Nina arrived in her class right as the bell bellowed a second time. She was close to being tardy for the second time. That has been happening quite a bit lately. The problem was that Nina did not want to be in class; she just doesn’t want to go to this particular class: debate.
Nina has always been shy and afraid of presenting her material in front of anyone. She despised being picked first to present anything she wrote, anything she created; to her, it was like stripping one article of clothing from herself and Nina despised this feeling thoroughly. In fact, she always carried a journal around where she recorded her thoughts, feelings, doodles and to do lists all in one book. Nina considered this property that no one must see.
Nina was not even sure what she was thinking last year, when it was Elective Day- an event at her school where she had to choose her top three electives for next year. Her top three was originally Spanish, Home Economics and Art. However she could not take the Art elective due to the teacher being replaced for his unusual teaching methods (or at least that’s what Nina has heard; rumors come and go about Mr. Brin’s methods all the time).
The only class that would accept Nina was debate, which was her third choice of her elective. And Nina has been unhappy with her decision since. A part of her hoped the effects of the students’ confidence in their public speaking abilities would eventually rub off on her. Instead Nina could not help but feel intimidated by them all; their professional attitudes, their leadership and of course how none of them seem to be afraid of entering the spotlight.
And there Nina was surrounded by these brainiacs, furiously taking notes her teacher was writing. Today’s lecture focused on the essential skills required to be an effective debater. One, appeal to your audience (be likeable, Nina wrote bitterly); two, do research to convey all parts of your argument (know what you are talking about); and, assemble your argument with the main aspects your argument should have (Intro, statement of fact, proof, refutation, conclusion).
“So that’s all to the lesson,” the teacher pauses. “Remember that this weekend is the-”
A slight warmth at her side and here was Aslon. “I’ve made up my mind,” he whispered in a grin.
Nina whispered fiercely. “Aslon, not now.”
“And,” Aslon went on a bit loudly. “I can discuss the terms of the deal with you.”
Nina lowered her head closer to her desk, hoping this would somehow drown out the two noises from the two demanding speakers.“Aslon,” she tried again. “Really now is not-”
“You’ll need to come prepared with three speeches,” her teacher announced, completely oblivious to Nina’s conversation. “There is specific criteria you must follow such as-”
“Yellow candles. I like them, but that doesn’t mean you don’t just buy new ones to replace the one candle that brought me here. You can’t exactly get away with it. Doing so will-”
“Have all your essays completed and with all proof relevant to the material you are giving a speech on-” Poor Nina’s hand ached with all the soreness her hand felt. Meanwhile, the smarter debate kids seemed unfazed by it all. Easy for them, they don’t have a demon talking to them at the same time when you are supposed to be paying attention in class.
“I will need one thing for you to do for me if and when I agree to help you and that would be-”
“Enough!” Nina screamed, her outburst momentarily echoed off the wall. Nina’s relief turned sour when she noticed the silence. The eyes of her classmates and her teacher stared at her like she was a rare loony bird.
The hush seemed to go on forever; just when Nina was about to sink under her desk, her teacher at last spoke up. “Ms. Brunet,” he said as cool as ice. “Please see me after class.”
---
The students filed out, Nina remained. Her teacher awaited. She made her way toward him. A brief moment of silence followed and at least he cleared his throat. “Nina, who were you talking to?”
“Nobody, sir,” Nina’s reply arrived, sparing herself the embarrassment of telling the truth.
“Then why did you yell?” He sounded tired, like he was frustrated. Clearly, the man has not gone for more than one day without something in his class going wrong. As a perfectionist, it was irritating. To Nina, this sort of reaction is considered to be overreacting.
“I...thought I heard...someone saying something.”
Nina’s teacher turned to her. “And who were you talking to exactly?” He demanded. “No one was speaking all through the duration of my class. Except for you toward the end.”
Nina lowered her head. That excuse was definitely a poor choice. “Sorry for that, sir.” she apologized instead.
“You don’t need to apologize,” Her teacher could only reply, his tone softening a touch. “I simply want you to tell me what is going on.”
Nina decided to settle for another lie. How her stomach crinkled at the thought of lying to her teacher. But the idea of telling him she had a demon with her was going to make him think she was crazy. Or at least, it most likely would freak him out because it was no secret her teacher is a religious man.
“I guess I’m tired…” she trailed off. “I’m hearing someone and I thought it was…someone”
Nina’s teacher clearly saw she didn't want to talk and decided not to press the issue further. Instead he sighed. “I see then. Well, Nina, there is some other matter that I would like to speak to you about. It’s about the debates coming up. I want you to participate.”
At this Nina sat upright, a pained expressions on her face. She was going to go-up there- in front of everyone?!
“S-sir-”
He waved his hand. “I know, I know you don’t like presenting things for people, but I’ve been really gentle with the times you can go to debate. So far in this year, everyone has presented a speech at the debate competitions. You are the only one in this class who has not attended one debate this year. I do not care if you walk out with prizes. All I want is to see you try, as did all the students at some point this year.”
“I am trying, sir,” Nina protested.
“I know,” he said kindly. “And I like having you as my student here. You work really hard and make great speeches. The only thing that is really bugging me is that you can’t seem to get yourself out of the comfort zone, speak from your feelings or better, speak at all.”
“Is there anyway-anyway at all- that I can do this assignment and get credit for my presentation grade” Nina was panicking now. She hated presenting anything in front of other people, and now, hearing that she now has to present her material…
Nina took a deep breath. Her teacher noticed and reached inside his desk pulling out a small book labelled “How to Keep Your Cool in a Time of Crisis”.
“I knew you were going to take this news like this, so I got you this book. Go ahead and keep it. People like you will definitely need this sort of advice.” He looked in her eyes. “You don’t have to win anything, Nina. You just have to go up on the platform and present your speech. Public speaking is not an easy skill to master, but when you do master it, it’s almost as obtainable as-”
RINNNNGG
Nina jerked her head to the sound. “I’m gonna be l-” a pink pass was handed to her. “Thanks.” Just before she slipped from his class she heard, him say “Remember Nina- speech Saturday, public speaking!”
----
Nina was not at all surprised to find Alson floating in the air awaiting her return. She did not say a word and proceeded on the path to her favorite class: science.
This should give her an opportunity to focus on other things aside from the petrifying thought of speaking in front of many people. The people outside the stage. But Aslon spoke.
“Y’know, I get the impression that you did not hear bits of the deal.”
“No, I heard it,” Nina’s answer was calm. “I just heard that I have to…”
“Make a speech and utter it in front of people, your least favorite hobby.”
“Pretty much,” Nina nods. She stopped, smacking into a student that was walking in front of her. Nina mumbled an apology, with the student grunting in annoyance. “You still haven’t mentioned how you are going to help me give the speech.”
“That’s only because I have a plan that you may not be too happy with.” Aslon paused for emphasis. “Outright possession, so I can do the speech for you.”
Nina shifted past a group of girls who, as usual, took no notice of her existence.“I have no problem with it.” She replied.
Aslon was staring off at the other girls and didn’t hear her. “Huh?”
Nina took a break from walking and stood on the right side of the wall, away from the students who gave her not even a glance. A short silence stood between Aslon and her. Aslon was the only one looking over at her. He turned to the students. Then to her. At that moment, he understood. “Oh I see,” he said. “That’s what you mean.”
Now Nina looked a bit surprised. “What?”
“You’re pretty much a nobody here,” he replied. As if to prove his point, one girl walked past Nina, stepped on her foot and kept walking like nothing else happened. “Everyone acts like you don’t exist or ignore you. Hence, the reason you wouldn’t mind if I took control of your body.”
Nina shivered. “That-that’s pretty much it. You must think this is...” Nina stopped herself, unable to say the words.
Aslon stares at her but doesn’t press. Instead he says, “You’d be surprised how far many people are actually willing to go for what they want,” he spoke solemnly, as if remembering all the people who summoned him, one by one. “Some to the extreme, others simply want to go the distance, but they are unsure how far they should go exactly. What you’re going through is not very different from everyone else’s struggles.” The bell screamed, cutting off whatever Aslon wanted to say to her.
Nina straightened up, no longer leaning against the wall. “Do me a favor, Aslon,” she said. She could feel some tears peaking through her eyelids. “And do not talk to me while I am in class, especially when you make me your deals. I need to focus.” she hurried away, gulping deep breaths and shielding her eyes.
Aslon did not move from his spot. He floated up to the ceiling, his head half a meter from this end. He peeked over to where Nina left. He remained where he was and thought; something must be done if Nina were to become more confident in herself. He thoughtfully placed his finger to his cheek. He’s getting an idea.
---
The day seemed to drag on forever. Aslon kept his word and did not speak to Nina for the rest of her classes. In fact, Nina was not quite sure where or what he was doing. And when she felt a warm heat at her side, she barely noticed. She was too busy being in her own world. When the school day finally came to an end, Nina was more than happy to shovel her way out of the school-and get shoved by every student in the building, all in a bustle to get home themselves. Or to their own after school activities. Either way, no one bothered giving Nina a second glance, not even so much as an “excuse me.”
Nina was in so sour of a mood- from beginning to end, her day seemed to get worse and worse. Her parents and their lecturing on her having candles, her being for the first time ever unable to tell her sister what she did last night. Not to mention her debate teacher informing her she must give a speech as opposed to simply writing and reciting it to him in his classroom, and that amount of homework her other teachers gave her. All those subjects...it was one of those days where all Nina wanted to do was to flop on her bed and lament why life was difficult and unfair.
Well, life was not entirely bad. For instance, there was her sister Alana, who on that day has some extra curricular activities of her own--cheerleading practice--and, this was Alana’s favorite, comparing the size of the football players’ arse to the other football players’ arses. Alana always tried to tell Nina, but Nina would go to her room and place her headphones in her ears just about every time she did that.
In the end, Nina decided to make her journey home, just for today, without her sister. It will only be for today, for no one would get upset if Nina walked home by herself for one day..they’ll just question. As Nina crossed the street to the local bakery to get her favorite strudel-strawberry- she thought of Aslon, who was so quiet throughout the day. Nina was not quite sure how long he was by her side, but one thing's for sure: anytime she didn’t feel any sort of warmth at her right thigh, this was a sure sign that Aslon was not around or anywhere near her.
Nina, despite having an odd dislike of Aslon, actually found his presence welcoming. He was like an old friend in a form of her old dead friend who she would get annoyed with. At least, that is how it seemed so far. Nina hoped that she could get used to her dead friend’s looking right at her, making sideways comments the way her sister does all too frequently...
Nina paused at the foot of the counter. Something even odder occurred to her; why hasn’t Aslon’s taking the form of her old friend-old dead friend-frightened her in the least? It startled her for sure when she first encountered the image of her friend, but somehow it does not bother her, nor does it haunt her mind. Why?
Nina paid for her strudels, barely noticing what the cashier was saying to her. She walked out of the store, people not paying her the slightest amount of attention. Just like school, Nina thought.