Mrs. Smiths' face was turning an angry red. There would be no mercy this time.
"Pardon me, mon cher, but I think that I can say on the behalf of my classmates, that you're making positively no sense." The Cajun boy, Arthur, sat in the front row, right in front of Jewel. His words caused amused titters to escape the lips of the younger students vacating the room. Jewel kept her eye on the back of his head, as if she could tell him to shut up with just the sure force of her gaze.
"Mister Beliveau," the teacher spat, her hands clenched at her sides. "I don't know, or care, where you're from, but we use English at this school. And students raise their hand if they feel the need to comment on the lesson." She slapped the ruler loudly on his desk, making the whole room jump. "Am I clear?"
"Sorry, je ne parle l'anglais." Arthur spread his hands in a sad gesture, his eyes big and taunting. Stupid boy... she thought as Mrs. Smith swung her stick at him with such vigor that it sent him flying out of his seat. He lay there moaning, covering his wounded face as she brought the stick down on him again so hard on his back that Jewel was afraid that she'd broken something.
"Get up, boy!" Mrs. Smith screeched. Arthur strained pushed himself up, hand still covering his bloodied face. Ever so slowly he climbed into his seat, to the irritation of their teacher. She could have sworn there was a smile on his lips, but it was gone so quick that she thought she had imagined it. Mrs. Smith soon moved on with class, no one was laughing anymore.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
School was finally out, and she noticed he still had his face concealed from view, but he seemed to be walking normally.
They both appeared to be the same age, at seventeen, but that was the only similarity they shared. He towered over everyone in their class, making his skinny limbs look gawky. She stood at no taller than five feet with short pale arms, and cute little hands and feet. His face, when its not stained and bruised, was covered with freckles and a mouth made for smiling. Her face was soft and round, traces of baby fat still present, but thankfully not a blemish on her smooth skin. He had messy bud colored hair, hers the color of wheat; him with copper brown eyes, she with emerald green.
Jewel ran up to him as he walked down the gravel road, hiking up her skirts as she moved. He pulled his hat further over his eyes at her approach.
"Yes?" he had a strange accent, she noted, like a little bit of everything. He probably traveled a lot before coming here. She thought as she walked with him, holding her books close to her chest.
"I was just wonderin'... Are you alright?" She asked tentatively, craning her neck to meet his eyes. He gave an amused snort at her question.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, really. Just a little blood is all," he flashed her a smile. "Not the worst beating I've gotten from a teacher, but boy does she have an arm."
Jewel didnt laugh, just kept staring at the hand still covering his cheek. "Are you sure? It looked pretty bad." she reached up to touch him. "Just let me-"
"No." he said sharply, flinching away from her.
***I'm still adding on to it, needs a lot of editing, I know***
