• Travis Davidson stared out into the sky from the car window, watching the morning light from the sun scatter its way through the sky. The twenty-seven year old looked down to his lap and sighed softly, as his thoughts came crashing back down to the ground and back to reality. It had been a long three months of summer since he got the job at the school a few towns over from Wilsons Mills, his hometown. Travis was ecstatic that he was teaching again, this time not infatuated and living with the principal. However, it was a bit strange returning to a day of six periods per day-seven in total-and probably at least 125 students all not looking forward to learning math (algebra or pre-calculus). And the best part of this was he was going to be the center of gossip by students and teachers alike for the next month or two! That was just fantastic!

    The woman sitting next to him, gazing up at the red light and patiently waiting for it to turn green, suddenly looked over at him and smiled. "Have first day of school willies?" She asked, pretty much teasing him to make him smile. She hadn't seen his smile since three months ago, and to be honest, she missed it.

    "Mom, stop. I'm not a child anymore." Travis said seriously. "And no. Not really anyways. It's more of the thought, 'Crap, I have to act happy to make students and teachers like me.' I don't want to be an outcast, even though I am a teacher and not a student."

    The light flashed green and the woman, Amy Davidson, tapped on the gas pedal and went straight. They were almost there. "Honey, you're still not over his death?" She asked, as she ignored everything else the man said-she only heard the words 'act happy.' She didn't like how Travis was acting happy. However, both of them knew exactly who she was talking about and why he was acting happy. "Even after hearing the news of getting this job and after Michael was put into jail for good? That should make you happy! Michael is gone and you can heal in peace!" Travis' mother was smiling, thinking of her son walking again.

    The other groaned, running a hand through the bangs of his blonde hair. "No. I'm not. Okay?! He saved my a**; I saved his. He had a giant crush on me. I denied it at first, but you know after going through so much with him and actually having a true friend rather than those bums in college, I couldn't help but fall in love. And then all that was stolen away from me just like that. My first trustworthy love and only friend. Gone! How the hell do you think I feel?" Amy probably had heard that same story over a hundred times, but it was a rather good answer for that question she kept on asking.

    Amy rolled her eyes at her son's swearing. "Okay! Okay. I get it."

    "I mean, you and Dad were even supportive of our relationship and forced us together in the beginning when I wasn't ready!"

    "Travis... I understand!"

    The man sighed again, going back to stare out the window once again. Crap! They really were almost there, and maybe he really did have the first day of school willies. Well, second day of school-the first day was for teachers and staff. The second day was when the students arrived in their first day of school outfits all chatty from summer vacation. Of course, the freshmen were nervous like he though, but still chatty. Travis didn't feel any bit chatty.

    Amy took a quick pitiful glance at Travis, as they spent the rest of the ride in silence. She did understand, honestly, but she didn't like seeing him like this. During the summer, he barely ever came out of his room and joined the two of his parents in the living room or for dinner in the kitchen. Once, Amy thought it was only because Travis didn't like putting so much effort into coming down the stairs, but Travis knew his father was becoming strong again and if the blonde asked, Hector would have cheerfully said "Sure!" and brought him down. However, she soon realized, Travis was never going to ask. He'd rather stay in his own room reading every single book he had in there over and over, just to try to block out everything. The man only came out if he had to. Amy sighed miserably. She wondered if her son knew that his grim mood affected everyone else around him.

    Finally, the car turned into the school parking lot causing Travis to shift uncomfortably in his seat. He gazed over to the front of the building. There were already students entering the school-some lingering outside-but he could tell the buses with the majority of them hadn't arrived yet. The man suddenly felt uneasy in his stomach. Oh ********, oh ********! He definitely was not ready for this. Being new made things difficult, but the emotional problems topped with the physical problems altogether, made him feel like going home. He was too vulnerable right now.

    The car stopped, as it was parked into the student drop off lane by the main office. It was too late now; they were there. Travis listened to his mother unbuckling herself and could feel her eyes looking at him. The man couldn't help but swallow in nervousness.

    Then, Amy broke the silence. "Honey, you're the one who wanted the job in the first place."

    Right, but back then, he thought everything was going to get better. Now, he doubted everything. Travis ran his hand through his hair again, not responding.

    "Well," She started, "You have up until the buses arrive to get your act together because I'm not driving you home so you can miss your first day." The woman faced forward again, placing her hands on the steering wheel. "Travis, have some self-confidence. Please?"

    Travis winced. Self confidence? He had that. He had plenty of that, but if something went wrong, such as his guard being knocked down, his paranoia would eventually get the best of him. He couldn't help but wonder why had he chosen teaching for his profession in the first place because of his mistrust, but, in fact, he simply enjoyed it.

    Travis closed his hazel eyes, thinking of his first day back at his old school five years ago. He had been no more nervous then, than now, but he had managed to get through that day. Although, then again-No! Travis shoved the reasons why that day went smoothly into the back of his mind and tried to convince himself this first day would go just as smoothly if he let it. The students would probably all stare and talk, yes; some would be sympathetic, too. However, no one would gibe him for being disabled, right? He was the teacher. They were the students. He was the one with the authority.

    The blonde shifted to put his hand on the handle and pulled. The door clicked, and Travis pushed the door as far as he could, opening his eyes as well to see with peripheral vision, his mother turning her head to look at him. Travis wasn't happy, but he had to do it. This was his new job and he had to fulfill it.

    On Amy's side of the car, the door clicked once and then twice, and suddenly after a short moments, Travis was staring at the wheelchair sitting in front of him. His mother stood there by the side, waiting patiently and willingly if Travis needed any help transferring over from seat to chair. Slowly, the man moved his legs out of the car, readying himself. Once he was in the wheelchair, there was no turning back.

    At last, with a feign smile-the smile he'd have for the rest of the day-Travis kissed the petite, white long-haired woman on the cheek.

    "Are you sure you don't need any help?" She asked curiously, quickly glancing at the backpack hanging on the back of the chair.

    With a bit of frustration, he responded. "No, Mom. I can do it myself, and I'll have to do it myself for days on end. Stop asking." Travis wondered when she'd stop babying him.

    Amy shook her head slightly in disappointment. "I'm only trying to help." Travis gave her a look of annoyance. "Fine, fine. Your father or I'll be here in the parking lot at three to pick you up. Have a wonderful first day at work, honey." She was smiling again, as she walked back around to the driver's side of the car and got in.

    Travis wheeled the chair slightly backwards. "Right...," he muttered, as the car took off and left school grounds. He was left there alone and nowhere to go, except inside the building and off to his classroom for a hell of a roller coaster ride day of school.