The Dreamer Chapter 3: The Problem

It was five in the morning when Marcus was so abruptly woken up by the sound of his alarm going off. Not that he had a choice to sleep more because he had to get ready for school, but Marcus decided to hit the snooze button anyway to roll over to go back to sleep. As he flopped over to get more rest his sister slammed open his door and said "Get up bro, I have to drive you to school today and I'm not going to be late!"

Ehhh, he moaned as he tried sitting up. Marcus hated days when Alexis had to drive him because that meant he had less time to get ready because he had to leave early. To make matters worse, this also meant he had to get to school about a half hour earlier than normal.

Marcus slowly dragged himself out of bed and strolled to the bathroom to get ready. The daily school ritual was usually the same everyday. First, toilet. Second, teeth. Third, shower. Fourth, dress. Fifth, hair. Sixth, breakfast. Seventh, leave. Always the same order, half the time on sister driving days. He had to get moving!

So he rushed through everything as fast as he could, besides doing his hair just in case he saw the girl he liked. Then in the car they went out of the driveway at like 70 miles per hour. Okay so it was more like 15, but whatever. They rushed because Alexis wanted to get rid of her brother as fast as she could so she can spend more time with her boyfriend before school. Her secret boyfriend that is because she was too afraid to tell mom and dad about him.

As they sped along Alexis began a conversation. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

Marcus looked at her puzzled. She never talked to him during the morning rides to school. "Um..." Marcus began.

"I was worried about you the other day when your eyes were white," she added.

Marcus blushed a little being embarrassed. He never realized how much she really cared about him. She doesn't show him much affection at all really.

"It's ok to talk to me about anything you want to Marcus. I know that sometimes you can't talk to mom and dad about certain things and want you to know that you can always talk to me," Alexis stressed.

"Uh, thank you," was all that Marcus could think to reply.

The rest of the car ride was silent, but Marcus' mind was not. Could he talk to her without ridicule? He would really like to talk to someone. Would she make a good candidate? Would she take him seriously? All these questions and many more kept on popping into his mind all of the car ride. When they finally got to his school his brain hurt and he suddenly felt exhausted.

"Have a good day bro," his sister said.

"Yea, ya-you too," he stammered.

With that Alexis drove off towards her boyfriend's house. Marcus stood there for a few moments deep in thought about what his sister said. "I wonder if she knows too," Marcus said to himself.

"Knows what?" said a voice behind him.

The voice was a woman's voice that he recognized, but was hoping that he was mistaken on who it belonged to. Marcus slowly turned to face the voice and to his horror he was facing his dreaded math teacher, Ms. Laurel.

"Um, nothing," Marcus managed to spit out.

"Are you sure?" pried Ms. Laurel as she looked at Marcus sideways. "If that statement was about me, I hope you know that I will find out somehow!"

"N-no, i-it was about my sister," Marcus stated as his body began to shake.

"It had better have been," said Ms. Laurel. "Get inside to the cafeteria, students are not permitted to loiter out here on the sidewalk!"

Marcus quickly obeyed her command and walked briskly away in the direction of the cafeteria. All students that came to school before 7:30 were required to check in and stay in the cafeteria until homeroom started. "I hate her!" Marcus thought.

Marcus didn't like Ms. Laurel for many reasons. She was his math teacher, his least favorite subject for starters. Then of course she was the morning grounds guard and was tough on all of the students found on school grounds before 7:30. Lastly, she was notorious for holding students after school for detentions. When she first started two years prior however all of the male students were really excited because the new young teacher starting in the math department was beautiful. Her beauty was like a mixture between Kim Kardashian and Lacey Chebert. She had long, flowing chestnut brown hair, pouty lips, and was about 5'11" tall. To say the least the boys were in for a big surprise when she started handing out detentions for any student who made a comment about her good looks. That stopped abruptly after the first few months of school. Every year however someone mentions it anyway and she gives them detention and then it stops after a few weeks. This year Marcus was blamed for it when it was the student behind him, but ever since was on Ms. Laurel's radar as a trouble maker.

Once in the cafeteria Marcus didn't sit at his usual table with his friends Jeff and Jonathan, but he picked a table in the back by himself. Knowing it wouldn't be long before Jeff would come over to join him, followed shortly by Jonathan, Marcus went right to work on his thoughts about his problems. First, should he or shouldn't he tell his sister about his dreams. This problem could go one of two ways. One way she would believe him, panic, and then run to mom and dad to tell them what he said. The other way would be she wouldn't believe him and run and tell mom and dad. So it seemed like a lose, lose situation.

The second problem was the fact that his dreams existed in the first place. He needed help and therefore someone to talk to about it. Who could he possibly trust to tell? His sister would be the most helpful since they lived together and probably the most trustworthy although his fear of her telling their parents. So with this catch twenty-two firmly put in place it was time to think of an easier problem to solve. The third problem was Ms. Laurel. "I hate math!" Marcus stated.

"Hey Marc!" exclaimed Jeff.

Marcus jumped because he wasn't paying attention and didn't realize his friend walking up to him.

"Oh, hey Jeff," replied Marcus.

"How come you didn't come sit with us?" asked Jeff.

"I'm sorry, I am just tired and must not have seen you. I am kind of distracted because of Ms. Laurel too," said Marcus.

In the past this would have meant he was thinking about her in an un-pure way, but now it meant she gave him a hard time.

"Oh yea?" Jeff stated. "What happened?"

"Well first she gives us homework over my birthday weekend and then when I get here today she threatens me with detention in so many words," complained Marcus.

"Yea, she is a bit harsh with you since she thought you were hitting on her man," Jeff pointed out.

"Yea," sighed Marcus.