TITLE: Dreaming of him -  90 minutes lesson + all the stuff that happened afterwards

AUTHOR: Anika  

RATING: PG-13

CATEGORY: I can't really say… some humor, angst, romance… I guess

SUMMARY: Just what the title says! A boring French lesson that reveals something about Anna…

NOTES: I got this idea in English. I started writing because I was bored to death and it just turned out this way… anyway, I hope you like it and review!

Being late, I walk into the quite small room. My French teacher gives me some sort of angry glare. I ignore her and look for a place to sit. Next to Laura I finally sit down. She is a quite girl who always seems to listen and know answers. Ok, I think, she won't bother me. Most of my courses I spend doing other stuff. I can't need people who annoy the hell out of me. Laura seems to be quite surprised when I sit next to her. She always sits alone. I give her a smile which she returns. I make a mental note to be nicer to her in the future.

I knew before I would be bored but this is even worse. I watch my teacher open her mouth, I even hear her say those French words but my mind can't take them in. I feel my eyes close as suddenly a small piece of paper lands before me. I take it and unfold it. It reads:

'This is sooo boring, huh? Next time I'll just bring a book. Hope I didn't bother you.' - Laura

It sort of surprises me; I had really thought Laura would listen and anticipate in lesson. Apparently, I had been wrong. I write back to her:

'You don't bother me! This is so boring, I have trouble staying awake! Yes, a book would be nice. Please write something back.' - Anna

So we go back and forth writing each other little notes. I must admit I had never been a fan of doing stuff like that but then I had never done it with Laura. I find out she is a very nice and fun person. We have talked about our favorite activities, actors, music, books only to realize we have so much in common. I am really occupied with these notes I don't notice anything else. Well, looking back I really should have…Like most teenage girls we drifted to the love sector. So I am just scribbling down all about my unrequited love for Mr. Halenbay, my math teacher when I hear footsteps approach. Unfortunately, I am not fast enough to hide the note and so Ms. Roop snaps it away from me. I blush and must look like a tomato. It's not only because we are caught, no, I hope she doesn't read it. No such luck. I feel my head burning up. This is the most embarrassing thing ever! I had thought it would come out sooner or later. I had just hoped it would be later… I can feel her eyes on me. I imagine her to look shocked or maybe even disgusted. She says something that my mind doesn't proceed and goes back to the board. The lesson goes on. Some kids stare at me and Laura. I turn to check on her; she, too, has blushed. Since Ms. Roop hates me anyway now, I check the time; 25 more minutes. Well, I am fully awake now and hardly bored but scared instead. Scared and humiliated… I decide to just anticipate. We do some exercises. I see Laura scribble something english next to all the french words. I direct my eyes to the right side and read: 'Sorry, I didn't notice her coming. Embarrassing, huh?'

I go back to copy the sentences from the board. I know Ms.Roop gives me occasional stares. I feel my face burn up again. Geez… another peek on my watch tells me four more minutes. But to my surprise Ms.Roop does something she never does; she closes the lesson early. Everybody seems to be in shock for a second or two but then we all start packing. Me faster than all the others because all I can think about is leaving this damn room. Laura packs as fast as me, too. At least, I think, I have found a friend.

"Anna, may I have a word with you?" Some others turn to look at me. There are amused looks as well as pity.

"I'll wait outside." Laura whispers. Indeed, a true friend. So everybody leaves the room except for me. I practically cling to my backpack. With every person leaving, my heart beats faster. My hands begin to sweat. Ms.Roop closes the door after Laura. We are alone.

"I didn't mean to interrupt the lesson." I begin, hoping she'll let it be.

"I am more concerned about what you wrote." Ok, so she is a direct person. Of course, I blush again. I curse myself for it.

"It was a joke." It sounds like a lame question. She knows I am lying anyway.

"I doubt that… honestly, I am not sure what to do with this information."

She seems to wait for a reply. Well, does she expect ME to know what to do?

"I hope you'll know this is fruitless." She finally goes on. Does she think I am stupid? Of course, I know that! Instead of telling her that, I simply nod my head.

"It's nothing actually… just a little crush." I get out. It's a lie and I bet she knows.

"All right… we'll just leave it then. I'll see you on Friday." She tells me. Her smile shows sympathy. I give her a quick, fake smile and storm out, mumbling a 'bye'.

Laura is waiting for me. I open my mouth to answer her unspoken question but instead of telling her, I start to cry. It's so stupid, really, but I can't stop. After two years of no crying at all - not even in private - I break down in the middle of the school hallway. I hardly hear Ms.Roop's and Laura's comforting words. I start to realize what exactly I am doing and feel humiliation kick in again. The only thing I can think of to make it better is run. Even more stupid. I can hear the two call my name. I don't turn around. My feet have a mind of their own. They carry me away, to where I don't know and I don't care. I am aware of the looks people I pass give me. I won't be able to enter this school anymore after this day. Finally, I am stopped by someone. Looking up, it's the person I definitely wanted to meet least. I can't go on because he holds me at the shoulders.

"Hey, hey… Anna? What's the matter?" his voice sounds even concerned. I damn myself for crying in front of him. I try to say something but nothing comes out. I feel so hopeless. I am sure to need therapy after this day. There are already people staring at us. God…

"Come on, this place is crowded." Mr.Halenbay leads me into a room. He closes the door after him. It hits me full force that this is definitely not my day.

"What happened with you?" He's checking me with these big grey eyes. I could melt right there and then. Instead I blush again. I am bailing like a baby, I am as red as a tomato and humiliated. Yep…

"Nothin'." I choke.

"Oh come on, you look horrible." His voice sounds so soft.

"It was nothin'." I tell him again.

"Was it a bad mark?" He asks. He just can't give up. Like I would cry over a bad mark! I would be crying most of the time. It makes me almost laugh. But just almost.

"Yeah, a bad mark." I lie. At least, he'll leave me alone. But luck is not on my side today. What a wonder…

"Anna, I can only help you if-" he's interrupted by the opening door. Laura and Ms.Roop enter. I hope my therapist will be good. Now I really feel like laughing. This is all so ridiculous! But I still don't laugh. Weird, I usually always laugh…

No one knows what to say. Laura looks just confused, Ms.Roop probably wonders how I managed to run into Mr.Halenbay of all people, and the man himself doesn't know what to do. The silence is interrupted by a ringing noise. Huh, break already over? I wonder. The ringing doesn't stop.

I open my eyes and sit up in bed. For a moment I don't where I am. In my bed, in my bedroom, at home. I give the alarm-clock a hard slap and the annoying noise is finally gone. I rub my eyes, it had all been just a dream. Well, it had been weird at some parts… Weird, that Laura was in it, I think. We aren't friends. I make a real mental note to be nicer to her.

Arriving at school, I walk through the hallway, my thoughts are still with my dream. I hate it when I dream so vividly. I pass people and remember how they stared at me in the dream…on my way to the classroom I meet Laura. She looks shy but I give her a big smile. She is surprised and blushes. I will sit next to her in French. Further, I meet Mr.Halenbay. I smile even more. I am hardly aware how much I look like a lovey-dovey teenager. He smiles back at me anyway.

French is as boring as ever, just like in my dream. Laura and I are chatting all the time causing Ms.Roop to give us weird glares. Well, I don't care but I'll tell Laura about Mr.Halenbay in private.

Luckily, the day turns out much better than in my dream. But there's one thing that bugs me all day… how did the whole thing end?

                                               END

So, did you like it at least a bit? Hated it completely? Please tell me! I am depending on what people think of my fics! If people liked it, I'll write more Anna/Mr.Halenbay fics. I've got some ideas… so please!

Written by Anika