"Um, sir? Can i talk to you for a minute?"

She mustered the courage to talk, hoping he could hear her voice.

"Yes, what is it?"

She gulped before grasping the end of her shirt.  She exhale quietly before answering.

"I don't have a group yet for the play."

She prepared for the worst. It could be anything really. She didn't know the music teacher that well, so she braced herself for at least a yell or some sort.

"Well, i'm guessing that you didn't say anything before because you don't want to be put in the group with your classmates"

She blinked. And again. And thrice until she finally met his eyes.

"Yes. How did you know, sir?"

She was utterly shocked. It was nothing like she has predicted to happen. He smiled warmly before looking at her.

"I've been a teacher for ten years, young lady. I know my things."

She nodded quietly, before staring at her teacher again. Silence between them.

"Okay, so what do you want to do?"

His voice was calm, as he pushes the glasses on the bridge of his nose upwards.

"Huh?"

Again, she was taken aback. Never had she imagined the conversation would lead to this.

"I'm asking how would you like to do this project."

She thinks for a while, searching for the right word to say.

"I don't know either, sir. I just don't want to be a burden to my classmates"

He nod in acknowledgment, while also thinking  for the way out of this problem.

"Well, i could pair you with my students from other class that i teach. Is it okay if i pair you with an upperclassman?"

She didn't mind with an upperclasman, since they didn't know who she is. Besides, if she didn't have to face her classmates and all, that's enough for her.

"No, not at all"

Maybe they could even be friends, she thought for a minute. They could be best friends, and then she could eat with them together, and then she didn't have to be used as an object of cribbing by her classmates.

But she stopped daydreaming when the teacher looks at his watch.

"Well then i'll talk to my students first. I'm sure they'll accept you just fine. You may go now."

He smiled at her, happy to fix two problem at the same time.

"Thank you so much, sir"

She bowed and politely smiled back at him, excusing herself.

"No problem. Have a nice day"

"You too, sir"

She left the teachers room with a small smile on her face.