"You're a dreamer, Ms. Tatterson," Mr. Milburne remarked, hovering over Mabel's desk.

Trancelike, Mabel glanced up at her teacher. Then, coming to attention, she released the hair curl from her index finger. She shifted in her seat and gazed up at Mr. Milburne. Around her, the class tittered. Her daydream shattered.

Disappointment overwhelmed Mabel Tatterson as her old depression overcame her. She poised to flee the room. Then, she noticed the blonde lock that had fallen over her shoulder. She gaped at it for a minute, then straightened her back.

Hank Addams looked back at her, and she caught his eye. He grinned and twinkled his fingers at her. She wiggled hers in his direction.

"Approach the front of the class and complete the three problems on the whiteboard," Mr. Milburne instructed.

Mabel rose and adjusted her short skirt. As she strutted toward the whiteboard, Rico Hernandez hooted. Infuriated, the teacher pounded his pointer on the floor.

"Enough of that, Mr. Hernandez," Mr. Milburne shouted. Then, he turned to Mabel. "Dress appropriately tomorrow, Ms. Tatterson."

"Ms. Ferrer," Hank corrected, smirking at the class.

"Until the official change of name arrives from the office, it's Ms. Tatterson," the teacher stated, pivoting toward the class interrupter. "Would you like to follow your classmate to the whiteboard, Mr. Addams? You've managed to avoid any attempt at participating in any lesson so far this year. Perhaps you would like to show us your prowess in mathematics."

"I'll pass," Hank responded, creating another class titter. Rising from his seat, he bowed toward his fellow schoolmates.

"Save your clowning for Ms. Eccleston's English class, Mr. Addams," Mr. Milburne muttered, returning to his desk.

When Mabel returned to her seat, she discovered a folded note stuck in her algebra book. Holding it out of sight in her lap, she read it. 'Lunch at Mickey D's? H.' Smiling, she clasped the scrap in her hand. Then, she nodded toward Hank. Her heart slammed rhythmically beneath her heaving bosom.

Drifting into her dream world, Mabel pictured herself meeting Hank beneath the football field bleachers. Straddling his motorcycle, she pressed her spread legs against his back. Blissfully, she moaned, eliciting another reprimand from Mr. Milburne.

"Would you like another trip to the whiteboard, Ms. Tatterson?" the teacher inquired. "Or perhaps a stroll to the principal's office. I'm sure Mr. Addams would enjoy accompanying you. He knows the way."

"No, thank you," Mabel responded, focusing on her textbook.

"Are we finished with the interruptions?"

"Yes, Mr. Milburne." Mabel bowed her head further into her book.

"Kindly hand me the note."

Mabel glanced up to find her teacher hovering above her desk once again. Hesitatingly, she dropped the paper into his open hand.

"Lunch at Mickey D's? H." Mr. Milburne blandly read aloud. "Not thinking of leaving campus, are we?" Strolling toward the front of the room, he crumpled the note and dropped it into the waste basket.

Mabel grabbed her books when the bell rang and ran for the door. Ms. Eccleston greeted her as she entered her next class. Relieved, she slid into a desk next to Hank's. He scooted close to her and, slinging his arm across her shoulders, pulled her close. She dropped her head on his shoulder.

"Tell me all your dreams, Mae Ferrer," Hank whispered. "I love a dreamer, a pretty little schemer."

Mabel's eyes flew open at Hank's confession. Raising her head, she stared at him for a moment, then replaced her head on his shoulder. Her frequent daydreams of his devotion suddenly became a reality. She sighed.

The old Mabel Tatterson disappeared forever. Mae Ferrer took her place. For the moment, she felt secure in Hank's admiration. She would never become popular amongst her fellow students. The glares she received from Adele, Scarlett, and Tiffany told her they intended to stand in her way. However, she would cling to her dreams as long as she could.