Albert Carnell wasn't quite sure what to make of things. Not only did he feel odd in the class room, but he wasn't quite sure how to act around the students of the late Mr. Parker. But, Carnell was an old friend of Principal Jennings, and Jennings was in a bit of a bind, so Carnell had taken the job.

Renolds had never seen anything like this. The entire town hadn't actually. Suicide just wasn't something that happened here. And for such an odd an bloody suicide to have taken place at the school! And by one of the most well known teachers at that.

Carnell knew Parker had a reputation, both good and bad, and he wasn't quite sure how he would come to fill that spot under the circumstances. Not to mention, he'd been put in charge of taking care of Parker's spiders. Aparently Jennings felt some of the students would be upset to see them go. Quite frankly Carnell was upset to see them stay.

Class was about to start soon. Carnell had an easy introduction and lesson planned out. He just hoped the students took things well.

Ryan entered the history classroom, put his backpack besides the chair and sat down at his usual place. He was wearing his usual clothing: dark blue jeans, dark blue T-shirt and dark blue plastic leather jacket. The jacket was there because it had been cold recently. The uncombed messy hair and the indifferent eyes suggested that Ryan hadn't slept much the past evening, but that was just his usual look. Ryan never bothered about looking good at school. Nothing wrong with 'usual'.

He looked around the classroom. Not many of the students had arrived yet. Well, the bottles with all the spiders were still there.

The suicide of former history teacher Benjamin Parker hadn't shaken him that much. Ryan had already lost all his grandparents and death was no stranger to him. But he did feel a soft sting of pity for Mr. Parker. Ryan never got what led people to commit suicide. It was one of the secrets life stubbornly kept from him, as if it was saying, there are some things you'll never know.

Besides, most people nowadays just took a sleeping pill overdose or shot themselves. Commiting suicide by slashing his own throat (not even the wrists... the man really went for the throat) quite fitted Mr. Parker's eccentricity. Ryan noticed that with disgust and a hint of awe.

Anyway, there was absolutely nothing Ryan Catus could do about the fact right now, except wait and see how the new history teacher would be like. He had heard rumors about the new guy, especially from the girls. Ryan found it fascinating how well women recovered from all the crying about the death of a known person when they heard the dead man's substitute was young and good-looking and sympathetic. Ryan really didn't give a damn. School was school, and you had to learn and pass, if nothing else, just to get to a good university where you could finally start to learn what you wanted to.

Finally, the new teacher entered the class. Ryan had never seen him in school before. He was indeed young and good-looking and sympathetic, and Ryan could picture a handful of 16 or 17 year old girls sighing at the man. Predictable.

By now, the whole class had already arrived.

The man introduced himself as Albert Carnell, and started the lesson. Although he still seemed a little too uneasy, it could be forgiven. The man was obviously new and hadn't had much experience, and having to teach in the classroom of a recently 'suicided' man would make anyone uneasy.

Ryan leaned back in the chair and payed attention to the lesson and learned, because he had nothing better to do.

Alastor walked down the all by Mr. Parker's old room. In passing he saw the new teacher going on silently through the closed door. He could tell that Mr. Carnell was nervous... and with good reason.

Looking back at it, maybe Renolds would be better off without Parker around... Alastor had reason to believe that Benjamin might not have been the kind, honest man the the school has grown to believe. But to what ends?

"Well that doesn't matter anymore, now does it?" Sanches asked himself.

He turned on his heels and continued into the teacher's lounge were Principal Jennings was sipping on her coffee. Throughout the ordeal, Jennings was very nonshalant. Alastor stat down after filling up his cup. Silently he looked out the window, wondering if the events that have transpired were, in fact, the correct ones.

"Mr. Sanches?" started Mrs. Jennings. Alastor slightly jumped.

"Si? Sorry, I guess haven't been myself lately. How are you doing today?" asked Alastor.

"I'm fine... Though, you haven't seems all here lately. I'm sure that what happend with Mr. Parker has you bothered just as much as everyone else. But remember, the students need to see us taking this in stride or they too will become more uncomfortable, more so than they arleady are." stated Jennings.

Alastor paused, "I understand. If you'll excuse me, I have a class to attened to."

Sanches stood and walked off, leaving his coffee of which was still as full as when he got it.

Physical Education. Most girls don't really like it, but I am an exception. After all, I often take a nice walk outside, enjoying nature, so I am relatively fit compared to some of the other girls, I think. I guess I'm a little odd in that way, but I don't care. My only problem is that my PE hour is the first hour of school, which often means having to endure a little chilly weather. Actually, these past few days have been pretty chilly and I don't have my warmer clothes.

Today was the day of the 1-mile run. We needed to beat a time of 12 minutes, or else we'd have to try it again the next day. That wasn't really a problem for me, though. Every year I'm able to finish the four laps on time. Well, except for that one year, but this had come shortly after spraining my ankle. It's lucky for my that Mr. Blonca is an understanding gym teacher. Loud and demanding like any gym teacher, but still understanding.

After that, it was time to change back into the day's regular clothes. "So did you hear about Mr. Parker?" As usual, the other girls didn't start chatting until near the end of PE. They were usually too tired at the start of the day, but the warm-up gets their voices ready for chatting it seems. Usually the topics that are brought up aren't much interest to me, but this was an exception. Mr. Benjamin Parker, the 11th grade history teacher, had just created suicide! Mr. Parker wasn't my favorite teacher... actually, I hated him. But I hate it when somebody takes their own life like that. I can't think of why he would do such a thing. Hopefully, word would spread on why he would do such a thing.

I finished changing, and waited for the period bell to ring. Next up, Math class.

Ah, Friday night.

Ryan woke up. He was on his bed, in his room, in his house. He had gone to sleep after lunch. Hell, if you can't sleep at night, you gotta sleep sometime. It had gotten pretty dark already as he rose from bed.

School had been alright today. Nothing special, routine. The way it's supposed to be. The only thing different is that now they had History class back, after a two week absence because of Mr. Parker's suicide and lack of a substitute teacher. The new guy they had found seemed okay. Anyway. School was over already, no point in thinking about it now.

Although Ryan knew he wouldn't make much of his Friday night, he wanted to make at least something out of it.

He got the key in its hiding place and opened the locked drawer, the only locked drawer he had, the only place where he had absolute privacy to keep whatever he wanted to, and where no one besides himself could reach. It was kinda empty. Money, condoms. An old, beat down pack of cigarettes half full. A small basic swiss army knife, and a more elegant-looking modern switchblade. Lighter.
Ryan grabbed the pack of cigarettes, took one piece out, and shoved it into his pocket together with the lighter. The swiss army knife went into a more discrete pocket inside of the pants. You never knew what could happen. The rest of the pack he threw back into the drawer, closing and locking it back.

He had kept his cellphone turned off for the whole afternoon while he slept. Because of that, he didn't know whether the guys were doing anything tonight. It didn't really matter, now.

Ryan left the house telling his father he was going to take a stroll. Everything exaclty the same as always: dark blue jeans, dark blue T-shirt, dark blue jacket. Messy hair. Sleepy eyes. But this time, out at night, Ryan looked and felt like a part of the dark sky itself. Nothing more beautiful than the sky at night. Perfect dark blue. Wasn't it a quote from some writer, "infinity is blue"?

Ryan didn't go too far, but he went far and slow enough to come back home only one hour later. He spent all this time casually walking around the neighborhood, looking at the sky and its stars. Contemplating nothing at all, and thinking about nothing at all. Just contemplating and thinking. He threw his one cigarette on the floor of the cold street after he had finished smoking it up to the filter. He knew his asthma would probably give him a hard time Saturday morning, but he didn't care. Saturday 'morning' almost didn't exist as a real time anymore. Saturdays began at noon.

One hour later, Ryan returned home and went to sleep, again.
Tomorrow he'd do something bigger. He kept wondering if there was anything interesting going on in town that Saturday night.

Carnell rose from sleep Saturday morning a little reluctantly. He hadn't slept well the past week, but since his first day as replacement for Mr. Parker had gone well, he'd actually been able to get some rest.

However, he drudgingly rolled himself out of bed and hit up his shower. At noon today the town was having a memorial service for Mr. Parker, and while Carnell had never really known the man he felt it was required for him to attend. It would probably cast him in a better light anyways, as he had a feeling a few of the students that liked Parker would show up. Hopefully they would take his attendance as a caring thing.

Not to mention he had to go make a few rounds at some stores. He had a small date plan tonight with his happily unmarried wife of nine years. A little dinner, a movie at one of the local theaters, and then maybe a walk around town.

He turned the shower off and dressed in some sacks and a button. Not his favorite choice of clothing, but it would do for today. [list=][/list]

Hazuko got out of bed with a grumpy expression on his face. Today he had to travel over to the Manga Shop to get the third volume of: "Full Metal Alchemist". He's ignored the series for quite some time. Hazuko
was rather clumsy this morning, Bumping into things and falling. He had his wallet in his pocket. $300 for a saturday.
He walked out the front door with a Roy Mustang pants chain.

Ryan woke up relatively fine at 10:30. He was going to attend to Mr. Parker's memorial service. The man had been his teacher, after all. If nothing else, Ryan owned him at least one B in History.

Ryan dressed in the usual dark blue clothing (contrary to what some people believed, he did wash his clothes. He just had a lot of clothing that looked very alike). The sun was shining this morning, but the weather was still somewhat cold.

Ryan walked all the way to the school. Since Parker had no known family and it was supposed his parents had passed away, the school was had been the chosen setting for the service.

It was not a short distance, but Ryan had no problem with walking. He arrived at time.

The service was led by Principal Jennings. Funny how Parker didn't seem to have any real close friend or even affiliate outside the school. Most of the guests attending the service were teachers or students of Renolds. Oh, there were also the spiders.

Ryan took a look around him. Most of the school's staff was there. The new teacher was there, too. And most of Ryan's classmates and the other 11th grade classes.

The memorial service was short and simple and with music at the beginning and end. There was always a lot to say about Benjamin Parker, but it generally was about his crazyness. So at the service no one talked much.
Soon, it was over, and the people left and scattered, and Ryan left.

It was almost time for lunch. But Ryan wasn't in the mood to return home already. He got his cellphone and called a friend who lived nearby and asked if he could eat and stay at his friend's house for a while. The two often spent weekend afternoons together. They hanged out a lot and had interest in the same activities.

His friend, Marcus, who was also Ryan's classmate, said yes and Ryan walked to the house.

The last week and a half had gone well at school. Well, as well as things can go when you take over a dead man's spot. The kids seemed to like him, and he hadn't had any problems in his classes. And all of the teaches seemed nice and polite. Though, Alistor did give him odd looks from time to time.

But the point was no major bad things! ....The again no real major good things. He liked the style of one of his students. But this place seemed so difficult to actually make an impression on.

He shook his head and headed out of the lounge and to his class room.

It's been... nearly a whole month since something of real interest happened. Aside from that memorial service for Mr. Parker. Not that I went. I can't stand funerals. They always make me cry.

So yeah. That's it. Three weeks. Nothing interesting. It's Sunday night, now, and it's time for school again tomorrow. I kinda wish that our school got out for the summer like normal schools do. But at least we get more week-long breaks than other schools. Breaks where we're required to write 200-page essays! Not that I have a problem with writing. I like writing. I just wish our teachers would give us something more interesting to write about than "the beneficial uses of mold".

Exaggerations aside, it hasn't been too bad. I was finally able to finish that book about the thief and wizard king. I really loved the ending. I won't spoil it, of course. I think I'll go ahead and take a night-time stroll. Maybe I'll spot some owls as I walk. Maybe not, though. I don't think they're too keen on all these streetlights.

Meanwhile, Ryan did take a night time stroll. Again.
He just wanted to be alone with the world for a while.

Just after passing a street where the shadow of some staggering drunkards could be seen in the distance, Ryan entered an area where the streetlights had gone off. While crossing it, Ryan heard a gentle sound that seemed like it was done by a pidgeon; and the a very, very gentle flap of wings.

'Must be an owl,' thought Ryan. 'But... too rare to see one around these parts. Nah, it was a pidgeon.'

Charlie didn't attend the memorial service for Mr. Parker, even though he was told to, he didn't really care.

It was Sunday night and he was bored. He decided it would be a good idea to go sit on his doorstep, after all the time he had been spending inside. There was nothing more exciting going on outside he thought to himself.

He had to go back to school tomorrow and really wasn't looking forward to it.

Ryan and I passed each other at the same time in front of Charlie's porch, which Charlie was sitting at. [spoiler]Unlikely coincidence.[/spoiler] Wow, do we all like enjoying the evening air?

Of course, I didn't say anything to Ryan. He doesn't really ever say much, at least to me. But at least he acknowledges my presence from time to time. Charlie completely avoids me! I don't really try much to talk to him, either. Well, it probably isn't a good idea to try right now. Me walking in the middle of the night and randomly coming up to his house? I don't know, I'm sure somebody might find that suspicious. Does he even have a girlfriend?

Ryan woke up as always, ready for school. He remembered last night.

He had crossed paths with a girl from the school in front of his classmate Charlie's house. After sending a quick hello to Charlie, he had nodded to the girl and smiled; an unformal and regular greeting. Luckily, he hadn't a cigarette in his mouth today, people weren't comfortable with that. Thinking about that, Ryan laughed to himself. Heh, since when did he care about what other people thought about him?
He had already had a pretty bad experience last year with a girl that was now in the 10th class. Ryan wondered if the girl he met during the night knew her. Probably.
Anyway, that's why he didn't care.

1st period had gone rather interesting this morning. Well, interesting for Carnell was any possible thing to break the monotony of the past few weeks. Really, for such a tragedy to have happened the school just seemed to pick right back up and run with it.

Anyways, the interesting portion of the morning happened when he passed a young student while lecturing in class. (he frequently walked while lecturing).

Carnell could have sworn the smelled smoke on the student. Not that it was a huge deal to Carnell, being a smoker himself, but the area seemed to have a rather large amount of contempt for smokers, or so he'd noticed. Carnell had actually looked inquiringly at the student, he believed his name was Ryan. What made the event all the more interesting was that he couldn't figure out what the look Ryan had responded with ment.

Altogether a very interesting morning.

As he walked home, Ryan thought about the happening in school today.

First, during class, the new History teacher had thrown him an inquiring look. Ryan noticed at the time that he probably was smelling of smoke. Oh, well. Nothing he could do about it now. Ryan answered the look with an attentive expression and slightly raised eyebrows, as if he was just waiting for the teacher to continue lesson. Mr. Carnell seemed confused, but only for a fraction of a second before continuing with his lecturing. Ryan now knew that at least one teacher knew he smoked; and that could worsen his grade. Oh, well... he now had to make up for it with work quality. That wouldn't be too troublesome, but it would be tiring...

The other thing that happened today was during the break. He had, after 6 months, met Julia again. He and she had some things going on last year, of which he preferrably dind't talk about anymore. Then she went to study in a different town, and spent 6 months there. She had just come back to Renolds High. She went to the 10th grade, and was now just as old as himself: 16.
As they crossed paths in the hallway, she sent him a happy look and smiled. "Ryan! Finally we've met again!" she said cheerly.
Ryan just smiled and said, "Yeah," then kept walking to his class.
The girl was visibly shocked by his appearance. Ryan couldn't look any worse today: he had rings under his eyes and messy hair that suggested he hadn't slept at all the night before; he was paler and thinner than ever. And, above all, he was even stinking from a Friday night drinking and a Saturday night smoking. But nevertheless, Julia went after him in the hallway. She looked worried about him, now.
"What, you don't speak to me anymore? We're friends, remember?" and then she laughed.
"Yeah."
Julia was now visibly worried. "Has anything happened to you? Are you alright?"
"Yeah." And Ryan kept walking, entering his class. He didn't look back.
As happy as that girl is, someone being rude to her like that in the morning is going to ruin her entire day, Ryan thought to himself while he sat down and readied himself for next class.
Ah, what the hell.

Carnell's day at school had gone relatively well. Especially since that nosy Alastor was apparently on vacation this week. He liked the spanish teacher....it's just....sometimes he gave him the creeps.

Carnell drove with his window down, cigarette in hand, music blaring. He saw Ryan ahead, apparently walking home. Carnell smiled and slowed to about 15 mph. He grab his pack of malboro lights from his console and tossed them out at Ryan as he passed, smiling.

As he sped up he wondered what the boy would think of the event.

Ryan's mind was far away when he heard the blasting music approaching from behind. Ryan barely managed to wake up and grab the thing that was tossed at him from the car. As the driver sped up, Ryan managed to recognize the silhouette of Mr. Carnell in the driver's seat.
He then looked down at his hand to see what the History teacher had thrown him. It was a pack of cigarettes.
Ryan did something he hadn't done in quite awhile. He threw his head back and laughed out. He stared at the now empty street and said, smiling, "Thanks."

Ryan and his friend Marcus were sitting side by side at a bar down the town centre, having lunch. Marcus didn't go to Renolds High, but sometimes the two met after school to eat and talk.
"So, Julia's back," Ryan commented casually.
Marcus showed interest. "Really? Have you talked to her?"
"She talked to me. Said something about being friends... I ignored her."
Marcus stopped dead. "You... ignored her?"
"Come on, you know me, what did you think I was going to do?"
"Yeah, I know you now, but I always thought you'd go back to your old self when you saw Julia again..."
"No chance," Ryan said shaking his head. "Transformation's complete."
"Hang on there, pal," Marcus said with an inquisitive look. "You still go that dancing crap you started because of her," he completed.
"I used to go because I thought it was nice. Now I go because I'm too good at it to stop. And you call it dancing crap, but we've been training breakdancing for weeks and I haven't seen you complaining."
Marcus said, "You're good at those shifty answers, too!" and laughed. The he got serious again. "But look. Breakdancing, B-Boying, that's cool. But that thing you do in the week... wossername, ballroom dancing, that is just..."
"Gay?"
"Yeah!" They both laughed.
"No..." Ryan answered, "Gay is one of the things you can be sure I'm not."
"I know, I know, but you haven't touched a woman since Julia, have you? And that was over six months ago."
"True, you're right. But it's not because of her; I already told you, I got over it. Long ago. I don't care anymore."
Marcus raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh, really? Prove it."
"I've got another one."
Marcus took a while to process the information. When he spoke, he sounded incredulous. "Another girl? You?"
"Yeah, me," Ryan said with a smile. "Another girl."
"Wha... Who?"
"It's not the time to tell, I'm not quite sure yet."
"Oh, just tell me, who?!"
As they both stood up to pay for the meal, Ryan looked back and added, "Nah, not today. Maybe I'll tell you tomorrow, if you have the guts to show up for lunch again."

Friday.

Sometimes the students don't realize that the weekend is as much anticipated for the teachers as them. The past few weeks have been seemingly long to Alastor. Each day crawled by a little bit slower than the last. The only two places that he really would dwell was either the teacher's lounge or his own class room.

It was time for lunch and since he like his seclusion and there weren't any students, he spent his time alone in his classroom. He walked to the lounge for a second to grab some cheap food from the vending machine and wandered back to his room.

As he sat there and contemplated about the events that have taken place only within the last month, his peripheral vision caught Carnell in his door's window. With a jerk of reflex, Alastor slammed his desk drawer shut of which he opened subconsiously a few moments earlier.

Alastor casually went back to his meager meal with disreguard to weither Carnell was still present or not.

Alastor sighed, "... friday."