Mr Dankworth was a sixty-year-old man who loved books more than anything. The way he behaved made him seem more fitting for a librarian at a mental institute rather than a teacher. His passion and craziness for literature was the thing that had drawn me to him.

We were kindred spirits in a way. Through our shared love of books and cult classic films, we had grown a friendship over the years.

"Hi, Mr Dankworth." I replied, grinning back at the old man.

"I hope you had a great summer break." He delivered hopefully before questioning "Did you get time to read War and Peace?"

On the last day of term, he had given me the book by Tolstoy to read over the vacation. If he enjoyed a book, then he always gave it to me straight after so he could get my opinion on it too.

"It had a slow start but I kept powering on. It picked up pace in the middle and I could not put it down." I gave him my honest review "I finished it in under two days."

Mr Dankworth looked shocked. His bushy white eyebrows almost hit his receding hairline.

"The book is one thousand and two hundred pages long." He pointed out and then praised "I have to say I'm impressed."

More people rushed their way into the classroom while Mr Dankworth opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a book. He handed the large book to me and encouraged me to take it.

I looked at the title that was not familiar to me. I trusted his judgement entirely so I would read it straight away.

"Thank you, Mr Dankworth."

The old English teacher smiled but he was not looking at me. He appeared to be watching over my shoulder.

"Do you know the new students?" He questioned, curiosity in his tone.

His words made me turn around and face the rest of the room. Most of the class had taken their seats at their desks.

I scanned the room until I found Lana who had saved us both a seat. Her back was to me and she was facing the two new additions to the school.

The giant man whose attention was fixed on the front of the class was at the desk behind my own.

Stone would be sitting behind me for the rest of the year.

Turning my head back to Mr Dankworth, I asked confusedly. "Why would you think that?"

"The large gentleman in the black is looking at you." He told me while moving his brows suggestively.

"I insulted him." I answered before adding to the statement "I think he wants to kill me."

Mr Dankworth hummed before replying "Please tell him to wait until after class. It would be a lot of paperwork for myself to fill out of he did not restrain himself."

A laugh bubbled from my chest as I rotated on my heel and headed in the direction of my seat.