and to me, then one day you might
be forgiven. Not everything can be given to you.”

Connor and Mark walked silently back
to their normal seats in the back of the room. The class remained
quiet long enough so she started the lesson.

That night, when they got home Sarah
asked him at the dinner table “Tell me what happened during your
school day?” Connor made a large mushroom and pepperoni pizza for
dinner.

“I was finally able to show people who
I really am. It is all thanks to you, Princess.” And she smiled.
Connor asked after another bite “Did you hear any juicy gossip
about me before I came into class?”

“Actually, I did.” And Sarah told him
everything that she overheard.

They both laughed throughout the night
telling stories about their day. Sarah really laughed at how he
made her colleague look like a know-it-all child who didn’t know
anything whatsoever.

The next three days went by in nearly
a blur. In her class the students were trying to be forgiven. She
had to give them some credit. They were actually trying. The
students asked many questions about him and what he was about,
without malice. One of the male students asked “Connor, where do
you work out? How did you develop this physique?”

“I’m an outdoorsman. I hike long
distances, travel, track and I run to school and back every
day.”

His follow up question was “Then how
many miles do you run in any given day?”

“At least sixteen miles… Why?” And
everyone looked at each other like Connor just grew another
head.

Just before the bell rang to signal
the end of the school day Sarah sat at her desk and saw a beautiful
girl with an olive tone complexion walk up to Connor. It was
Caliegh again, the former cheerleader captain. She wore a low cut
white shirt that showed her black bra and endowed breasts that were
larger and more defined than hers were. She also had a low cut blue
jean shorts that exposed long legs. She had a curvy, hourglass
figure that sent every male begging to her like little puppies
looking for a good toy to chew on.

Her rich and silky voice asked Connor
who was looking the other way “Connor?” He turned his head to look
at her with a confused expression. “Connor, is it alright if I ask
a personal question?” Her hands were twirling her long strawberry
blonde hair.

“I’ll answer it if I can. Go ahead.”
His voice was even.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” She looked
away trying to be shy, which Sarah knew she was faking. If she
knew, so did Connor. Sarah felt so very jealous, but she couldn’t
say anything until tomorrow afternoon.

Connor burst out with
laughter which made everyone look at him.
“
What are you planning?”
He slowly stood up, towering and eclipsing over
the girl. He rested his hand gently on her shoulder. Connor spoke
softly “Caliegh, I am sorry that was rude, but yes I am
taken.”

Mathew interrupted rudely saying “Yeah
right!”

Connor simply looked at Mathew, which
shut him up instantly. “Don’t interrupt me when I speak to a lady.”
He looked back down to her and he continued speaking calmly. “I’m
sorry about that. Some people are just innately rude and
inconsiderate.” He removed his hand and looked around the class as
he softly said “Do not ask me about her because I will not explain.
My love life is none of your concern.” Caliegh turned away blushing
from being turned down.

The bell rang and everyone left the
class except Mark and Connor. Mark elbowed him in the ribs “Well
are you going to tell your best friend who this mystery woman is?”
He shot a playful glance at her.

“I think I can trust you. She’s
actually an underwear supermodel.” Connor shot a playful smile at
her.

“Well she must be quite a woman to be able to
put up with you.”

“Your right about that. She has to
also be capable of feeding him too.” Sarah finally chipped in and
the three of them had a small laugh at their mild
idiocy.

The next morning Sarah looked up from
the bed to see Connor laying on his side, looking at her
passionately and wearing the smile that she loves. She yawned and
turned on her side and moved closer, bringing her body flush with
his. “Connor, what’s gotten you so happy this morning?”

His smile widened “Think, Princess.
What is today?”

Thinking and not fully awake she
retorted “It’s Friday.”

His particular smile made her wake up
just a little bit quicker. She became fully awake after he said his
next statement. “Yes it is Friday and it’s the last day of school.
We will no longer be restricted after today. We may do as we
will.”

“Your right,” Comprehension
grew by the moment. She could finally be with Connor
completely
.
His
hand slipped down to clutch her bottom as he pulled her closer to
his face. She loved the firm feel of his hands on her. They kissed
with relief knowing that the deadline will be over in a few short
hours.

Connor wore the usual dark tops and
bottoms that he modeled for the last day of school as she wore a
sunny yellow top with blue jeans.

As this was the last day Sarah noticed
that for the last day of school they always throw a school wide
party for all classes. All of the clubs had a different booth.
There were so many games like karaoke, tug of war, flag football,
water balloon fights, dunk the teacher, ring the bell and many
other relays. As this is the last day the school, it will close
earlier at one rather than three in the afternoon. Like the
students, teachers may do as they like and play the games, but they
need to keep an eye out for any troublemakers.

Connor met up with her and was
followed by both Mark and Kara. Kara wore her usual pink top and
orange pants while Mark wore a silver shirt and silver shorts.
“Hello everyone, what should we do first?” Sarah asked as soon as
they were close enough to speak conversationally.

“I know, let’s show off the new and
improved Brother!” Kara chirped.

“No way!” Connor didn’t want to show
off. Sarah’s grin spread.

“I second Kara’s proposal.” This came
from his best friend Mark, who wore a feral smile. He looked as
giddy as his girlfriend, and she approved.

Connor looked at Sarah with pleading
eyes. She smiled widely and then said “I’m sorry Connor, but I want
you to show off in front of everyone too. Show them what you are
made of.” She patted him on the back.

Kara ran up beside Sarah
and took her arm in her own. “You hear that, Brother! That’s three
to one. Now let’s go and have some fun.” Kara dragged Sarah to the
Ring the Bell booth. The line grew long and full of boys
trying
to show off their
manhood by slamming the rubber mallet on the lever, to try and ring
the bell at the top of the tower.

Mark and Connor stood in line for ten
minutes, under some subtle coaxing from their women. As they
waited, Kara and Sarah only heard three people ring the bell out of
twenty, but only just a faint chime could be heard. As Mark came up
first, the operator handed him the mallet. Mark tested the weight
of the object in his hands. Connor stood back as Mark positioned
himself in front of the red lever. As Mark’s mallet struck the
lever with a speed that seemed difficult to achieve with his frame,
many heard the bell ring louder than the previous times. Mark came
up to Kara with a pink teddy bear. “This is for you.” She took it
with a red face and a grateful smile.

Now it was her Connor’s turn to try
and make some noise for the crowd. Sarah heard some of the people
talking about him and wondering if his highly developed muscles
were all for show. That put a smile on quite a few faces. They were
all proven wrong in thinking all his hard work didn’t have a
meaning or use.

The operator was a small girl that
looked to be a sophomore and she walked up and tried to hand him
the mallet. “Here you go.”

Connor waved his hand away
from the little girl. “No thank you. I won’t be needing that toy.”
She looked confused while everyone in line started laughing at
Connor’s boast. He balled up his fist and walked up to the lever,
took a small breath and swung his fist like Mark swung the hammer.
As Connor’s fist met the board the ringer shot straight up and hit
the bell with a loud
TING
and everyone in the line and the other spectators
went completely silent. The ring was so loud that it echoed several
times within the courtyard. Kara, Mark and Sarah were among the
speechless. The crowd more so.