Therese returned to school confidently the next day. Word had spread like wildfire about her outburst, but unlike past rumors that described her as “crazy”, she was described as brave, strong, and ripping everyone’s least favorite teacher a new one. People said good morning to her and greeted her openly in the hallways. Therese walked carefully and deliberately but appreciated the air of equality and acceptance.

At lunch, Therese met with Peter, and asked him to come with her. She walked to the special education building and found Douglas who was helping a student with different challenges practice throwing a spiral football. The student ran over and hugged Therese.

“Hi, Tiff.” Therese greeted her, embracing the hug. Tiffanie jumped forward, grabbed Therese, and squeezed her.

“Therese!” Replied the girl giving her a hug. “Who is this?” Tiffanie asked, pointing at Peter.

“He’s my boyfriend, Peter, and these are my friends Tiffanie and Douglas.” said Therese. They both shook Peter’s hand. Douglas was big and strong, and thanks to his patience and strength, he was able to survive Therese’s struggle to normalcy.

“I’m surprised you are back so soon, I thought you don’t like being here. Is everything going all right?” asked Douglas.

“I wanted to say thank you. And I don’t hate being here, this will always be a part of my life, and grateful to you, it just isn’t my goal to be sent here. I am sorry I pulled you into that yesterday.” said Therese.

“In the absence of equality, revolution happens. We were going to go get some lunch, would you like to join us?” Douglas asked.

“Oh please.” Tiffanie added. Therese was a friend and hero to her.

“I can’t think of anywhere I would rather be.” said Therese simply and honestly. She looked around the building, and suddenly it didn’t look as scary and oppressing as it once was. Therese saw many spots where Douglas had held her when she became confused, panicked or disruptive, but for each of these she saw twenty more good memories. Therese walked over to a bookcase, and pulled out a math textbook.

“Do you remember this one?” She asked Douglas.

“That is the book you closed and said you were ready to go back.” Douglas said, as Therese looked and smiled. He took the book and put it back on the shelf. “It’s now for someone else to close.” He said as he put it away. Douglas did not like for his friends to move backward.

The four left for the cafeteria, Tiffanie asking Therese questions the whole way, and Douglas eyeballing Peter, hoping that he was a good person and not just after the goods. Tiffanie was excited to be walking with Peter and hoped all the other girls saw her. The other girls did see, and their respect for Peter grew. They wished their boyfriends were confident and kind like that. Peter grinned as Tiffanie explained things about the school to him.

A boy dancing on a table with stuffed pants waived and shouted hi to Therese, before taking off and running as a teacher and the security officer closed the distance. “Why does he do that?” Tiffanie asked Therese.

“Tigers don’t do well in cages. They need room to roam.” Therese said. Watching Elijah jump over a couple of tables, stop to help someone pick up something they dropped, and then again outrun the security officer. Peter subtly frowned when Therese spoke of Elijah, “Don’t worry, I want to be wolves with you.” she said to him, lifting his spirits. He understood that she was saying she wanted to be with him for life and face their conflicts together.

Therese enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. When she arrived to American History class, Mrs. Smith announced that she was pleased to have Superintendent Chummers observing the class. The superintendent coughed and stared at Mrs. Smith.

“I would like to apologize for my behavior yesterday, Therese had an excellent point, and I argued instead of listening.” said Mrs. Smith.

Therese rose from her desk and walked to the teacher in the front of the room. Mrs. Smith leaned back to her desk scared, as if she thought Therese would deck her. Therese stood before the teacher and stuck out her hand. “If you really want to treat me as normal (Therese rolled her eyebrows down at that word), you will give me a chance to forgive you too.” Therese said.

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Mrs. Smith hesitated and stuck out her hand, saying “I’m sorry Therese.”

Therese shook her hand, and said “I forgive you, and I am sorry for all I have done wrong too. Please forgive me. I hope this moment is already a new day.” said Therese as she finished shaking hands with the teacher and returned to her seat.

“That is the second awesomest thing I have ever heard.” Elijah told Therese, who turned and smiled her flat grin with one half turned upwards. “I’m OK being a back-up plan.” Elijah told her.

“Wouldn’t that make you the Army?” said Therese. Elijah, wearing his favorite USMC shirt, scratched his beard and thought about that one.

The class went without further incident, but Therese was glad when the bell rang.

Therese walked to her next class, Economics and looked in the door. Coach T was standing there, she kept walking. She liked Coach T, but she needed a break and decided to ditch class for the first time. She found Peter, grabbed him, and said “I need a slice of Pizza, and I need it now.” They ran to his car, started the engine, and took off.

“You’re sure you want to do this?” asked Peter.

“Gas pedals on the right.” Therese told him. Peter hit the gas, and they left the parking lot as carefully and quickly as he could. “I am exploring life, and if I don’t skip school now, I’ll never have the chance.”

“Really, you have never ditched before?” asked Peter.

“Never.” Therese reassured him, filled with excitement at her own misdeed.

The next morning after Math class, The Superintendent stopped her at the door, “If you don’t mind, I would appreciate a moment of your time?” he asked Therese. Therese was worried it was because she had skipped her Economics class the day before.

“I don’t want to be late for my next class.” said Therese.

“Don’t worry about being late, and I’ll walk you to your next class.” said the Superintendent.

“Then I will be happy to talk to you.” Therese told him, as they started walking through the hall.

“I’m really sorry, not just because you have a great lawyer, but because I had no idea all this was happening to you. I am sorry, none of this made it to me before.” said Superintendent Chummers.

“You know how you make good steel?” Therese asked him.

“Iron.” Said the superintendent

“You need iron, and a little carbon, some chromium, vanadium, whatever, you heat it up and beat the hell out of it in a forge.” said Therese. “That’s how life is, I just hope I am good steel.” Therese told him.

“Ma’am, I think you are of the finest metal.” The Superintendent said, impressed with Therese’s wisdom, handing her his business card, “Still if you have any other problems, please call my office directly.”

Therese pushed his card back to him. “If I truly want to be an equal, I must face these problems as anyone else does.” She explained. Her tone was flat and her eyes serious. Superintendent Chummers shook as she stared at him, he felt enough pain for several lifetimes behind her stare, and yet she refused his help.

“And your fearsome attorney?” The superintendent asked.

“A nuclear deterrent is a good option to have.” Therese said as calmly and sincerely as someone who had destroyed worlds. Chummers knew her sincerity was real; Principal Weaver would never disturb her again.

“And so it is, you have my respect ma’am. Take this then for the defense of others.” the superintendent said as he held the classroom door open for Therese to enter and handed her his business card.

“Thank you.” Therese told him as she passed, and entered the room. Therese walked into her English class, where she again sat by Elijah, who was still pondering if being Therese’s backup plan made him the Army.

“Were you talking to Superintendent Chummers?” Ms. Offley asked Therese.

“Yes, he wanted to know if you were a communist.” said Therese, as she sat down next to Elijah. Ms. Offley went back to her desk and tried to discretely put a book she was reading into her book bag. Therese turned her head so Ms. Offley could not see and put her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as she made eye contact with Elijah.

“Third awesomest thing I have ever heard.” Elijah told her.

Therese turned and looked at Elijah, leaning forward and mocking a seducing look. She leaned in very close to Elijah and whispered in his ear. “I’m sorry, our love would alter the timeline, and you wouldn’t like it.” Therese sat back at her desk and pulled out her homework.

“Fucking Temporal directive.” said Elijah, looking for his homework before he finally remembered he never bothered to do it. Therese liked him, and maybe if had liked her sooner, she would have gone that route, but as she looked at Elijah, she could tell he was already preoccupied thinking about flying on helicopters. Elijah moved his lips when he thought about flying on helicopters.

“Did he really want to know if I was a communist?” Ms. Offley asked Therese.

Therese attempted to roll her eyes in sarcasm, but it didn’t work, Ms. Offley lunged forward to catch her, thinking Therese might be having a seizure. Therese leaned back. “No, Ms. Offley, he did not ask about you, but if he did I could only tell him you are a great teacher.” said Therese.

“Thank you, being your teacher makes me happy, but can I ask you one thing?” asked Ms. Offley.

“Sure, anything.” said Therese.

“Where did you get that lovely shirt?” asked Ms. Offley. Ms. Offley was straight out of school, young and pretty, and she set trends with both the teachers and the students.

“Garak’s fashions, I love Emily’s designs.” said Therese, starting a conversation that caused class to start late. Therese thought the credit should go to Erin, for taking her there, but none of the other girls would listen to that, they just wanted to hear about the store. Therese did her best to keep up with the speed of “girl talk”, but mostly enjoyed being accepted.