White Rain
Chapter One: The effects of the flu
Being sick always sucked. Being sick on Wednesday and Thursday had sucked even worse. After recovering from a 48 hour episode of the stomach flu, I had to come back to find that our school had chosen their partners for the an annual community service drive at our school. Joy.
Every year at Carrion Academy, a private school that open its doors to anyone who could pay the tuition, the sophomores and juniors paired up to volunteer 20 hours of their time to help the community in some way. It was an optional event, but almost all of the students participated as it was conducted during school hours.
As it was my sophomore year, I had no idea what to expect of the project. Some of the juniors who told us about it stated it was easy and fun. We had been told beforehand that we were allowed out of school at 12:45 every Thursday in September and October. We were allowed to choose our own partners as long as we promised to behave. If the school got one wind of us jacking off, we were separated. As I assumed that I would be with one of my friends, Shannon, Emily, or Karah, I wasn't worried. Until I arrived at school on Friday to apologies and sorry faces.
"It's nice to see you're feeling better," my best friend, Shannon Johnston smiled at me. I could tell she was worried about something. Her hands always shook when she was nervous. Her hands were shaking.
"You better not have any trace of that bug left," Emily Armores smirked, "I don't plan on getting sick any time soon.
"I don't planning on getting sick again any time soon, either. Hopefully we didn't do anything important. I don't feel like making up loads of homework," I nodded.
"Well you at least don't have to worry about Wednesday's homework," Karah Fuemeier, another one of my friends, informed me. "You picked a good day to miss."
"I did?" I asked, not aware of what they were talking about.
"Shannon, you didn't tell her?" Emily gasped, sending her an odd look.
"Umm, I though we'd break it to her together," she hesitated.
"This isn't something that's easy to break. I thought we decided she'd be pissed. YOU were the one who volunteered to tell her," Emily reminded.
"I chickened out. I didn't want to be the cause of Allie's anger," Shannon whimpered as an excuse.
"I'm still here, and I'm getting more and more pissed. What's going on?" I raised my eyebrows.
"I'll tell her you wimps," Karah rolled her eyes, "On Wednesday we the community service project meeting. We missed all of our classes that day for it and everything. Partners were chosen, too. They even let us pick where we could volunteer," she chirped.
"Okay, that figures, I always get sick on the worst day. So, who am I working with then? You, Shannon?" I asked.
"Well, you see, since you were gone, they wouldn't let us choose you. They said that they need a commitment from both partners. We had to sign something. The partners needed to be chosen on Wednesday or else we were out," Shannon accounted to me in a small voice.
"YOU WHAT?" I shouted, my temper rising by the second, "And you didn't tell me?" I inquired, very hurt that I didn't know this essential news. Shannon had even called me yesterday to tell me what I missed. She described it as nothing. I didn't even have the energy to further yell about it.
"We're really sorry, you know we are," Shannon consoled as her large brown eyes shone with an apology.
"There's nothing we could do about it," Emily reflected. I nodded, trying to control my anger and surprise.
"You know, this may turn out to be something good," Karah acknowledged as I turned to her sharply.
"I get sick, you pick partners, can't choose me, and you call this good?" I snapped at her as I felt a large headache being to form. This was not turning out to be something good. Or what I had expected. I always picked the worst days to get sick.
"Well, you don't know who you have to work with. Maybe you won't have to work with anyone at all. Everyone could be picked by know. Or, you could get stuck with a cute boy, for all you know," Karah explained, to my unhappiness.
"I don't need to work with a cute boy, I want to work with my friends," I groaned as we walked into the school, a cold rush of air saving us from the blistering August heat.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Zach pleaded with the school to let you be his partner, and the school wouldn't let him. They keep telling him, 'If you are here today, you have to choose someone who is here today. We'll figure out her partner tomorrow.' At least he tried. I thought it was cute," Emily informed me. I grimaced to myself. Zach Carnicar was a nerdy boy in my grade who let it known that he had a crush on me. Zach wasn't that bad, he was just not someone I liked very much. Zach isn't much taller than I am (which was saying something, as I am barely an inch over five-foot) and has horrible acne. He has curly dark locks, and mud colored eyes. In a weird sort of way he is kind of sweet. But he also gives me the creeps.
"Thank God," I silently prayed to myself. "Then who are you guys partnered with, if I was gone?" I asked. Shannon and I planned to be with one another, as did Emily and Karah.
"I'm with Karah," Shannon replied, "And Em here is with Dylan," Emily blushed. "He even asked her on a date, too!" she squealed.
"Congratulations," I regarded my friend, wishing I could tell her what I really thought about that. Dylan was known to be a cheater. Em may have a crush on him, but I doubted they'd stay together for two weeks. He'd get bored with her too soon (not that Em is a boring person). I wish she would realize that she always chooses the wrong guys. Hopefully, you learn after making the mistake enough.
"Listen, I better go find out about what I missed. See you," I replied, turning in the opposite direction. I hadn't really planned on going to the office, or find out about my missing homework. I'd find out about what I missed later in the day. That was my excuse to get away before saying something I would regret. I always did. Instead I turned to locate my locker.
My locker wasn't by their lockers; for some reason there weren't enough sophomore lockers, so about ten sophomores had their lockers in the junior hallway. Verlock is one of the last ten names in the alphabet, so I was one of the lucky ones, if you call that lucky.
I think it's a bunch of bullshit that they don't have enough lockers. We have only 800 kids going to our school and their aren't enough lockers. The public high school has almost 2,000 and they have enough lockers. Our schools are roughly the same size, too. Tuition at Carrion Academy is almost $25,000 a year and they can't afford to build more lockers in the sophomore hall.
Geometry was my first subject, which I didn't mind. There were forty of us in the class and Mr. Reynolds didn't notice when we fell asleep. Math wasn't too difficult for me, so I used that as my excuse to dose off. I still didn't feel the greatest either. Our housekeeper and substitute mother, Eva, had forced me to come today as I didn't have a fever. I doubt that I would have even showed up if it weren't for that reason.
It was about halfway through the class when I felt a rough hand on my shoulder.
"Ms. Verlock!" Mr. Reynolds scoffed as I opened my eyes to look up at him. "You are needed in the office," he told me through scolding eyes. I gathered up my things rather quickly and rushed out of the classroom. The office was on the other side of the building, so they wouldn't expect me for at least a few minutes. That gave me a reason to walk slowly.
It wasn't that I hated the office. It was just that the people in there were so fake. They always smiled and spoke in way too sweet voices. I found it rather disgusting. I assumed that the principal, Ms. Bridel, wanted to inform me of my partner.
"Where's your hall pass?" a voice shouted behind me as I grumbled inside.
"I wasn't given one," I sighed as the voice caught up to me. It was some boy, presumably a junior or a senior.
"Nice excuse. You know, this means I'm going to have to write you up," the boy informed me through another look of reprimand. Gee, wasn't I getting enough of these today? "What's your name?" he asked.
"Does it matter? I'm on my way to the office. They know I'm coming, so they'll just tell you I was coming there anyway," I rolled my eyes as I continued walking. The hall monitor continued to stare at me.
"That's a great cover. I'm sure you were. What's your name?"
"Arg!" I shouted, becoming more annoyed with his boy by the second. Hall monitors were usually pushy, so I shan't have been surprised. "Listen, if you just fallow me to the office, they'll tell you, okay?" I barked at the boy.
"Now you're refusing to answer my question? I'm going to have to write this in my report. 'Student denied to give me their name.' The office is sure going to be surprised to see you when I tell them this," he smirked.
"I already told you, I'm going there anyway! Why won't you just believe me? You don't have to act like some big authority. My name, my name is Allison Verlock, all right? Happy? Going to right that down in some big book of yours?"
The boy chuckled and said aloud what he pretended to write, "Allison Verlock retaliated and made fun of my big book."
"Where the hell is your book anyway?" I asked, as he didn't carry it. I noticed he wasn't wearing the sash that was required by all hall monitors, either. He was just standing there, scolding me.
"Shit, I must have forgotten it at home today. Everyone makes mistakes I guess," he resolved.
"Liar. You aren't a hall monitor are you?" I asked, realizing his act. This kid must have gotten kicked out off class. He acted like he would have, anyway.
"Took you long enough, Red. What are you a freshman? They usually fall for it, anyway. It scares the shit out of em'."
"Don't call me Red," I glared, as he nicknamed me after my hair color. I had extremely bright auburn red hair. I absolutely hated it. The color always got me noticed. "Does it matter to you? You probably got kicked out of class, so I shouldn't be talking to you anyway," I remarked, and turned the final corner to the office, hoping he wouldn't follow me. Of course, he did. The little stalker.
"Well seems were heading to the same place, and I didn't get kicked out of class. The teacher was ready to though. Boy, does Mrs. Hendricks get riled up easily. Kinda like you," he laughed.
I turned, ready to yell at him, and bit my tongue. This kid was trying to piss me off on purpose. I'd been good at stopping myself from saying things I'd regret, so I decided to continue with that goal. Instead I turned into the office doors and looked to the secretary for direction. She pointed to the assistant principal's office, both times. Apparantly, Ms. Bridel was busy. Usually she was in charge of resolving these issues. Instead, she stuck us with the administrator I hated the most.
"Ms. Verlock, Mr. McEfferty," Mrs. Spruce, the assistant principal, began, gesturing to the two open seats in her office. I glared at 'Mr. McEfferty' as I sat down. The little jurk just smiles at me. If it hasn't been noted, I don't handle practical jokes very well. "It's nice to see that you're both feeling better," the middle-aged, heavy set brunette with a hair cut that had gone haywire said to us, typing up something on her computer and not looking our way at all.
"As I'm sure you both have heard, Wednesday the rest of the sophomore and junior class selected their partners for our volunteer project. Both of you were gone, along with a few others who I've already talked to. It seems as if you are the only two who were gone both days who don't already have their partners selected. So, I have you here to sort this out."
"Mrs. Spruce, does that mean that we're the only two left," I empathized the only two left greatly.
"That's what I said, Ms. Verlock."
"So, then, does this mean that we can work alone. Because were the only two left, and all," I pleaded.
"Ms. Verlock, when you signed up to do this activity, you said that you would work in a pair. A pair consists of two people. There are two people left that will make up a pair. As you can see, this is an easy solution. We pair the two of you up and there are none left. That is what we planned on," she smiled sweetly, but fake, finally looking away from the computer screen.
"Do you have a problem with who you are working with, Mr. McEfferty?" she questioned.
"Well, you see. Ms. Verlock over here-"
"Don't give me a smart answer, Mr. McEfferty. I asked you yes or no. That is how you answer a question. So, McEfferty, yes or no do you have a problem working with Ms. Verlock?" Mrs. Spruce requested.
"Nope."
"Well, then it's settled," she smiled again, handing us both a packet off of her desk. "You two will be partnered. Now, you a packet off papers explaining what the assembly on Wednesday was about. Please make sure that it lands in your parents' hands. Now, you have three options of volunteers projects left. The other students had to draw from a hat. I'm giving you the option to choose what you want to do. It's written in the packet. If I remember right, you have the choice of visiting an elderly folk home to visit the residents, you can clean up trash around the Gallagher Swamp, or you can keep up the gardening around an elderly folk home." I laughed inside my head as she listed the things we could do.
They were horrible, and I'd be prepared to bet that the students could redraw until they came across something they wanted to do. Most of us have wealthy parents. The tuition is $25,000 a year. Almost all of the parents donate close to $10,000 a year to the school, to 'better our education.' That equals $35,000 a year, which is nothing to our parents. A lot of us grew up with a nanny and people who did everything for us. We whine, we get. No one wanted to do the dirty projects, so they whined. I'm sure they even threatened to tell their parents. The school doesn't want to displease our parents, so they give us our way. This means redrawing until we find something we want to do. I'm sure that explains everything. We get the sucky jobs.
McEfferty looked at me, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing. "It's nice that you're letting us choose, Mrs. Spruce. I don't know what Ms. Verlock wants, but I'd be interested in gardening. It's for the Calimar Gardens Assisted Living Center, isn't it?"
"Right you are, Mr. McEfferty. What do you think, Ms. Verlock?"
"Whatever," I huffed. I couldn't stand the administration center at our school when they acted like this. They had no backbones. Our parents were the ones with the power because they had the money. The school didn't want to loose that power, which created them to give us our way. Plus, they were always so full of fake smiles. I don't like people who fake smile. Why can't they just show their distaste. "Can I go now?"
"Yes, you will still have enough class time. I'm glad we had this meeting," she tore her eyes away from the computer screen, "Next time, Ms. Verlock, make sure you make it here in a timely manner. I called you down here several minutes before Mr. McEfferty, and his classroom was much closer than yours was, yes? Make sure your parents get the packet."
I stormed out of the office and into the hallway, my headache increasing. I had to work with this jurk AND I had to garden. I absolutely hated gardening. It was the best choice though, which made me even angrier.
"You don't have to get your knickers in a twist, Red," the jurk behind me spoke, once again.
"Don't tell me what to do, alright? I don't want to work with you. You don't even know me. I'm being forced to with you because I caught the stupid flu. And in August! How many people catch the flu in August, that's almost unheard of?" I blabbed, venting my anger, slightly yelling. "And don't called me Red!"
"Eh, it seems you did, Red. You know, you can always drop out, if I'm that bad. I personally think I'm pretty good. More than good, I'm great. If you can't see that, then I can see why you got the flu in August."
"And if I don't see that? " I asked, rubbing my temple. This day seemed to be getting worse and worse.
"Simple, your weird."
"That's all you came up with? And here I thought you would come up with an intelligent answer. Tells me how wrong I was, and how smart you are. Tells me that I've been paired with a complete idiot. Why were you gone anyway? Since we were both gone both days, there must have been some reason for you, too."
"I've been gone the whole week. I went with my dad on a business trip to New York. We got back at about two a.m. on Thursday and my mom let me skip. Good thing, I did, too! Then I wouldn't get the chance to work with you, Red," McEfferty explained.
"You couldn't have come late? Would that have been so terrible?"
"You know, you don't have to be rude about it. I bet I can help, and we'll start with a formal introduction. I'm Aidan McEfferty," he said, slipping the manila packet under his arm and slinging out his arm.
"Allison Verlock," I responded. I ignored his hand and continued walking.
"Oh come on, that's not how you meet someone," he protested, catching up to me.
"Maybe I don't want to meet you."
"You're going to have to sometime. We have to work together for the next few weeks, Red."
"Don't call me Red!" I yelled at him, ready to punch his lights out. "If I shake your hand, will you leave me alone?"
"Maybe."
"That's not a strong enough answer. I don't think I'll shake your hand."
"Alright, fine. I can tell you're in a mood, anyway."
For the fortieth time since I met this kid, I rolled my eyes. I stuck out my hand, and shook his hand, quipping it back as quickly as I brought it out.
"What kind of shake is that? That's just girly. Look me into the eyes and firmly shake." I did what he had instructed, just to shut him up. He was making me increasingly angry. I didn't think it was necessary to tell him that I was a girl. He probably didn't have enough intelligence to tell. "And now I'm going to honor my part of the deal. I'll see you next Thursday, Red."
I didn't acknowledge the leaving of his presence. I honestly didn't care what he did. I now had a large headache because of him. All I could think about was what pain I was going to grow through working with him. I silently hoped a bus hit him. Then I wouldn't have to deal with his annoying antics. What a great few months this was going to be.
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