Is She New?
A4... A5... Ahha! A6!
Setting my shoulders back and straightening my posture, I knock on the door in front of me and enter, peering suspiciously at the individual hovering by the whiteboard, taking in their full beard, bald scalp and horn rimmed glasses.
"Ah. A new student! You must be...?"
"Ryhn. Catalina-Ryhn St. De Laurien," I supply, cracking the knuckles in my left hand, an unconscious habit I haven't curved yet. The teacher nods, then rubs his hands together.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss St. De Laurien. I'm Mr. Albarn. Gimme a minute." He turns and claps twice, the gathered students slowly stop chattering and set their eyes on him and myself.
"Class. Meet our new student. Please, tell us a bit about yourself."
"Hey. I'm Ryhn, Ryhn St. De Laurien. I, uhh, I just moved back here from nearly two years spent abroad and I'm almost happy to be back? Yeah, that's all."
A hand raises in the back and I glance at the teacher, before nodding in their general direction.
"Where'd you go abroad?" They ask, voice lilting on the ends of words.
"All over. 5 weeks in Cambodia, 2 in Kyrgyzstan, a month in Israel, 11 days in Hong Kong, 3 months in Iceland, so on, so on. I travelled the entire world, went to every single country at least once and spoke every language for at least a day. That good enough?"
"Alright, one question is enough, I need to continue with the lesson. Ryhn, there's a spare seat right by Mr. Welsh, why don't you settle yourself down over there." Mr. Albarn motions towards the left half of the class, where a pretty faced guy looks up abruptly, eyes wide, clearly caught off guard. He frantically moves all his belongings onto his half of the table as I walk towards him, stacking papers and jamming them in his bag as fast as he can, finishing just as I fling my own bag onto the table and plop into the seat.
"Heya. Ryhn, nice to meet you," I extend a hand, gripping his tightly and shaking it twice, "what's your name?"
"Saiben Welsh... Are you new, or am I blind?" I laugh, ending the handshake, reaching up with the same motion and tug at the end of my hair.
"I'm new, don't worry. Hey, are all the classes this... high school? Or is it just Mr. Albarn?" Saiben snickers, throwing a look at the said teacher who is currently writing equations on the board.
"Nah, that's just Mr. Al-B. He's legit though, 10 outta 10 would sub him in for a fight in a Denny's parking lot at 3:56am."
"Oh, shit. He's the real fucking deal then," I offer Saiben one last grin, to which he returns cheekily, before we both turn our attention fully to the teacher and his lesson.
"I'll see you tomorrow, thanks Miss!" Turning towards the double doors at the end of the hall, I allow myself to wander towards them, distractedly digging through my bag.
"Hey, Ryhn! How was your day? You like all your classes?" An arm is slung across my shoulders, but I don't look up, already knowing who it is.
"They were fine, long, but fine. I enjoy learning, but God I can't wait to get home." Saiben chuckles and tugs me a little closer, I can see him watching me in my peripheral vision.
"Say... you wanna come hang out with a few friends and I? We can get smoothies, loaded fries and go to the Cliff? You can get to know us and vice versa?" We reach my car, a newer model Mitsubishi Triton, and I slip from under his hold, turning to face him.
"Look, Mr. Welsh, I'd love to come and hang with your friends, truly, but the fact is I can't. I got someone real important waiting for me at home, and I don't wanna keep them waiting, alright? Thanks for the invite, but I'll see you tomorrow." Unlocking the doors, I climb into the cab and slot the keys into the ignition, the ute starting with a rumbling roar.
"Send me your address, I'll pick you up in the morning then." He calls through the open window.
"No, you won't." And I drive away.
Clink, clink, clunk! The sticky lock on the side door finally gives- with the aid of a few heavy kicks- and I stumble into the house, toeing off my shoes.
"Launa! Launa, I'm home!"
"Through here, love!" A voice responds, I follow the sound of it down the hall, and into the living room, where the owner of said voice sits, eyes bright and smile set wide.
"Hiya love, how was your first day back at college?" She greets, pushing her glasses up her face until they sit, nestled in her steadily greying hair.
"It was alright, I met someone I think I'm gunna be friends with," although I'm talking to her and answering her questions, my attention isn't on Launa. Instead, it's on the other occupant of the room, who's just fully noticed my arrival and is beaming up at me.
"Hi little one," I coo, bending down and scooping her up in my arms, her chubby little hands fisting in my shirt, "how was your day? Did you and Gramma have fun? Were you good for her?"
My daughter babbles back, big brown eyes fixated on my own and my heart near-bursts with adoration.
"She was just perfect, we spent most of the time in the backyard and she loved it."
"Aww, my little Kalah-Koala. I missed you so much!" She giggles, squirming as I plaster her face in kisses, taking a moment to hold her close and simply breathe her in.
There's nothing in the world I love more than my daughter, nothing, and merely being away from her for a few hours has me stressed enough I'm seriously considering playing hooky tomorrow. She's my little angel, my Kalah-Koala, and I love her like crazy.
After all, it was just me and her against everything else for such a long time.
I take another deep inhale, press another kiss to her baby-soft skin, then set her down amongst her toys.
Open your eyes, Ryhn, tomorrow is a new day.
