F&C Book 2

September 14, 1978.

Monday morning comes and in my mind I do not welcome it. Grandma had waken up at her usual 5am, singing out loud fom Spanish religious songs that she had learned in her Penticostal Church. My brother Jorge had also waken up, starting his routine of taking over the bathroom and holding it hostage from 6am to 9am. I try to take a few more moments of sleep before waking up, fighting the urge to kick somebody's butt from all this unneccessary noise.

The sun has been up since about 6:15, making its presence known to me that eventually I have to take on this day- win or loose. I force myself to sit up and stay there, whether to deicde to write off the day and go back to bed or to take on the challenge head on. While in thinking, Meeshie trots into the room and hops on the bed, rubbing herself againt me. I reach down to her and stroke the fur between her ears, making her purr.

This is the time of day where I have most use of my eyes, as they had flushed out most of the photonic energies out of my retinas and the ghosting of images and blobs of colours are at their minimum. As I got older, I know that this would someday return to zero- near normal sight once again. But that day is somewhere in the distant future and for now I have to deal with this handicap.

I take a quick look around the room, getting up and walk about in its brightness. Stupid Jorge had left the lights on, knowing full well that it is bad for me. But he does so because he wants to, and can get away with it as long as he locks himself in the bathroom. I gather my belongings and put on some clothes, a shirt, jeans and necessary underwear; before going to the dresser and taking my glasses to put them on. The jacket, bookbag and cane are next to be picked up.

Stopping by the door, I look at the bed and see that Meeshie had gone into a little cat nap on the blankets I sleep on. I decide to leave her alone and step out into the tiny hallway that separates all the rooms. As I step out, I give the bathroom door a loud slap with the cane as I hear the radio in there play very loud, just above the roar of the 1200Watt gun type hair drier Jorge was using.

A few steps more and I walk into the dining area. The only time I eat there is during breakfast time; unless it is a family gathering or specail event- Lunch and dinner is usually taken with me to the bedroom. Grandma had made two toasted egg/ham/cheese sandwhiches for breakfast today, along with a large fountain glass of coffee- with milk and sugar, kept cold. She always wondered why I do not eat things freshly cook with steam just rising off it, and needing it to be served cold. One day I will tell her why, but for now I prefer it to remain it as one of those things that I do. For now I take on breakfast and gulp it down as quickly as I could.

Once done, I get up and hand over the plate and glass to her as I wait by the entrance to the ktichen. She takes it, saying something in Spanish about how I should be more like somebody else or why I should travel so far way to some school in Brooklyn when the one just a few blocks away would do just fine. We already had this argument so many times before, with neither one of us gaining one inch to their side. I put on my jacket and bookbag on my shoulder as I start stepping to the door. Within moments I'm outside in the hall, reaching for the elevator button.

The door opens and I step in, not caring if anyone is in there or not; most of the building known of my handicap condition, and give me some space for me to step into if they were there. But like most days, it comes up empty, and fills up on the way down.

The elevator stops on the 6th floor, with a 50-50 chance that it would either be Grace or Victor entering in, or somebody else. I have not been too happy with Victor as to what happened in Julia Richman, and even before in Jr HS 45. But in the least we do not talk other than an occassioanl 'Whats up?' Grace on the other hand is a bit more welcomed, though as of the events of this past weekend, I really do not want to be bothered with her. I stand by the corner across from the door, almost wanting to crawl into the crevice of the two adjoining walls as she walked in.

"Hello Fernando.", she says as she walked in. The elevator door closes behind her almost immediately. The elevator then drops with a lurch and stops without openning its door. The alarm bell only rang for a momentary second, signifying that someone had pressed the 'Emergency Stop' button, which she had just did.

"We are going to be late for school...", I complained to her.

"I don't care. All I want is some answers to what happened on Saturday, since you had not come over or wanted to see me on Sunday.", Grace complains back.

"Must we go through this?", I asked, holding back, "Damn its not like we are going out with each other..."

"Yes we must, and only because I'm your friend.", she says.

"If you were my friend then you know that I want to be left alone on certain things.", I tell her back.

"Look Fernando- you and I are more than just friends, and no, I wont leave things that you want left alone, alone. Now tell me why wont you fix things up with Mary?", Grace almost demands.

"She tried to kill me! You were there!", I almost yelled at her.

"That's not what I mean. It is obivious that the both of you are still in love, but the point I don't get is that the both of you hate each other. Get rid of that hate and what ever problems you two have will be gone away.", Grace tries to preach to me.

"Why do you think I'm blind, Grace? Why do you think I had to learn how to walk again? Learn how to do those things that you take for granted? It was her, that's why!", I tell her out loud.

"Well if you two did not started to screw around early in your relationship, you would not be in such a mess.", Grace continues on with the preaching.

"Its not that, Grace. Sex has nothing to do with whats going on between us.", I tell her.

"Then what is it?", she finally asks.

"All this started some 3 years ago, before I moved here to the projects. When I went to PS 96 to complete the IGC program when the Child Prodigy Program ended in '75. And we started to be friends back then. But because I was a former Baby King and she lived on a block where the Black Spades were in,...", I started to explain.

"Wait, you were in a gang- impossible! The Baby Kings were all killed in a fight with the Savage Skulls in '74!", She started to say.

"Jorge and I are its only survivors.", I said to her.

"No way...", She said.

"Well, because of this, there was going to be problems. She was going out with a couple of the Black Spades, some guys named Ricky and Alfonso... To make a long story short, she wanted to go out with me, and they wanted me dead. Now they're the ones who almost ended up dead and their actions towards me almost left me cripple and currently blind.", I tell her.

"Then why did you had sex with her, if you did not loved her?", she asks.

"One day you'll know how it works, I'm still trying to figure it out for myself.", I answered.

"Was she a virgin, you know... before...?", She asks.

"I would not know. Frankly, I did not cared. But from a guy's point of view, unless she was homely or smelly like shit, you don't turn down a piece of pussy when it is offered to you.", I explained. Grace tries to slap me but I grabbed her hand before it made contact.

"Fernando, I swear!", Grace shouted at me.

"It was something that just happened!" I tell her as I slowly put her hand down and eventually letting her go.

"Then I hope it was out of love between the two of you...", she started to say.

"A lot of things were said between us, but seriously, now that I can think about it, we said that we loved each other, but from the way things looked, it was not what it seemed.", I tried to explain.

"How could you....", she says.

"It was actually quite simple...", I said to myself, but our close proximinity made sure that she heard it too.

"Sometimes I wonder how I ever became your friend." , she said.

"I swear, Grace, you're acting like you like me or something.", I tell her.

"Don't you wish...", she said.

"No, I mean, more than just what we are, as friends.", I explained to her.

"Yeah, I bet you wish. So you can take my panties down too.", she comaplained.

"Its not like that Grace...", I tell her.

"Oh, then how would it be?", she asks in a mocking tone.

"Look, not every girl is a virgin, as they play themselves out to be. And guys will take it when its offered to them. But you know- every relationship has its beginning, and its end...", I started to explain. "And what happened between Mary and I was once upon a time, and everything went wrong. And for what ever reasons we broke up, it is over between us and she knows it. Trying to dig it up and save what is left is a sick thing to do, for it should belong where it is- dead.", I finish telling her.

She just stands there staring at me in a long and uncomfortable silence.

"You mind, we're going to be late for school.", I quietly tell her as I reach for the elevator button to restart it.

She take my hand and puts it down by her side, and thinking that I can not see her through my dark glasses, bites the side of her lower lip. "Maybe I do like you...", she says silently.

"I like you too, but somethings just can not happen.", I say silently as well.

"I know.", she quietly responds.

"How about letting the elevator go?", I ask.

"How about a few more moments of us two being alone for a while?", she asks.

"We're going to be very late for school.", I said.

"I don't mind, if its because of being with you.", she saids.

Another awkward moment of silence passes between us.

"You know that we can only be friends.", I tell her.

"Why, you going out with somebody else already?", she asks.

"Maybe, maybe not, I don't know...", I started to say.

"Are you?", she asks again.

"Its more of us than of anyone else, Grace.", I tell her.

"How so?", she asks.

"Your family, my family, your boyfriend, my girlfriend...s, you know... too much in the way. Even just to be friends.", I tried to explain.

"What about my boyfriend? I don't have one...", she said.

"Well, I know from what I heard you went out with Victor and that guy on the floor above you...", I started to say.

"Well first of all, I went out with no one. And if anyone in this building tells you that I have, don't believe them because you know how my family is...", she explains in a defensive tone.

"I know, I know... Just because they said it does not mean that I believed them. I just went along with it and remembered it so just in case it comes up, I can finally get the truth...", I tell her, "In this case, from you."

She just stares at me with disbelief, or what I percieved as such. One can throw in a bit of anger as well, but either way, I was not making any headway to making things better between the two of us. But no matter how one takes it, for the short time I have known her, she has been the forgiving kind. The hurt and the anger will go away and things would be back as they were. But until then, there was this uncomfortable quiet between us.

"Grace, ", I started to say to break the silence, "we are going to be late for school."

She remains disinterested about the time, remaining to be quiet. I slowly reach for the 'STOP BUTTON' again, and again, she takes my hand away from it, this time holding it firm. After several more seconds of silence, she speaks.

"You know that I have been there for you, through the hosptial stays, and the physical thearpy, during those times you wanted to give up, but you didn't.", she started to say.

"What are you trying to tell me?", I asked.

"Both you and I are 15, right?", she asks.

"Yes... but...", I started to say.

"And I've known you since the first day you moved in here 3 years ago...", she added.

"I don't see where this is going.", I said.

"Look. In a short amount of time, we had become good friends, if not more than just good friends.", she said.

"I still don't...", I said.

"Just hush up, will you!", she said demandingly. I could only quietly comply. "Look... if I were to say to you that you are now my boyfriend, what would you do?", she then asks.

I thought about it for a few seconds before answering, "I do not know. Why would you want me as your boyfriend?"

She lets out a deep seated sigh before answering, "I need somebody I can trust to do me certain things. Do you understand?"

"You mean like....", I started to say.

"No, we are not going to have sex just like that. In fact, unless you marry me first we wont ever go that far in this relationship.", she explains.

"Then, forgive me for being stupid- why would you want me?", I asked.

"Look, I need somebody I can trust to do me those things that only a boyfriend can give...", she started to explain.

"Like what?, I ask, interupting her.

"Just stay quiet for a moment so I can finish.", she stated.

"OK.", I said silently.

"Look, I need you to take me out on school dates and dances when they come, go out on some weekends to movies or mueseums and stuff like that.", she answers.

"That's all? Why?", I asked, but not really seeking an answer.

"Because my school is an all-girl school. And if I'm not seen with a boyfriend then they will try to hook me up with somebody from the all-boys academy... and that I do not want.", she explains.

"So you want me to be your make-believe boy-friend?", I asked.

"It wont be make-believe.", she saids.

"But... what if I end up going out with somebody else in my school?", I ask.

"You better not, for I can be a very jealous bitch...", she started to say.

"Grace... you cursed!", I say to her.

"So, I'm not exactly an angel, you know.", she explained.

"But...", I started to say.

"Look, I know I got an image to maintain, that is all well and good. But I as perfect as the next human being, and that means that... like you, Fernando, I fuck up too.", she explains.

"Uhm... nevermind then...", I almost say to myself."

"What do you mean by that?", she says.

"Nothing, nothing really. You know, something that people automatically say without know it.", I try to explain myself. "But seriously, about you and I... why?", I then asked.

"Look, I need a boyfriend, one who can do all those things a boyfriend do to his girl. One I can honestly spend time with and enjoy that time with him, one who I can trust with my deepest and darkest of secrets, and somebody I can share my feelings with knowing that I will be respected in all reguard. There is only one person in this whole wide world that I can trust to do that with, and that person is you- Fernando.", she explains.

"But seriously... I do not know...", I started to say.

"But seriously what?", she asks, "You don't like me or something?"

"No...", I started to answer but she interupts me.

"Is it that you want somebody you can put on your bed and do her all the time?", she asks.

"No... its not that...", I try to interject.

"Then what is it?", she asks.

"Its something I can not explain.", I said.

"Then try.", she demanded.

I let out a deep sigh, and think for a bit for an answer that was not there, and instead grasp at loose straws. "I think I love you enough not to put you through the hurt and pain I am currently going through... if you know what I mean...", I finally say to her.

"You are in love with me?", she asks.

"In a way... yes.", I answered.

She stays there staring at me for the moment.

"For the longest I have been, perhaps when I first saw you, but you were unobtainable...", I then started to add, but she leans up against me and puts her hand to my mouth. Then she slightly pulls away but continues to have her hand against my mouth.

"Why didn't you say something before?", she asked, "No- don't answer that ...", she kept her hand to my mouth.

"I suppose now that this changes everything...", she says to herself and she finally steps away from me to the furthest corner of the tiny room. I continue to stand in mine, bowing my head towards the floor.

After some more silence, I say, "No, it doesn't."

"No? How? Why?", she asks.

"Nothing's changed between us. I mean, just because I've been feeling a certain way about you does not change whether you know it or not.", I try to explain.

"It does for me...", she saids.

"How so?", I ask.

"It does because now I know how you feel about me...", she tries to explain.

"Not really, we're still friends.", I try to add.

"We're more than just friends.", she says, looking up towards me.

"You're going to have to explain that one to me.", I quietly said.

"Would you do anything for me if I asked for it?", she asks.

"Yes. Would you?", I answered and then asked.

"I would do almost anything if you ask me too.", she answers.

"Almost? What would you not do...", I asked.

She thinks, and quickly answers, "Don't get this wrong, but I would do anything but have sex with you."

"Because you are saving it for the right time and the right place and the right guy...", I started to list off.

"No... I would want to wait until I got married to the right guy first.", she says.

"What if the guy you marry is not the right guy?", I asked.

"Don't do that...", she says.

"I did not do anything.", I said in my defense.

"You just jinxed my future marriage!", Grace said, trying to get the upper hand.

"I did not.", I replied to get it back.

"What if I married you? You just jinxed that...", she stated.

"No...", I added to my defense.

"And why not?", she asks, interupting me.

"Because... As my wife, I would try my best to keep you happy ...", I continued more quietly.

"Then how would you keep me happy?", she asks as she steps back towards me.

"I would not know, but at least I would try.", I answered.

"What about as your girlfriend?", she asks.

"I still would not know, but I would ask you how.", I answered again.

"Fernando?...", she calls to me as she takes my hand.

"Yeah?", I almost ask.

"You don't have to ask.", she says.

"But...", I started to say.

"No... look don't be so worried about it so much. At least you try and that's what counts.", she explains.

I can only remain quiet for the moment, bowing my head a bit as if I were looking into her hands holding mine.

"Fernando...?", she calls out to me again.

"Huh?", I say to myself, looking up to face her.

She leans over to me, putting my hands around her waist and then putting hers around mine, continueing to lean even further. I draw back but cant because of the wall behind me. She stops leaning, noticing my reaction.

"Are you scared or something?", she asks.

I remain silent for a moment, unsure how to answer. In my defense, I start to say, "We're going to be very late for school, Grace."

"Does it matter?", she asks.

"To me it does. You just got a short train ride to the Bronx. I have to go through all of Manhattan and into Brooklyn. And the teachers in my school don't like it when anyone is late.", I try to explain.

"And this from the guy who blaintantly told his former girl friend to strip so he can screw her this past weekend.", Grace stated.

I just let out a sigh and think about my options, feeling the seconds growing into minutes as they pass by. She just stared at me, though it would be easy to get into her mind to find out what she was thinking, it was something that I do not do with friends like her.

"Alright right, I give up, Grace. What would you want to do?", I finally said and asked.

She grins a bit, like she had gotten the upper hand on this relationship, even its temporarily.

"Right now? With you?", she said.

I just look at her back, not believing what I'm hearing.

She answers immediately after I let out another sigh. "Actually, there is a lot for us to do, and yet nothing can be done.", she saids.

"Look, girl. You can do whatever you want to do. Its up to me to think if those things we do can be done.", I said.

"Wait a minute- I'm the girl and you're the boy here. I have the final say on what happens between us. Not you or any other guy.", she says.

"Then, do as you want. I'm just going to let it happen then...", I tell her.

"What if I decided to drop my panties and have sex with you right now.", she saids.

"Alright then, if you want too...", I hesitantly said. But slowly I slid my hands down her waist and clawed up her catholic uniform skirt before putting my hands underneath the material and sliding back up to her waist again; just under the belt line. If she hadn't pressed herself against me, the front of her skirt would have raised up, exposing what she had under into view. But for now, I slowly and nervously slid my hands onto the roundness of her ass and felt its firm shape in them.

For a moment she tenses up, but she fights the urge of stopping me. In her mind she is thinking that we should stop this game as soon as possible, but she argues with herself- loudly enough for anybody with minimal telepathic abilities to hear her. In her personal little warm she lets out a small sigh and smiles back at me before letting up the pressure of her weight on me as she pulls away a bit. She then reaches to the buttons of her blouse and undoes the top three, her hand shaking more with each button she does.

I take my left hand out from under the rear of her skirt and place it on her shoulder, pushing her a little further way, but not too far away to take my other hand out from under her skirt, rather enough to slide it to the side of her hip.

"You're not comfortable with this, are you?", I ask.

"What makes you say that?", she said, the slight jittery in her voice noting how she was fighting with herself.

"Because I can see that you are scared.", I said to her.

"I'm not scared.", she said somewhere between nervousness and anger, but more meekly than either two.

For some reason her being more scared of the situation than I made me more sure of myself, easily fighting off simillar feeling that I was having myself, and taking on a more hungry-for-sex male attitude. Giving her hip a gentle squeeze, I pull her back towards me, moving my hand to her back as she got closer, to press her groin against mine. She can feel me hard and strong as I press her against me, responding in a wide-eyed suprized response as she tried to look into my eyes.

"Oh my...", she said silently to herself.

"You do not know what you have started, Grace...", I started to whisper in her ear then giving her ass a gentle squeeze.

"Yes I do...", she try to say, interupting me.

"Do you want me to be your boyfriend?", I asked, interupting her.

"In a way... yes.", she answered. Then she lets out a slight moan as I kissed her just below the jaw line and then traced my tongue 1/2 way down her neck.

I managed to work my fingers onto the waist band of her panties from behind, as I took her hand and helped her undo my zipper before puttting her hand inside my pants. She gives me slight squeeze down there and holds on through the material of my briefs, before freezing up and pushes away from me.

I stand there thinking to myself, 'OK Grace, now that your little experiment failed, whats your next move?' Keeping her distance from me, she fixes herself up, readjusting her clothes, almost not wanting to talk. I follow in her actions and do the same.

She stands up by the door and stares back at me for the moment after, still remaining in silence.

"I'm sorry...", I said quietly to break the silence between us.

"You're sorry? Why...?", she asks.

"I was taking advantage of you, that why.", I tell her.

"Don't you think that I was leading you to take advantage of me? I'm the one that should be sorry.", she explains.

"Maybe we should both be sorry.", I then said.

"You don't have to be, you know.", she said, just looking down at her shoes for the moment.

"I acted like some damn horny dog, and on you of all girls, too.", I explained.

"I'm just a girl, just like any other...", she saids.

"No, to me you're a little bit more specail than that.", I try to tell her.

"....Thanks.", she said softly.

"Look, I'm already late for school, and you will be too...", I started to say to her.

At that moment she looks at the elevator panel and pulls on the emergency stop button, starting the downward trip again. I reached over and pressed the second floor button.

"Why you did that?", Grace asks.

"Just in case, I don't want my parents to see me leaving this late; I'll sneak out the back exit.", I explained to her.

"I'll go with you then.", she said.

I remained silent, for the rest of the elevator ride. Together we get off the second floor, and go down the building's rear stair case. We leave through the rear exit and go through the courtyard, heading to Lexington Avenue. From there, we head for the subway entrance at 116th street.

Showing our train passes we get onto the subway platform and head to the last bench on the station. Together we sit there and wait for the train. A train pulls into the station, but it is packed with people. Instead of getting up to try to get into it, Grace takes me by my arm and leans against my shoulder. I look at her for the moment.

"Its too crowded. We can get the other one", she says.

"OK.", I tell her.

For several minutes, there was no train, and by now I think to myself that by the time I get to school, it would be almost time for prefect. Eventually a train rolls into the station, being more crowded that then first.

I slowly tried to get up, but Grace helds fast to my arm, "We'll get the next one that isn't crowded.", she says.

"I'm going to be late for school...", I tell her.

"The next train that isn't crowded...", she repeats herself.

I comply, complaining silently to myself in my mind. We waited for several more minutes until the next train arived. Still crowed, at least it was not crowed as the first, and we get on. We both choose the pole closest to the door, where we stood there staring at each other.

For me, the ride was short to the next stop where I get off and get on a downtown express train to Brooklyn. She has to stay on and continues her ride to the Bronx.

I make my way to the lower subway level to get on my train, needing to wait several more minutes for the next train to come into the station. As always, I make my way to squeeze into the crowded train, working to one of the holding poles in the center of the car to wrap my left arm around upon and have it support me and my books while I do the necessary homework along the ride. With some luck, I might be able to make it to 1st period math if the train skips most of the stops along the way. But for now I loose myself in the world of equations and theorms, only solving the problems as I see them in the book, not having to refer to the notes.

Strangely enough, the trains nearly empties out at 86th street, some message about skipping stops along the way. I decide to remain on since mine's is a long ride into a another borough, and if problems were to persist, I could always transfer to another train later on. I quiclkly take a sopt on the empty bench and continue onward with my homework.

The ride was cut from 10 or so stops to just about 4. I thought to myself that perhaps I would not be late after all, although the difference in time does not make it into a reality. It was 8:45 when the train stopped at Nevins Street; perhaps a new record of getting there in under 20 minutes, but still late for class. I start tapping my way through the train station as I leave, heading down Lafayette street to the long walk towards Tech.

Even with the dark glasses to keep the incoming light into my eyes to a minium, the photonic ennergies had started to fill up within my retinas and have now started to cascade- leaving me nearly blind. I curse it as it happens, for the headaches that it starts can be overwhelming, but I can not allow it to take over. Like so many have said- what ever mechanisms I have found to ride the waves of pain helps me with it or else I would have gone mad from it in the least. Well, mad or angry, I just stand on the edge of where I can be easily pushed and lash out at anyone. Unfortunately for me, I can hear my thearpist's voice, Ms Banzier saying, 'You have to take all that negative and turn it into something positive.'

Some other students who are also late for school, take more or less the same route that I do. Showing my handicap pass, I skip the lateness line for a late pass and head straight to math class. With 1/2 the period gone, I was more than late and Mr Wienstien was going to make big show of it.

I entered the classroom through the front entrance, where Mr Weinstein was showing off area and volume formulas that I already know. Then he starts with his Anti-Fernando Show.

"You're late. Got a late pass?", He starts to ask in a taunting tone.

"They wont give me a late pass because I have the handicap pass.", I tried to explain to him.

"No Late pass, no entry.", Mr. Weinstein started to say. Nonetheless, I walk to my desk. "Hey- you can not take your seat without a late pass.", he then yells. As I sat down to my desk, he quickly walks up the aisles to intercept me. He grabs the back of my jacket as I sat down. I reach up from behind and take his wrists, pressing on the tendons under the palm as tightly as possible, forcing his fingers to relax from their grasp and twist his arm over my head and pin it to my desk.

"Don't You Ever Fucking Touch Me Again!...", I tell him sternly as he whimpers in pain. The entire class looks at us.

"Fernando, let him go!", Cathy almost yells at me from behind.

"What The Fuck For? So He Can Put His grimey Paws On Me Again? No...", I tell her, before going back to Mr. Weinstein, "You Ever Touch Me Again, I Am going To Rip This Arm Off And Beat You Over The Head With It. Do I Make Myself Clear?" Mr Weinstein nods his head very quickly. I then raise his twisted arm and push him hard so that he falls on the floor on his ass.

Mr Weinstein quickly gets up and runs out of the room. The class continues to remain silent.

"Shit, he's going to get secuirty.", somebody in the class says outloud.

"I don't give a fuck who he gets.", I tell the whole class. "You all saw that he grabbed me first, without cause."

"He told you not to enter.", another voice says.

"Look, I'm handicap, god damn it, I'm fucking blind, and yet he wont accept my handicap pass, he's not helpful towards my needs because of my condiction. Hell, I sat down quietly and he was the one who grabbed me- now who's wrong, The blind kid taking his seat or the the teacher picking on the blind kid and tried to physically assault him?", I explained outloud.

The class begins to speak amoung themselves, discussing the matter at hand.

The door opens wildly, as Mr Weinstein enters the room with several security gaurds, pointing in my direction, "There he is- 'Mr Cool'..." As they start to walk towards me, the class gets out of their seats and block all directions to me.

"Out the way.", one of the gaurds say out loud to the class.

"Is that you Al?", I say outloud.

"Yes its me. You know you're in a lot of trouble for what you did.", Al says.

"Class, go back to your seats.", I tell everyone. Some argued, but I yelled back at them, "Sit The Fuck Down!" They all comply, and the security guards surround my desk.

"You're going to have to come with us.", Al says.

"I will go, on one condiction- you take everybody's statement in this class before I go.", I tell him.

"That will take all day.", Al stated.

"No it wont.", I tell him, "Just look; Everyone who saw Mr Weinstein grab at me unprovoked raise your hand.", I then said outloud.

At first, no one raises their hands, but then Cathy raises hers, and then followed by other, until nearly all in the class has their hands raised. The security guards looked around as they counted the witnesses in their minds. After a while, everyone puts their hands down.

"Now Al, if I go with you and get a suspension hearing started against me, then I want a departmental hearing against him." I tell him.

"Like what proof do you have against him? The class's witness statements will be thrown out, and you know it.", Al tells me.

I turn to my bag and reach into it, pulling out my tape recorder and show it to him as it records away. I then stop it, rewind it for a couple of seconds ans press play. 'Like what proof do you have against him? The class's witness statements will be thrown out, and you know it.', the recorder says. When it hits blank tape, I stop it and resume with its recording. The whole class gasps.

"You want this to end up on the 6 o'clock news tonight? I can gladly walk into Eye Witness News Offices and show it to Gill Lopez.", I say as I put it back into my bookbag and lock it tightly. "Suspend me, and I'll have this school shut down in a week."

"Lets walk away from this.", another school security guard says- that belonging to Curley. He then takes his walkie talkie and orders the security guards outside the class to return to their posts.

"Aren't you going to take him away?", Mr Weinstein says as they start to walk out.

"He has enough evdience to have you arrested and fired. I'd advise you to give him a wide berth and a lot of respect.", Al tells him as he stands by the door. He closes the door behind him but remains in the class as an observer. Mr Weinstein remains quiet as he stares at Al.

The 5 minute warning bell rings.

I raise my hand up to get Mr Weinstein's attention, but he does not pay attention.

"Mr Weinstein, one of your students has his hand raised.", Al tells him.

Mr Weinstein slowly turns around and see my hand raised, at first he says nothing. "You can leave.", he then says, followed by, "You too Cathy."

I tell him, "Thank you.", before I get up and walk out the rear door. Cathy quickly follows, and grabs my arm as we walk down the hall, me tapping my cane in front of me as we go along. Al steps out into the hall from his entrance and keeps an eye on us, closing the door behind him. Once he was out of view from the door's window, the class cheers loudly. The three of us stop and look back into the doorway where the class was.

September 14th; second period.

Cathy helps me to Mr Mendelson's class, with Al not too far behind, then she leaves for her own class. The bell has not rang yet, so I wait by the door. Al remains several feet away.

"You don't have to follow me around, its only Mr Weinstein's calss I have problems with.", I tell him.

"How do you know I was there?", Al asks.

"I can hear you breathing.", I tell him.

"What?", Al asks as he approaches closer to me.

"You of all people should know that when you lose one sense, the others make up for the loss. I cant see, but I can certainly hear.", I explain to him.

"Hmmm...", he says to himself.

"Anyways, Mr Mendelson is one of the nicest teachers I have.", I tell him.

"Let me speak to him first.", Al tells me before the class changing bells rings. The first period class rushes out the door, but is slowed down by the sight of Al and I talking by the door. Once the class has emptied, I step inside and count the rows and columns to my seat. Al stands by the door way, not letting the other students to enter.

"Is there a problem officer?", Mr Mendelson says to Al as he approaches him.

"Do you have any problems with that student in your class?", Al asks.

"None so far, he seems to be very bright in this subject. Is there a problem?", Mr Mendelson continues.

"Do you know that he's tape recording the class sessions?", Al ask.

"How else would he be able to get the notes? He cant read the blackboard or read the books.", Mr Mendelson replies.

"So you know, then.", Al says.

"Of course I know. Why, is there a problem?", Mr Mendelson asks.

"No, just making sure that on one would confiscate it from him since its for note taking and not distracting the class.", Al tells him.

"Oh, I see. Well, he has no problems like that here.", Mr Mendelson tells him.

"Thank you for clearing that up.", Al says before turning away to go to his post. Mr Mendelson tells the class to have a seat, but before starting with the lesson, starts to ask questions about what happened to me.

"Before I begin class, I would like to find out what is going on with our students, not that you would mind Mister Gutierrez, I just don't know how somebody with your condiction could or would get into any form of trouble. If I find out it was somethng that was of the instructor's fault, I will do what I can to help you; if it was your fault, well, Mister Gutierrez, I would have to aide in that investigation to suspend you. Now explain what happened?", Mr Mendelson stated.

"Can I answer that with a question?", I asked.

"Answer it with what ever means you deemed necessary, but you are also going to need proof to back up those statements.", Mr Mendelson stated.

"OK.", I first said to myself, "Mr Mendelson, given my handicap, train problems and other issues I have to deal with, would you accept my handicap pass as a lateness pass? It says on it to excuse the student of any latenesses he may incur.", I explained as I reach onto my pocke to remove my handicap pass.

Mr Mendelson takes the pass and reads it. As most with teachers, they are willing to give students with such a pass a break here and there on latenesses and even missed work and absences. But what is written on the back is the full set of rules and regulations of which the pass is to be used, in which latenesses, absences and missed work is only part of its description. "According to this, he is supposed too.", Mr. Mendelson stated.

"I was 20 minutes late for Mr Weinstein's class...", I started to say, then the class started to make noises and shout out expletives with his name in it.

"Alright class, calm down...", Mr Mendelson stated, "You may not like him but you have to respect him for the title he has."

"Mr Wienstien's has a bug up his ass!", Anthony Weiner stated.

"Mr. Weiner, I'm not going to have that sort of behavior in my class.", Mr Mendelson stated to him.

"Its true, Mr Weinstien has some sort of problem with many students.", Clarissa Watson stated.

"Lets Mr. Gutierrez finish. Go head Fernando.", Mr Mendelson saids to the class.

I let out a sigh before continuing, "Even though he would not accept my handicap pass for being late, I take my seat. But he's telling me to leave the room instead. Then when I sat down, he came from behind me and grabbed to pull me out of my seat."

"Then what happened?", Mr Mendelson asked.

"I took his arm from whhere he grabbed me, twisted it and pinned it onto my desk.", I tell him, "After giving him a warning to not ever grab me again, I let him go. That's when he left to go get security."

"So, why are you not in their office?", Mr Mendelson asked.

"I showed Al that I had the whole incident recorded on tape, and I told him that if I am to be suspended, I will get talking to Gill Lopez by the end of the Afternoon.", I answered.

"Gill Lopez?", Mr Mendelson asked.

"He's a reporter for eyewitness news.", Anthony Weiner says outloud.

"I see.", Mr Menddelson says. "Fernando, if you don't mind, I would like a copy of that tape."

"Can I ask why?", I asked.

"Just in case it gets lost, and somebody tries to do something to you again. You are going to need a back up.", he says.

"I'll see what I can do this weekend.", I tell him.

"Fair enough.", Mr Mendelson says. "Before we go onto History, let me just say that if any of you kids needs help with school problems, I'm always here to help." Shortly afterwards we go to the Greek city-States and onto our lesson for the day.

Soon the 5-minute warning bell rings and I head out to the next class, Prefect. Also known as Homeroom. Mr Frisone miffed off about something as always. It is apparent that today it would be me that is the cause of his woes, for the news of me dealing with Mr Wienstein has reached his ears. For the most part, I try to ignore it, though those in my math class stood up for me.

"Mr Frisone, Anyone who dares put their hands on me will have my fist in their mouth...", Lisa M. tells him rather bluntly.

"What is wrong with Mr Weinstein?", Stu asked, "We all know that Fernando is blind. Give him a chance- you know. Its not like he can help it."

Soon, the whole class was getting on Mr Frisone's case about getting on my case. As soon as the 5 minute warning bell, I get up off my seat and walk to the front of the class, tapping my cane along the aisle as I made my way. I stopped by Mr Frisone's desk and stood there, looking at him. I then proceeded to take off my glasses and fold up the cane, putting it on his desk.

"Have a seat Fernando.", Mr Frisone tells me.

"Care to be responsible for me the rest of the day?", I tell him.

"I am not going to be responsible for anyone- especially for the likes of you.", Mr Frisone says.

"You make it too easy for my lawyers to pin you as a target.", I tell him as I gather my belongings off his desk, putting on the glasses and snapping the cane into its extended setting. I then slide the cane in an arc towards behind me and start walking to the front door.

"The bell has not rung yet, so have a seat.", Mr Frisone says.

"Technically it has, for me.", I tell him as I pull out my handicap pass to show him from the distance. I then openned the door and stepped outside. Closing the door behind me, the class begins to cheer as I continued my way to my next set of classes: English, then Techincal Drawing.

For much of the rest of the day, things go on without a problem. Just another crazy average day for a blind kid in an overcrowded school. Sometimes I wonder how I made it this far. As promised, I show up to 1E17 after 8th period, where I take my usual seat in the back of the room as I did earlier today. Ms Jastrey does not say a word as I sat down silently, though closing the door after I entered. A few others outside banged on the door louder than they should have. Annoyed, she sits back down at her desk. After a couple of minutes, she notices that I am sitting there with my hands folded in front of me.

"Well, young man. Turn to Bullfinches' Mythology, and start reading from the first chapter.", Ms Jastrey started to tell me.

"Which book is that?", I asked.

"You must be kidding me.", Ms Jastrey says.

"Ms Jastrey, hasn't it occurred to you that I might actually be blind?", I tell her.

"Look young man, there are dozens of visually impaired and legally blind students in this school and they have no problems with reading.", Ms Jastrey says.

"Ms Jastrey- I'm totally blind, I can not see out this curtain of darkness, and this school has yet to provide books in braille for me. So tell me how am I supposed to do this work?", I ask her.

Her door opens up with older senior members entering the room, keeping the younger ones at bay by the doorway. They close the door behind themselves.

"Everything OK, Mrs J?", one who I recongnized as Jose asks her.

"Why is he here?", the other I recongnized as Lenard asks.

"He's here to do some owed work for me, but he refuses to do it for some reason.", Ms Jastrey stated to them. They then walked to my desk.

"Why aren't you doing the work she tells you to do?", Lenard asks.

I lift my book bag onto the desk and reach inside, pulling out a random book, tossing it on the floor. "Blind fold yourself and take that book; then turn to page 97 and do problems 10 to 35.", I tell him.

"I would need to take off the blindfold first.", Lennard says.

"Don't You Think I Wish I Could?", I almost yell at him. "If It Were That Fucking Easy, Don't You Think I Would Have Done So? Don't You Understand That I Am Fucking Blind To The Point Where I Can Not See At All And This School Is Not Giving Me The Materials I Need In Order To Learn? God Damn This School To Hell, I Swear!"

"Jose, what you know about materials for blind students?", Lennard asks.

"Well, books in large print are special ordered to that student...", Jose started to say.

"I Need It in Braille Or On Tape!", I yelled at him as I held back the urge to cry.

They both look at me. "Ms Jastrey.", Jose turned to face her.

"You see the problem? He does not want to do the work", Ms Jastrey tells him.

"Mrs J, let me deal with this.", Lennard says. He then leaves the room.

"Where is he going?", Ms Jastrey asks.

"Mrs J. He does not want to do the work because he can not read the books because he can not see them. Now, what if we got somebody to read the books for him and help him do the work, would you accept that as work done?", Jose says and asks.

"I would have to see what gets done and how.", Ms Jastrey says.

"OK. I'll get the Shortfellows to the tree and the fencers to the auditorium.", Jose tells her as he steps out into the halls. Once outside, he starts to yell some commands out there and the hallway empties out.

"Hmmmph... hope you're satisfied. Those two do not stick their necks out for anyone except for each other.", Ms Jastrey says as she gets out from behind her desk. She walks to the door and opens it, walking out through the door.

After a few minutes, Lennard returns to the room.

"Fernando?", Lenard asks, "Where did everyone go?"

"I don't know. Jose said something about the tree and the auditorium, and Ms Jastrey just walked out.", I tell him.

"I see. Anyways, I have somebody here to help you.", Lennard stated, then turns to the door, "Come on in. I think you two know each other."

I can hear somebody walk into the room, trying to be silent in entering.

"You?", I asked.

"I don't like it as much as you do.", Cathy says as she approached closer.

"You don't have to do this, you know.", I tell her.

"Then who would help you if I didn't.", Cathy stated.

"I don't know, but I'll figure something out.", I tell her.

"Yeah you would, and my head screws on and off too, right.", Cathy says. She bends over to pick up the book that was on the floor, then places it on my desk. "I assume that's yours?"

"It might be.", I tell her.

"OK, since you two already know each other, I'll leave you two be.", Lenard says before he walks out the room. Cathy takes the seat next to mine and moves it in front of my desk, facing me. She then takes the seat.

"Here we are, alone together again.", I say to her.

"If you're expecting some sort of make out session then I'd advise you to forget it.", Cathy tells me.

"I'm not looking forward to this, Cathy.", I tell her.

Of course, she took that statement wrong, "What, I'm not good enough for you?"

"Don't be taking it personally, because this is not about you, but about this school.", I started to tell her.

"Then explain yourself.", Cathy tells me.

"I'd rather not, but since I owe it to you, its simple. This school is supposed to give me the materials and time I need to get the work done. But they have failed on that and expect me to fail in the process. Now if I get help from you, they are going to say that I did not do the work on my own. Understand?", I explained to her.

"So you'd rather fail to prove a point?", Cathy asks.

"Nobody looks at failure to learn from it.", I say to her.

"Then what choices do you have?", Cathy asks.

"I have no choices.", I said.

"If you fail, then they have grounds to kick you out.", Cathy stated.

"If I fail, they have grounds not to accept any more handicap kids.", I stated back.

"I doubt they would do that.", Cathy said.

"No? If you knew what I have been hearing these past few days, you'd change your mind.", I explained to her.

"Then tell me, what have you been hearing?", Cathy asks.

"Starting with security- about needing to baby sit an extreme handicap kid, which take away resources from the rest of the school. Let me not start with Weinstein, I swear- his issues are personal with me, but with Chemistry- they wanted to kick me out if it was not for Sandra and Evadney stepping in to help out. Then I have problems with Ms Jastrey, which is why I now have to report an extra period to her class to get the work done. Nobodyhere understands that I can get the work done if I'm left alone to do it my way and not theirs. Furthermore, this work has to be challenging, and thus far it has not and there fore why should I do it?", I explained to her.

"Why?", Cathy started to say, "Because you as a student have too. Its your job."

"No it is not. If I can show you my student records, I would show you why.", I answered her.

"Why not tell me? We'll figure out how to get to your student records later on.", Cathy replies.

"OK then, you asked for it.", I say to her, "Ever heard of the CPP?"

"No.", Cathy answers.

"Every heard of the IGC?", I asked further.

"I came from the Intellegently Gifted Child program.", Cathy tells me.

"Good for you then. Because I help start that monstrosity when the CPP was taken down the year before.", I tell her.

"Then what is the CPP?", Cathy asked.

"It's the Child Prodigy Program. Once upon a time, ever genius child in the city were gathered and taught as a group, specializing on the subjects of the child's talents and nothing else. Mine were Mathematics, Music and Science. Unfortunately, this left me with a college level math score but a fourth graders reading score. So when the CPP was transferred to the IGC, many of us had to undergo an accellerated learning of the subjects we were denied. And as you noticed, there were no IGC support in Jr High School.", I explained to her.

"And during this time, you did things your way, because it was allowed too.", Cathy stated.

"I did things as I saw fit.", I tell her.

"Including not doing the work when it was too easy, I bet.', Cathy stated.

"Yup. You got that right.", I replied.

"Well, you are going to need an attitude adjustment, and start doing some of the work that you think is too easy, because that is what the teacher wants, and that's what they grade.", Cathy explains.

"Then perhaps I should grade the teachers.", I tell her.

"Ha!", she says loudly, "That day will come."

"Seriously, I have done work that excells the crap that Mr Weinstein dishes out by years, many years.", I tell her.

"So you think that you should not be failed. That is the most absurb thing I have ever heard.", Cathy replies.

"Look, without even trying, I am not go pass every quizz with a 95 or better. I am not even going to study, just do my homework on the train going to school. If I can prove to you that much, will you believe me then?", I say to her.

"I'll believe it when I see it.", Cathy responds.

"First I got to get a copy of my pernament records and shove it into his face on the next challenge he throws at me. Then we are going to have fun.", I say to her.

"Look, don't be dragging me into your little plans. All I see is nothing but trouble for you.", Cathy says in return.

"What do you know about Bulfinch's Mythology?", I ask her.

"I just started reading it. Why?", Cathy asks.

"Ms Jastrey wants me to read it and answer a few questions, but for obvious reasons, I cant read it.", I tell her.

"I see.", Cathy stated.

"Care to help me out with it?", I asked.

"Me, help you?", Cathy asks, "What will I get out of it?"

"I don't know. They were the ones who dragged you into this, not me. And I cant pay you for your help, so if you want to leave- I'm not stopping you.", I say to her.

"I'll stay. For now.", Cathy asks.

For the short time we had together, Cathy read aloud parts of Bulfinch's Mythology, and stated questions on the work sheet, of which I gave the answers to. Sometimes we discussed them, making me think that she was doing her work along with helping me with mine. I don't know how much time had passed as we worked, but none of the bells had rung yet, making this to be somewhere in the 9th period.

"I think we're done.", Cathy says.

"Anything else? Need help with the Math homework?", I asked.

"No, but thanks. I'll manage when I get home.", she says to me.

I started to pull pages out of my notebook and a small stapler from my book bag, stapling several sheets together. "Would you mind if you could put this on Ms Jastrey's desk?", I ask her.

"Not a problem.", Cathy says as she takes my papers and gets up to walk to Ms Jastrey's desk. I just let out a sigh as I try to imagine what Cathy looks like as she walks to the desk and returns. Once back, she bends down to take her book bag and packs her books. "Aren't you going home?", Cathy asks as she sees that I'm just sitting there, doing much of nothing.

"I need to speak with Ms Jastrey, so I have to wait for her.", I answered her.

Cathy lets out a sigh and puts her book bag down on the floor. "Alright, I'll wait with you then."

"You don't have too, you know.", I tell her.

"I don't have too, but perhaps I want too.", Cathy says as she sits back down on her seat facing mine.

"OK, you got me there.", I say almost to myself.

"What is that supposed to mean?", Cathy asks.

"Nothing really. I just did not expect you to be... err... so nice?", I said.

"You doubting me?", Cathy asks.

"Its not necessarily doubt. Its more like, I don't know how to say it.", I started to say.

"Then say it in a way that uses the least number of words with the vocabulary you have.", Cathy stated.

After a moment of silence to think about the words I needed to say, I blurted out, "Do you love me?"

"Uhm...", Cathy started to say but got stuck at the point, not sure how to answer, forcing her to think on how to respond for a moment, and finally going to throwing the question back at me. "Are you in love with me?"

"I cant say that its love...", I started to say, "because I'm confused about how I feel for you."

"Are in infatuated with me then?", she then asks.

"Infatuated?", I asked.

"Infatuation- its like Love, but there is a difference. That difference is different for everyone.", Cathy explained.

"Its not infatuation, that's for sure.", I said.

"How can you tell?", Cathy asks.

"Well, all those sessions with my thearpist, Ms Banzer, has me in touch with my feelings, so I should know something about them.", I tried to explain.

"So... how do you feel about me?", Cathy asks.

"To be honest with you, Cathy, I don't know.", I say to her.

"You don't know?", Cathy asks.

"You have become a best friend, and I am attracted to you, but the rest of it, I just cant figure it out.", I tried to explain.

"Then break it down into tiny pieces and say each piece.", Cathy said.

"You're beginning to sound like Ms Banzer.", I tell her.

"Your thearpist again?", Cathy asks, "Well, its sound advice."

"How do you feel about me?", I then throw the question to Cathy.

"You have not answered my question first.", Cathy stated.

"I tried. I cant.", I said to her. "Now, how about you?"

"I would not have kissed you if I did not liked you.", Cathy says, trying to keep it simple.

"To what extent do you like me?", I ask her.

"Wouldn't you like to know?", Cathy asks in return.

"To be honest, you asked about how much I like you, so its only fair that I do the same.", I try to explain to her.

"A girl got to have her secrets...", Cathy started to reply.

"Yeah, most of those secrets end up being skeletons in the closet.", I interupted her. "Look, Cathy, between you and I, I would prefer that there would be no skeletons in the closet. Because of there are skeletons in the closet, then we are going to end up explaining things that we should not be explaining to each other, and between us, I do not want that.", I explained.

"Are you asking for a totallity in our relationship?", Cathy asks.

"If you mean that I don't want secrets between us, then yes.", I answered.

"Why?", Cathy asks.

"Because I don't think that we should. I mean, what if we become boyfriend and girlfriend, or something like that.", I tried to say, getting a bit nervous towards the end.

"I already have a boyfriend.", Cathy stated.

"What if you break up with him?", I asked.

"If I did break up with him, what makes you think I would go to you?", she asks.

"OK.", I said almost to myself. "I thought that maybe I had trusted the right person to do and be those things that I needed and I thought that person would be you. Looks like I wsas wrong." I start to gather my things together and put them into my bag.

"Wait a minute. What do you mean by that?", Cathy started to say as she puts her hand on my notebook to keep me from putting it away.

"What do you think it means?", I tell her, yanking my notebook from under her hand.

"It sounds to me that you have chosen me to be your girlfriend.", Cathy stated.

"That would be the next logical step in this relationship, if it were taken that far.", I tell her. "But for now I trusted you with a lot in terms of my secrets, weakenesses, disability- that is a lot of trust I have put upon you. But it looks like I have put that trust on the wrong person."

For a moment Cathy does not answer, just long enough for me to finish packing and start to get up from my chair.

As I try to get up, Cathy leans over to me and puts a hand on my shoulder, pushing me back down on the seat. "Look, Fernando. Its not that I don't like you or anything like that. But because I do, and I don't want you to get hurt for the wrong reasons and feelings.", Cathy explained. "But you can still trust me with all those things, I would never use them against you, for that's what friends do. Right?"

I remain silent for a moment. "I have to go home.", I then said.

"What about Ms Jastrey?", Cathy said.

"I really don't care about Ms Jastrey right now.", I said to her.

"I see.", Cathy stated. "You know Fernando? I think I know whats your problem."

"And what would that be?", I asked.

"You're used to having everything given to you.", she immediately answered.

"You got that wrong. Everything I got, I had to fight for. And I have to fight to keep it as well.", I tell her. After taking a breathe, "I need to get home. I don't care of you walk with me or not." I then started to get up once again, even though Cathy puts her hand on my shoulder to push me back down again but this time she fails in the attempt. I take the cane and take the few steps through the rear of the room and walk out the back exit. Cathy quickly packs her books and follows me through the door before it had a chance to close on its own. Having just a few steps head start over her on me, she quickly makes up for the loss and manages to get in front of me. My cane taps against her feet, making me stop before I walked into her.

"Fernando...", Cathy said to get my attention.

"What is it?", I tell her in an almost pissed off mood.

"Look, Fernando. I don't want you angry with me, OK? We can still be friends if you want me to be that. But to be your girlfriend is something that I can not be right now. Not to you or to anyone else. Please understand that... please?", Cathy said, almost pleading at the end.

I take a deep breathe and let it out, almost not wanting to say anything.

"Do you accept?", Cathy then asks as I gathered my thoughts together.

"What choices do I have?", I asked, "Its either yes or no, and since its better to have something than nothing, I think the answer is pretty obvious."

"Then you accept?", Cathy asks again.

"What do you think? I just gave you my answer.", I tell her.

"I don't lke playing words games, nor do I like people playing with my feelings.", Cathy stated.

"Then you will have to figure it out for yourself then, because I was not taught how to properly express myself with words like you and the rest of this school may have.", I tell her.

"You said, 'Its either yes or no, and since its better to have something than nothing, I think the answer is pretty obvious'...", Cathy said to herself, standing there thinking about it. "To what extent would you want to be friends?"

"Don't ask that question, ever.", I tell her.

"Why not? I just want to put some guidelines from which our relationship can be based on and not ever go past though guidelines.", Cathy explained.

"I want no guidelines, no restrictions, nothing that could get in the way of anything from happening between us.", I tell her.

"That is not possible.", Cathy says.

"Look, I'm not asking you to drop your panties while we're making out so we can have sex. If we ever get to that point, one day we may but that day is not today, tomarrow or anywhere near in the future. But perhaps sometime in the distant future, if we are to be that close then so be it. Look- I place no restrictions on you on anything between us, neither should you of me.", I tried to explain.

Cathy just stares at me, biting her lower lip momentarily.

"Maybe I'm asking for too much.", I said to myself, before taking a step to the right to go around her.

As I take my step around her, she looks down at the floor then hooks my left arm, and almost flips me to the floor but holds me up in an awkward position, keeping me from falling. She then plants her lips against mine, and starts a kiss who's passion level I have not seen since quite a while. Just as suddenly as she started it, she stops it, dropping me onto the floor and runs down the hall, leving the building.

I slowly get up into a semi sitting position, and think about what happened before getting up and walk down the hall to the exit to go home.