Chapter 7: The Last Hours of the Day

As soon as the final warning bell rang, Tifara returned to Mrs. Kane's class, waving and saying her good-bye to her friends. Her friends did the same while they headed for their homeroom classes. Entering Mrs. Kane's classroom, Tifara headed her assigned seat. David glared at Tifara before he turned his head to the right. Ooooh, there's David again, she thought, Remember to jus' ignore him, Tifara. Jus' ignore him and everything will be fine. I can guarantee ya that. She held onto her necklace whenever fear haunted her heart among her classmates.

Mrs. Kane sighed when she looked at Tifara. Most students chatted with one another, while some students examined Tifara; a portion of girls gossiped about and glared at her, while a certain number of boys ogled at her with their scarlet cheeks. Oh, dear Lord, please help me! Tifara sadly thought, sitting next to David. She ignored David, turning her head to the wall on the left, staring at it. Tifara and David laid their heads on the table and stood there seated in silence for the remaining passing period.

Once the final passing bell rang and almost all the students filled the classroom, Mrs. Kane shouted, "Alright, class. Quiet down. I'm going to take a roll call now, so no talking please."

Mrs. Kane's students now chatted with each other in a whisper, and Mrs. Kane yelled out their names including David and Tifara's. Then she added, "Okay, since today's the first day of school, we're going to watch a video. So you have to pay attention to it, because we'll be discussing it once the video ends. That means no talking."

Most students moaned about their second assignment, looking at and talking with one another for a while. But Mrs. Kane reassured her students, "Well, it's either that or you guys can take some notes and turn it into me. Whichever you want is up to you."

When the majority of the students chose the first option, Mrs. Kane closed her eyes and grinned. "Very well then. My first offer it is."

Mrs. Kane turned on the smart board from her remote. She searched and played a video about surving the school year on VidTube. Tifara and David watched the video with the entire class. While the video was playing, David turned to Tifara and glared at her once more.

"So why the hell did you help me back there?" David asked in a lower voice.

"Huh?" Tifara also asked in a lower voice, turning towards David. Uh, I thought this asshat don't wanna talk to me, and now he does?! She angrily thought. "Oh…I thought you don't wanna talk to me, and now you do?!" Tifara snapped in a lower voice.

David quietly sucked his teeth at her. "I jus' askin' a freakin' question, that's all. So don't get any ideas about this, panty girl. Gheesh!"

Tifara silently growled at David, looking down below her. She clenched her fists as her shadow covered her forehead and eyes. Okay, for real now. I'm really gettin' sick and tired of David's bullshit. First, he called me a slut, now he calls me a panty girl like Calpurnia and her friends did?! Seriously, screw David! Tifara furiously thought.

"What do you mean 'help you back there?!' And what the hell are you talkin' about here exactly?!" Tifara questioned in her low voice.

"I was talkin' about you helpin' me in the hallway earlier, duh! Don't ya remember that?!" David replied also in a low voice.

Looking up at the ceiling with her index finger placed on her chin, Tifara recalled helping David flee from Calpurnia and her friends in the hallway earlier. "Oh, yeah. I do remember that…"

"So are ya gonna answer the question or not?!"

"Yea, yea, yea. I'm gonna answer it, Mr. Impatient Ass! I helped ya because you were judged based on your physical appearance, jus' like me. You see, I wanna be your friend and get to know ya. I didn't judge you for your physical appearance, even when I first met ya. And yet you hypocritically judged my physical appearance. Kinda ironic that you wanna run for Secondary School Presidency jus' for people to take you seriously and treat you with respect because you're a late bloomer, don't ya think?"

David glared at her even more. "Shut up, bitch! Like don't help me next time, okay?! I didn't ask for your help in the freakin' first place. I was able to take care of myself back there, like a big boy. So butt off! And stay that way!"

Tifara crossed her arms and glared back at David. "Fine! So be it!"

Mrs. Kane noticed Tifara and David's quiet chatter, giving them her serious look on her face. "Hey, you two. No talking and watch the video! Especially you, Tifara! I'm going to keep my close eye on you, big time! If I catch you guys talk again, you'll be staying here after school and write the entire two pages of why I made you two stay numerous times. Do you guys understand me?!"

"Yes, ma'am…" Tifara and David responded, refocusing on the video.

"Good," Mrs. Kane said as she refocused on watching the entire class to make sure each student was watching the video that she assigned them to.

Tifara leaned her head on the table and glared at David. David is seriously one of the worst kids that I've come across. Like for real, Tifara thought, I'm so glad that my second homeroom period is seriously my last period throughout the school day. So that I can leave this crappy school and wouldn't have to deal with this school, especially David as well as Calpurnia and her shitty ass friends. She then looked up at the ceiling and thought, Dear Lord, please get me out of this school. Please, please!

****

It was the fifteenth hour (3pm). The final bell rang and every student left school out of joy, either running or walking back home. Tifara and her friends exited the school and began to walk home as well. Some students behaved the same way towards Tifara as before, and Tifara nervously grabbed onto her necklace with her heart slowly beating faster.

May patted Tifara's shoulder while Sam and Dalila stood firm protecting Tifara and chatted with each other. "There, there…remember my advice."

Recalling May's advice, Tifara turned to May and shook her head. "Mhn, thanks, May."

May closed her eyes. "Mmm-hmm, no prob."

Dalila turned to Tifara and May behind her. "Hey, are you guys doin' okay?"

"Yeah, we're doin' fine. I'm jus' comfortin' her here, that's all," May responded when she turned to Dalila.

Tifara looked sideways with a little sweat coming down from her forehead. Her heart beated faster and she tightened her grip onto her necklace. She looked up the sky and thought, Dear Lord, please deliver me from this mess. In Yeshua's name, Amen.

Sam also turned to Tifara and her best friend behind him. "Well, I guess those rude people were makin' her nervous. We'll be on our guard more until we're off the school grounds. Keep comfortin' and protectin' Tifara, May."

"Mhn," May agreed, shaking her head. "I will."

Tifara's friends continued to protect Tifara while they walked away from the school campus with Tifara. At least Calpurnia and her friends weren't around Tifara and her friends to bully and harass Tifara.

****

After Tifara waved and said her good-byes to her friends when not one student was present, she began to calmly walk home with a determined face. Alright, Tifara. Time to head home before it gets dark out here, she thought, exiting the suburbia. The neighborhood was quiet and the squished, colorful houses along with the beautiful front yard gardens watched her leave.

Then a few moments later, her eyes spotted something far away from her. She nearly closed her eyes for examination. She saw a student, who appeared to wear the same uniform as her, walking forward on the sidewalk. Yet her vision was blurry to get the full picture. It looks like it might be a student from my school, she thought as she didn't move a muscle and held onto her necklace. I don't know who this person is, but I better stay here and see for a better look. 'Cause I don't want to run into some kind of person, who wanna act on his sexual attractions towards me like that boy did last year.

Although that person walked closer to the end of the street, Tifara realized that was President Saul. Huh?! Saul?! she thought, widening her eyes, opening her mouth. I don't know why he came here, but my future husband's here! Ah! So excitin'! She quickly took a look around in front of and behind her, and only saw a few adults either walking on the sidewalk, driving their cars or cultivating their gardens. Looks like Calpurnia and May aren't around! she excitedly thought, smiling, looking down at her hands, rubbing them together. Sweet! Now it's my opportunity to get to Saul! Too bad May couldn't come out here to see Saul in her own neighborhood though…well, it's too little, too late. Then Tifara expressed her nervous face. I jus' hope Saul accepts me, otherwise I'll be doomed. We'll jus' have to find out, don't we?!

After she took a deep breath, she walked up to Saul. Once Saul stopped at the end of the street, he looked both ways before he crossed the street. He got onto another sidewalk and he gazed at Tifara. Tifara's cheeks blushed and she looked at Saul and down below back and forth, while she was still walking towards him. Oh my God, Saul's starin' at me! Ah! I can't wait to get close to him! she excitedly thought.

"Huh?" Saul asked, widening his eyes and continuously stared at Tifara as she got closer to him. "I think I saw you before. You're Tifara, right?"

"Ah! Why, yes, it is!" Tifara responded, widening her eyes, opening her mouth. Oh my God! He said my name! He said my name! Aaaah, my moment is probably here, bruh! Tifara excitedly thought before she stopped a bit far away from Saul.

"Oh, don't be shy. I'm not here to shame ya. I jus' wanna…maybe walk you home, is that alright?" Saul asked.

Ah! Did you hear that, Tifara?! Saul wants to walk me home! How freakin' romantic is that?! And he doesn't even judge me for my physical appearance?! Wow, I'm game! I better agree to this while I'm at it! He-he-he, she thought, excitedly walking towards Saul. Then she and Saul walked together out of suburbia.

Saul looked down at Tifara. "So how are ya doin' today?"

Tifara looked back up at Saul. "I'm doin' good, and you?"

Saul closed his eyes and grinned. "I'm doin' well. Thank you."

"So did you have a good first day of school?"

"Yep, I sure did. It's nice bein' one of the most popular kids in school, since I'm a Secondary School President now. And you?"

"Uh…" Tifara embarrassedly looked down below her. "Um…"

"You know what? It's fine if you don't wanna answer that question."

"Oh…" Tifara looked up at Saul. "Well, thank you so much, President Saul."

"You're welcome, and you can jus' call me Saul. No need to call me by my honorary title, y'know."

Tifara closed her eyes with a smile, waving her palm at Saul. "Oh, sure. No biggie." Then she put her palm down and looked Saul in the eye. "So how do you know my name?"

"Oh, don't tell him I told you this, but your friend Sam showed me pictures of you and told me all about you."

"Ah, I see that now…"