Chapter 4

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."― William Arthur Ward.

I, like most of the student population, hate math. I just don't get it. I don't see why we need to learn it and since I usually don't see it as a necessary subject to be a doctor; I don't focus on the class. It's the last period, and I'm tired, it's math, and most importantly I can't get what Isa said earlier out of my head.

'If you can't talk to him, seduce him.'

I have never thought of that. I don't see myself as a seducing type but my mind kept flashing images and fantasies then I drowned in a day dream.

I was wearing red lipstick, a short dress, and high heels. I am confident unlike my usual self and ready to slay the day. There sat Justin Black, he was talking to Georgina but when I entered the classroom everyone stopped talking, and his attention, snapped from his former girlfriend to me. I smiled coyly and sat on the desk seductively. Justin couldn't keep his eyes off me or his lips from falling apart. He came closer, completely disregarding Georgina, and said,

'Where have you been all my life?'

'I have been here.' I replied and put my hands on his heart.

I snorted with my own imagination. I can't be that girl. It was too late when I  understood that I snorted loudly.

"Is there anything you would like to share with the class Miss….?," asked Mr. Richardson, the new math teacher Penny and Sam were talking about. He is cute. I give him that with his blue button up shirt and gray trousers, and he is also young but looks mature enough to be a high school teacher. He is bad though; I can see it in his eyes, his ego is too large, and he looks like he knew what I was dreaming about and was determined to humiliate me in front of my classmates.

"Cassandra….My name is Cassandra Davis,'' I don't even know why I stuttered. Everyone's eye was on me now. I can feel the heat of their gaze and their excitement to see how this would go.

"Miss Davis, can you share with us what made you snort in the middle my class? I'm sure it's not what I'm teaching." How much I want to shout that I don't even know what he was teaching about, and his stupid math could never even make me smile, much less snort. But I  kept my mouth shut, what can I say? I can't exactly tell him what I was daydreaming.

"Ya Cassandra, tell us what you have been thinking. Was it about your boyfriend?" Chuckled Matthew which earned him glare from me and Mr. Richardson, but few snickers from students. Matthew is the kind of boy who is desperate to be a popular but since he has nothing, I mean nothing: no looks, no money, no good physique, or a great sense of humor-Nada, he disturbs the class with his side remarks, and he fills his fragile ego with the students laugh at his joke.

"Dear Matthew, I have never seen anyone who commits' social suicide better than you do, Your desperation for attention," I put my fingers in my chin acting like I am deep in thought. "Cute." I retorted back. I refuse to be bullied by this prick, and my eyes landed on Noah Brown. He was reading his textbook as if nothing happened, but I know he saw everything and is probably judging me. I can't believe I called Mathew off in front of one of the few people who are close to Justin. "Sorry Mr. Richardson, it won't happen again."

"It better not, now continuing….," then we started learning about figures I have no hope in understanding.

After the bell rang we all found each other at a corner of the hall we have chatted in the morning to which Penny said,

"This is our spot from now on. It will be our meeting spot!" Clapping her hands.

"Let's go now, I'm exhausted." Said Isa. I have to agree with that; I am also indeed exhausted.

"So whose house are we meeting in this week?" Asked Sam before we part ways.

"What meeting?" I wanted to answer Isa's question, but Penny beat me to it,

"We gather at one of our houses, once a week. It's like a tradition, like a super secret spy meeting." She slit her eyes and said the last part in whispers.

"You guys never stopped meeting?" This is something we never stopped doing, even after Isa went away, it just stuck.

"You remember! We can be the Horsemen again." Said Penny. I facepalmed myself. We used to call ourselves the Horsemen back in the days but when only the three of us were left, I suggested we stop using that name, so we stopped. I don't know how Penny still remembered.

"Yes, We are the Hors…," before Isa could finish the sentence, I covered her mouth which was not that difficult since she was only one inch taller than my 5 '4'' frame.

"Don't shout!" I  scolded but continued to cover her mouth. Students will probably think we are crazy, but I don't care. The last thing I want is for them to know we call ourselves 'The Horsemen' and be the laughing stock for the year. I have enough drama.

"We could meet in my house," I suggested, but I felt Isa mumbling behind my hand, so I let her go before she bit me.

"No mine is fine. My mom will be out of town, and you guys could see my house." She smiled, but I noticed how her voice rose when she mentioned her mom being out of town.

"Say, the day after tomorrow?" Asked Penny seeking everyone's approval.

"Yes."

"Fine by me." I said. Sam just shrugged.

***

When I went to bed that night, I ended up continuing the dream about Justin that Mr. Richardson rudely interrupted. The next morning my mom was packing my lunch when I got to the kitchen.

"How was your first day of school?" She was still busy sticking the plastic bag and shoving it to my back bag.

"Nice, where is dad?" I am not that close to my father, but I love and worry about him.

"There was an emergency." Was my mom's curt reply.

When I was getting in Isa's car and leaving for school, the only thing in my mind was- 'Am I  ready to be a doctor and hold that much responsibility? Sacrificing everything for people?'

School was as busy as yesterday when me and  Isa got in, and we had a few minutes to spare, so we wandered around our 'Spot,' Penny's words not mine, to kill time. That's when Vanessa came to where we are, with her sole focus being on Isa. Vanessa Cromwell is a Barbie. She is the first  daughter of Nathan Cromwell, one of the founders of RES.INC and Lina Cromwell, a former model. Nathan Cromwell was married three times before the super modern Lina. It seemed the millionaire found his match in the Iranian beauty .They have 2 daughters, Vanessa being the oldest. It's not a surprise that she is pretty, and it is safe to say that she got all her beauty from her mother. Vanessa has blond hair, a skinny body, and a difficult  attitude. The student body used to ship her with Leo, since their father's founded the company together, before they were joined by Christian Black-Justin's father, and the two grew up together.  I can confidently say that they are the most opposite people on the planet, and she will give him diabetes at a young age if he dates her.

"We need to talk." Came Vanessa's voice, which is surprisingly soft, looking straight into Isa, with her dark brown orbs. I immediately knew whatever she came here to say, is not going to be pleasant.