The Cost Of Words (pt 4)

Author's Note:

This chapter is part of a rough draft of my novel The Cost of Words. I'm sharing it for feedback while I write and revise, with the intention of traditionally or independently publishing the final version. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

P.S. Characters, group names, and the title might be changed in the final published version.

Chapter 4

Macy

The next day at school is the same thing, back to English 2 with Tom, not like its really like being with him as we sit on opposite sides of the room from each other. But still, it's nice to know your best friend is nearby. I love him so much as a friend and just knowing he feels even a portion of that same love for me makes me so happy.

As usual I'm staring into the distance, barely hearing the words the teacher is saying about our rhetorical analysis; I've always been great at writing anyways so there's no point in paying attention, I do great in English class. I can sense trouble coming though so I start to pay closer attention to what Mrs. Lorelei is saying, which is when I see her start looking around, looking for someone to call out. That's when I see exactly where her vision is trained, on Tom.

I panic, dread filling my stomach. She can't turn on Tom, he always is paying attention, he must just be having a bad day. She can't do this. She can't. It's not fair, she can't do this to my best friend. I almost cry out from the anxiety building in my chest, I know what she's about to do before she even utters the words.

"Mr. Tom, why aren't you paying attention?"

"Maybe cuz your teaching is boring" Tom snaps back, which is a shock. He never snaps at anyone, what he experienced the other day must be really getting into his head. I've never seen him like this and it's worrying. I worry for my best friend and his mental health. Is he spiraling like I'm spiraling right now?

I think he is, because I see the panic spread across his face as soon as the words exit his mouth, and we make eye contact as we both brace for what punishment this teacher -that I'm starting to think is pure evil- will lay down on him. What awful punishment will she come up with? With how many words she took from Bryan yesterday I can't even imagine what she'll do to Tom.

"EXCUSE ME?!?!?" Mrs. Lorelei yells, silencing the classroom and making everyone stare at Tom expectantly, expecting him to apologize or explain himself or something. But he doesn't, he just sits there shell shocked, not sure at what he's done and wondering how to get himself out of this horrible mess. But I know as well as he does that nothing he says or does will calm down our teacher when she's in a rage this bad.

"I-I" Tom starts before being interrupted by our teacher,

"NO, I DONT CARE WHAT LAME EXCUSE YOU HAVE, COME UP HERE NOW" She screams

across the room, making me and multiple other students jump.

Tom's hands shake as he slowly makes his way up to the front of the room, and I will admit my hands are shaking under my desk as well. I've never had a friend I've cared about as much as I care about Tom, I would do anything for him and if I'm correct, he'd do anything for me. Should I stand up and defend my friend or should I stay seated? I don't want to risk punishment myself but I have a feeling whatever Mrs. Lorelei is about to bring down on him isn't going to be fair at all.

"You are to stand up here the rest of the time I teach, and I'm taking 400k words from you, you don't deserve more than 100k words for that snide little comment of yours" Lorelei says, having clearly calmed herself down slightly but still rage filling her voice.

Tom's face grows red, he usually tends to stay in the shadows, except when he's with me. And our teacher knows that, that's why this punishment is particularly cruel, there's still an hour left of class and he has to stand in front of everyone, most of them laughing at him. I feel for him and wish I could do something to help but I know my efforts wouldn't do anything but get me in trouble, and I may not be as shy as Tom but I don't want to end up there myself.

I exchange a look with Tom, trying to communicate that I feel for him and that I'm here for him but he just looks away quickly, clearly not wanting to associate with me right now. I don't think I blame him though, if i was in his place i would hope that he would stand up for me. Even if I'm not capable of doing the same for him, I'd expect it for myself. And I know how that makes me sound, like a terrible person, and maybe I am one.