"Sorry I'm late." I breathed as I slung my book bag to the floor and slunk into my seat. A lock of hair caught on my lip gloss and I brushed it aside. My heart was racing, I knew I was in for it.
Something rustled at the front of the classroom.My history teacher, Mrs. Vaughn, aka My Worst Nighmare, said in her annoying nasal voice, "Mmhmmm… Late? Again?" The words oozed out of her old crackly mouth. She pushed her bright turquoise glasses back onto the bridge of her nose and examined me carefully.
"Yes." I said meekly. Keep your eyes down, Celia. Don't look at her. Keep your eyes down.
"Now, why are we late?" She barked, lowering her glasses to examine my muddy sneakers.
"I…I… 'Think think think!'" I silently prayed. I needed an excuse- fast. Now everyone was turned around in their seat, looking at me. I could feel their penetrating stares. Holy shit. THINK THINK! And just like that, it came to me. I took a deep breath and said,"Umm, my aunt died… so…" W-w-wait.THAT WASA LAME EXCUSE. Couldthis get any worse? The snickers were louder than ever and I was sure my face was glowing red.
Mrs. Vaughn shuffled the papers. "You have five dead aunts?" Mrs. Vaughn stretched out each word, making them as idiotic-sounding as ever.
Oh, yeah, I'd used that excuse before. I just wanted to dig a whole in the ground and crawl in it. I was aware of my now cranberry complexion and it only made me blush even more. The silence was amazing. I felt that I should say something, "Well, er, we have a very close extended family." Oh, good Lord. CLOSE EXTENDED FAMILY? How stupid was I? More giggles. Lauren Halter almost fell out of her chair laughing. I wanted to smack her.
"Hmm, not good enough! Detention." Mrs. Vaughn turned back to her papers.
I stood up. "WH-What?"
"Detention."
"But- but, I-"
"This is no arguing matter. Take your seat."
I sat back down with a THUD. It wasn't my fault I was always late. Blame it on my good-for-nothing dad. He goes out every night, gets really drunk, and sleeps until 1. So I have to get up, get my brother and sister ready for school, make breakfast, pack lunch, get them all to school, and miss the bus myself. So, I walk to school- a good 30 minutes. And consequently miss homeroom and the first 3 minuets of 1st period. Trust me, NOT fun.
Now DETENTION?!? Detention was a place for Gerry Majors and Harold Peterson and the rest of The Gang. I didn't get detention. I wasn't a detention person! I was on AB honor roll! I was a good person, although late most of the time… but, hey! We all have our faults. To make things worse, my school makes the parents sign this detention paper. When my dad got it, he would NOT be happy. I'd probably be grounded for four months. Yay.
I couldn't concentrate. Who, in my position, could? Mrs. Vaughn knew that, so she kept calling me.
"Lamar," She snapped.
"Wh-what?" I stammered.
"Answer the question."
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear it."
"Well, one would think that someone in your position would pay extra attention. Seeing as how you missed the first half of class."
First half? Try three minutes. "Okay. Um, yes, I will."
Right then, the bell rang. I packed up, happy for the first time that day that I was leaving this class. She called me back, "Celia, I want to talk to you."
"Okay."
Mrs. Vaughn launched into a responsibility lecture in front of her second period class. I was mortified. Everyone was staring at me. Never was I so happy to go to science.
You can imagine the rest of the day. I basically mused about nonsence, worried about detention, and worried some more. Then 2:00. My feet made dreadful 'clip-clopping' noises as I walked myself to room 209, Mr. Kafferty's room. My heart was pacing and I could hear the yells through the yellowing door. I suddenly had a stomachache. I opened the door and was met by clumps of people. They all grouped together- The Gang, Westfield's bad group, was huddled in the back corner with Gerry dishing out algebra test answers they had bullied off someone. Tsk, they'd been trying to pass algebra for 3 years now. There were others I had seen but never known, a couple of loners, and only one person who I recognized: Deali Stuart, who I was an acquaintance with, but whom I was almost sure was a pothead.
I walked over to her, "Hey, Deali." I sighed.
"Hey! Celia! What are you doing here?Celia Lamar in DETENTION? What happened?" She said, blinking her waay-too-much-black-eyeliner eyes at me.
"I was late…So, Mrs. Vaughn gave me detention." I slumped into the chair beside her.
"Uaghh," Deali spewed out a strange gagging noise. "That bitch! Okay, well, I'll give a description of the regulars- the detention junkies. Ya know The Gang, they spend their time cheating, punching each other, calling-in bomb threats, and the usual stuff. That's Candy Collins, she's such a skank. She get in trouble for making out in science, and mainly talks on her cell phone. Oh, and Beanie Vickers- he's harmless, but he-"
"Wait," I cut her off. Now I was sure this was the worst day of my life. "How do they get away with this stuff? Isn't the teacher," I realized Mr. Kafferty's absence. "Where's Mr. Kafferty?"
"HE hates us, he just sits at his desk playing solitaire. He basically lets us do whatever we want, as long as we don't leave. Anyways,-Beanie only,"
I tuned out Deali. It wasn't that hard. I glanced around, first staring at the fight breaking out in the middle of the room. Mr. Kafferty's eyes were squinted in concentration, fixed at the computer screen. I turned to my rightand I noticed a boy sitting by the window. I recognized him from my Algebra II class. He was bent over, reading Anna Karenia, by Leo Tolstoy- one of my favorites. Why was he in detention? Something about him held my gaze, from his dark brown hair that glinted in the sunlight, to his gray eyes flitting across the pages. I stared at him while Deali gabbed along.
Little did I know that it was the best day of my life.
Author's note: (This chapter has been revised- tell me what you think.) Well, well, my first chapter story onFictionpress! I hopeyou like it.