Chapter 2

Arlan took a deep breath. Her heart had finally atopped racing, and the butterflies were gone.1

I CAN DO THIS.2

Then, she walked in.3

No- she didn't just merely walk in. She made an entrance, and a hell of one.4

Ms. Bradshaw looked as if she had been in a rush to get there and she looked slightly... flustered.5

SHE'S SO CUTE.6

"Hi, I'm Ms. Bradshaw, for those of you who haven't met me yet," Ms. Bradshaw said, passing out papers. "Here's a paper about rules, procedures, blah, blah, blah. Your first acting assignent is to read what's on here while I take attendance."7

Once Ms. Bradshaw started on attendance, Sky passed Arlan a note.8

"FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T MET ME YET"? INTERSTING. LOOSEN UP, WILL YA? YOU LOOK CONSTIPATED.9

Arlan got up and threw the note away, resiting the urge to choke Sky. Ms. Bradshaw went to the front of the room and, once she had everyone's attention, she sat on the edge of her desk.10

"About a week ago, you all received a letter asking you to bring in soemthing that is unique or special to you. Today you'll show the class what you brought and you'll explain why you chose to bring it. Then, you'll get with a partner and both of you will write a short, one-act play about one or both of the items," ms. Bradshaw said. "Who wants to go first?"11

Sky volunteered Arlan to go first. Arlan got Eros out of his cage ain the closet, and as she made her way to the front of the room, she fought the urge to put Eros on someone's head so they could REALLY have a reason to act squeamish. Arlan reached the front of the room and let Eros crawl up her arm and onto her shoulder. While Arlan gave her speech, Ms. Bradshaw began petting Eros, which made Arlan have to concentrate really hard so she didn't mess up. Arlan finally finished, her heart racing.12

"Can I hol him?" ms. Bradshaw asked Arlan before she left to sit down.13

"Sure," Arlan said, eltting Ms. Bradshaw get Eros from where he sat on her shoulder.14

Arlan sat down, not daring to look at Sky. She would take one look into Arlan's honeyish-purple eyes and tell by their intense color that something was up.15

When lunch came, Arlan busied hersle fwith a book in the library so she could avoid having to answer questions from Sky.16

Towards the end of her last class, Arlan got called to the office. When she returned after the bell rang, Ms. Bradshaw was gone, and she had left a not for Arlan.17

ARLAN-18

I GOT CALLED TO A MEETING. I WILL BRING EROS AND YOUR THINGS TO YOUR DORM THIS EVENING.19

-MS. BRADSHAW20

Arlan sighed and then went to her dorm and took a shower, then began watching The Sound of Music. About twenty minutes into the movie, she heard a knock on her door.21

"Come on," Arlan groaned, pausing the movie and getting up to answer the door.22

Arlan opened the door, expecting to see one of her friends. Instead, she saw Ms. Bradshaw with Eros and Arlan's backpack.23

"Here, let me help you," Arlan said, Taking her backpack and holding open the door.24

"Thank you," Ms. Bradshaw said, carrying in Eros's cage. "Are you watching The Sound of Music?"25

"Yeah. Julie Roberts is one of my favorite actresses," Arlan said, helping Ms. Bradshaw with the cage.26

"Same here."27

For an instant, but to Arlan, an eternal instant, their hands met. Arlan felt electricity run throughput her body. Arlan stood up quickly and snapped to reality.28

"I could rewind it," Arlan offeres bravely and casually, leaning aganst the wall.29

"I really wish I could stay, but I probably shouldn't. I don't know how strict the rules are here. But thank you anyway."30

"No problem. Thanks for taking acere of Eros."31

"You're welcome," Ms. Bradshaw said as she went towards the door.32

SO CLOSE.33

Arlan opened the door for Ms. Bradshaw and once she left, she closed it and sighed, a million questions running through her mind. But one question in particular seemed to grab Arlan's attention more than the others.34

HOW DO I STOP SOMETHING THAT ISN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING?35