“WHAT? You caught them having sex?”

Several of my classmates turned to assess the scene my friend Nicolas had just caused. The two of us had been texting each other for about half an hour, and I'd just told him about my encounter with the principal. Of course, he had to blurt it aloud.

The good thing about this was that Mr. Miller, the history teacher, had ceased making the blackboard cry in agony with the chalk. The bad news? I was about 99% sure everybody knew who Nicolas was talking about.

Mr. Miller raised an eyebrow as several quiet snickers filled the classroom. “What was that you were saying, Nicolas?” Nicolas’ complexion took a habitual hue of red, an indicator that he felt ashamed at being called out in the middle of class.

“Uhh…umm…th-that is…” He faltered.

“Walking in on someone participating in sexual activities?” Mr. Miller said in annoyance, “And what is that? Am I imagining things or is that your phone I see? Were you texting in my class again?”

Nicolas quickly slipped the phone into his pocket, but it was too late.

Mr. Miller marched towards my friend. “As I've repeated to you about a dozen times already, texting in class is prohibited!” He stuck out his hand, “Give me your phone.”

Everyone was staring at Nicolas, trying their best to contain their laughter.

This wasn't the first time Nicolas had interrupted Mr. Miller’s class. The history teacher definitely has had it with him. However, anyone who knew Mr. Miller was aware that if you dared to laugh once a student got in trouble, he would mercilessly kick you out of class.

We were in the middle of preparing for the finals and nobody wanted to risk getting kicked out, or hear him ranting for an hour, especially if it had something to do with “the teenagers of this day” and “back in my days, we didn't…” etc.

“Give me the phone, now!” Mr. Miller ordered.

I felt Nicolas' gray eyes boring into me, pleading me to help him out of the situation. I pretended to be very interested in a speck of dust, on the wall. Seeing that he was left with no alternative, Nicolas reluctantly handed the phone to the teacher.

Mr. Miller walked back to the front of the classroom before stating Nicolas would receive his phone at the end of the week.

Nicolas' eyes nearly bulged out of their orbits. “You're confiscating my baby for three whole days? That's so unfair!”

Jake, a guy sitting near the front, called out, “Shut up, Nicky. You already knew about the rules. Deal with the consequences.”

Nicolas glared at Jake. “I already told you not to call me Nicky!”

“Why? Such a girly nickname suits your appearance.”

With an exasperated sigh, Mr. Miller intervened before the two of them started bickering. “Jake, that’s enough. And Nicolas, I do recall a day in my youth where sexual activities were always brought up, fascinating as they were. However, we are in the middle of an exam preparation. Would you be so kind as to keep the gossip to yourself?”

Some of our classmates giggled, but Mr. Miller seemed to be in such a good mood for having one-upped Nicolas once again, that he didn't even bother kicking them out.

Nicolas turned an even deeper shade of red. “Loser,” he mumbled under his breath.

Mr. Miller's head literally did a 360-degree rotation to look back at Nicolas. “What was that you just said?”

“I-I said that I wasn't the only one texting in class. Damian was as well.” Nicolas said rapidly.

Immediately after snitching, Nicolas covered his mouth. Oh, brother. Why did I have to put up with this guy? Most of the time, I didn’t mind him, but sometimes, I wish I could smack him.

I didn't even wait for Mr. Miller to confront me. I merely stood up, walked up to him and placed my phone inside the box full of confiscated objects, from which he kept on his desk.

A couple of minutes went by. Mr. Miller continued to lecture, while Nicolas tried his hardest to grab my attention. I refused to look back at him, for I was pretty peeved.

Suddenly, a familiar tune sounded amid class. It was coming from inside the box.

Mr. Miller sighed in complete irritation. “Whose phone is ringing?”

“Mine,” I said.

“Well, come up here and turn it off. It’s utterly distracting.”

Jake smirked. “Way to interrupt an important lesson again, genius.”

I ignored him and instead made my way to the front of the classroom. I peered inside the box, preparing to reach for my phone…

And then I froze.

It felt as if the entire world had stopped spinning. All of my horrible memories, every buried secret came scuttling back into my mind. Sweat started pouring down the side of my face, as the phone continued to ring, each second bringing me closer to fainting from shock.

I could barely make out what Mr. Miller was saying. The only thing I was concerned about was my sanity. I was about to become insane. I really was. Oh, no, no...

NO!!!

Mr. Miller snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Hello? Damian? Hurry up and turn off your phone, please.”

Biting my lips hard to keep from screaming, I finally reached in to turn it off, the name “Jude” being the last I saw before everything turned black.