“Now class please complete pages 347 through 348 problems seventeen through fifty by tomorrow. Hope you all have a wonderful afternoon,” Mrs. Gregory said as the bell rang signaling the end of class and the beginning of lunch. The class started to, swiftly pack their bags, eager to get to lunch. I was just starting toward the door when Mrs. Gregory spoke again. “Miss Montgomery, can I talk to for a moment?” I closed the book I had been reading, as I adjusted my black rimmed glasses, before I made my way over the teacher’s desk.

“Yes ma’am?” I spoke with a slight southern accent that I got from living ten years in Louisiana.

“Belle, how many times do I have to tell you that you don’t have to call me ma’am?” Mrs. Gregory asked.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” I answered before catching myself. “Oops, sorry.”

“That’s alright. I was just wondering if you’d mind tutoring one of my other math students after school for a couple weeks starting this afternoon,” Mrs. Gregory explained, cheerily. She was the kind of person that was always smiling.

“No, I don’t mind,” I answered. “When do I start tutoring?”

“This afternoon. You can meet him in the library after school,” Mrs. Gregory said.

“Who is it?”

“He’ll find you,” Mrs. Gregory replied. “Now you should head off to lunch.”

“Alright,” I answered as I turned and started out the door. I walked slowly down the hallway, knowing I wouldn’t have to stand in a line to get lunch. I had my sandwich in my bag.

I entered the library to find it crowded with cheerleaders and basketball players. The whole room was buzzing with noise. Rolling my eyes I made my way across the room toward the bookshelves where I could hide for the rest of lunch.

I sat down against one of the bookshelves in the back and pulled out my sandwich. I ate quickly before I pulled out my math book and started the homework.

A voice interrupted my concentration several minutes later. “Um, excuse me.” I glanced up to see a buff looking boy standing next to me.

“Huh?”

“Um, can you help me find something?” the boy asked. I could hear people laughing around the corner. The boy himself seemed to be trying hard not to laugh.

“Sure,” I said slowly. “What are you looking for?”

“I was looking for some books on the Egyptians,” boy said, a small smirk on his face.

“Okay,” I said skeptically as I stood up. The boy was more then a head taller then me. I only came up to about the middle of his chest. “It should be over here,” I said as I started around the corner of the bookshelf. I could hear the boy following behind me as I walked. “What kind of Egyptian books are you looking for?” I asked, scanning the shelf in front of me.

“I don't know,” the boy said from behind me.

“What's it for?”

“A class,” another teenage boy answered from my other side.

“So what are you doing tonight?” a third boy asked. I bit down softly as I realized I was trapped between three guys and a bookshelf.

“Um,” I scanned the bookshelf trying to think of a way to get out of this. “I got to go,” I said, spinning around and trying to slip past one of the guys.

“Why? Lunch isn't over for another fifteen minutes,” the boy she was trying to sneak past said as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. “Why don't you come hang out with us?”

“I...I h-have to go,” I stammered as I tried to push away from him. He let me go after a couple moments and turned toward his friends as I started back toward my bag, quickly. I could hear the boys laughing behind me.

Reaching my bag I found my math book and homework missing. “Frick!” I exclaimed softly, my voice filled with frustration, as I picked up my bag and started out of the library. As soon as I was out of the crowded room I turned and ran toward my locker. I wasn't planning on going anywhere near the library for at least the rest of the day.

As soon as I had reached my locker, and grabbed my chemistry book, I ran back toward Mrs. Gregory's math class to tell her that I couldn't tutor anyone.

I reached the math classroom just as a tall brown haired boy came out of the room. I froze against the lockers on the wall opposite the door. I wasn't really feeling comfortable around guys right then.

“Are you okay?” the boy asked, watching me carefully. I stared back at him, my dark brown eyes wide with slight fear.

“Yeah,” I answered quickly, a little to quick. I didn't move an inch. Neither did the boy.

“You sure?” he asked, taking a step toward me. I took a step away from him further down the hall. “You look a little...”

“I just need to talk to Mrs. Gregory,” I answered, still not moving.

“She just left,” the boy answered. “What did you need to talk to here about?”

“Um... I...I d-don't think I need to tell you that,” I replied, watching him with suspicion.

“I'm her T.A. I can tell her when she gets back,” the boy answered. “I'm Alex.” I watched him for a moment, trying to decide if I believed him.

“I just need to tell her that I can't tutor whoever it was she wanted me to tutor,” I replied. “I think I'll just leave her a note though.”

“Oh, so you're Belle,” Alex said, smiling.

“Uh... yeah,” I replied, my eyes not loosing the guard I'd put up.

“Are you sure you're alright?” Alex asked again.

“Why?”

“You just seem a little, shaken,” Alex explained, “Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing really,” I said as I walked past him quickly, afraid that he'd grab me. I pulled the door open and entered the class room. “Only had my math stuff stolen and cornered by three jerks,” I mumbled softly, not meaning for Alex to hear, as I made my way toward Mrs. Gregory's desk.

“What?” Alex said, sounding mad.

“Nothing,” I answered, pulling a piece of paper out of my bag as I picked up a pen.

“Who?” Alex questioned, leaning against the desk.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” I faked innocent as I wrote the note saying I couldn't be a tutor.

“Who?” He repeated. I glanced up at him to meet his slate blue eyes. “Who?”

“I don't know,” I answered softly, involuntarily answering. “I think they were basketball players.”

“Where?”

“In the library.”

“Be back in a second,” Alex said, before he started toward the door. “Cute accent by the way,” He commented before he left the room. I felt my face growing hot as I found myself crumpling up the note and throwing it into the trash can.