Tomfoolery:
Chapter One: The Thrill of the Chase
I grinned as I sprinted across the black and white tile. It had been stained and scratched by the heels and soles that walked across it everyday, the kids the vomited on it, the occasional blood-shed that took place on it, the trombone cases that were dragged across it, and the food that was spilled daily making the white seem very lack-luster and the black loose its sheen.
But I loved it. The dirt helped my black shoes glide smoothly when bending around the corner, and the stains helped hide my tracks if I happened to be up to a particular mischief that involved my shoes being covered in mud, paint, or any other kind of tell-tale signs. The wide-set green lockers gave me plenty of space to weave through crowded hallways undetected. Though, the hall today was nearly empty, only a few spare stragglers were still out as the final bell had rung a few minutes prior to my escape.
I gave a quick glance behind me as I sprinted up a set of stairs to the third floor, seeing my A-dorable vice-principal struggling to keep up. You would think he'd join a gym or something. He seemed to be getting slower by the day, not faster. This sort of bummed me out. Normally I ran for the sole reason of the thrill of the chase. Knowing I would get away easily sort of took the edge off, but I was still exhilarated. Sure, I'd go to the head principal's office tomorrow and get reprimanded, but the guy loved me. The head principal, that is. Mr. Osborne, the VP, hated me more than words can sufficiently describe. I know this because he once told me back in freshman year. Though I believe that beneath that big, scary, grizzly exterior, beat the heart of a teddy bear who secretly had a soft spot for me.
I heard Osborne shout my name as I began the sprint up a set of 16 steps, rounded the corner, and up another 16. I attribute my fabulous reflexes and speed to my eighth grade track team, and would like to take this opportunity to give a thanks and a wink to Mr. Ataris who kicked my ass when I complained about running hurtles.
I gave an audible laugh as he shouted my name again, "Mr. Carmichael! Stop this instant!" Yes, as if I would expel all of that energy, then decide half-way through the chase, 'Screw it, I'll let your fat-ass take me away extra-early!'
I came up to the third floor and turned to my right down the hallway. I was already so far ahead of him, I could stop now for a short stroll around the classrooms, say 'Hi' to my sophomore teachers, give Mr. Wilson a wedgie, and steal all the answers to my next physics test (not that I need them) before he could get all 300 pounds of himself up the empty, double-wide staircase.
My steps were light and almost silent as I ran across the floor, taking a left at the next small hallway. My cheeks were almost hurting now with the grin that held in place. I gave another quick look behind me to see him no where in sight. In those few seconds that my attention was absent, I made a mistake that nearly blew the whole run, and wasted all of my efforts. I did something I hadn't done since that time I stole Mrs. Nelson's candy bars back in 9th: I ran into someone.
I would have hit her harder if I hadn't been begging me feet to stop so abruptly. However, the dirty floor that usually was my accomplice in escaping trouble, let me down today as it continued to carry me with all my momentum into the girl who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hit her and we both crashed to the floor. I fell backwards on my butt, and she fell flat on her back. A few books crashed awkwardly to the floor next to our bodies, and a couple of stray papers escaped their pages.
"Ow..." she muttered lightly after a couple of shocked seconds on the ground. I looked over to see her eyes still clamped shut, and a hand was rubbing the side of her jean-clad thigh as she moved into a sitting position.
Whoops. I don't think it's necessary to say it, but I'm going to anyway- my bad. "I'm so sorry," I hurried as I gave a sharp look around the corner. He still hadn't made it up the stairs. I wouldn't be surprised if I found him passed out in the middle of the stairwell. I then crawled over and helped her pick up her books and papers. Grabbing a math book and a handful of half-folded papers, I shoved them together and handed them to her as she pulled herself up to her knees, gathering the rest of her things.
"Jesus, could you be a little more careful?" she said, not really rudely, but more of in an suggestion type of tone. I could still tell she was ticked.
"Yeah maybe next time," I said quickly, then heard Osborne's voice echo through the halls. He was getting closer. I gave her a charming smile, pulling her to her feet after she shoved the last book in her locker, shutting the door while she was still on the ground. Picking up her bag off the ground and grabbing her hand, I started pulling her along with me down the hall. "And now we run," I said lightly as her gray eyes gave me a very confused look. I took a second to analyze her features. Her straight, fairly long brown hair, big gray eyes, face lightly scattered with freckles. She was pretty, I'll admit, but I had little time to dwell on that.
"Run from wh-" she started, but I pulled her arm along with me as I started to get to a jogging pace, considerably slower from my previous one just a few moments ago.
"You're a witness, sorry to drag you into this, but you'll give away my position," I smiled again, "and I really can't have that." She started to get the hint and ran along with me. She gave a worried glance behind her, but the look disappeared into amusement as Mr. Osborne once again yelled for me to stop. You'd think by ignoring his first ten requests, Osborne would get that I wasn't going to abide by his wishes. The girl gave a short little laugh, and sped up, a pace I gladly kept up.
I looked to her, seeing her face break into a large, excited smile.
Do you think it's too soon to be proposing?
We ran all the way down the length long hall, to stop at a white door near the end, on my left. I anxiously danced in front on it, knocking six time in a tune before a tall, slender black man opened up, greeting me with a smile as I grinned up at him. He stepped aside and gestured for me to come in.
The brunette gave him a quick 'Thank You' as I pulled her inside the small, dimly lit room that held only a sink, small table, mini-fridge, and three shelves. I pushed her into the far corner of the room- underneath the sink and behind the fridge. I fit myself behind her against the wall. Crouching low, I whispered a "Shhh" in her ear as I held her mouth shut with one hand, keeping her back pressed against my chest in the tiny area we were confined to.
"This is the last time," the janitor said in a deep, amused voice without looking toward us as he, once again, took his place seated at the table in an old, orange folding chair. He placed his rectangular glasses back on his nose, and raised the newspaper up to his gaze.
A couple of minutes later, there was another knock on the door. This one demanding. It was the knock of authority... assuming there is such a knock. Carl, the janitor, slowly stood up once more, and made his way to the door, opening it carefully. "Well, hello Mr. Osborne, can I help you, sir?" he questioned the plump, mustached man who stood breathlessly in the doorway.
"Where did the twerp go?" he shot at the old man. I was going to have to remind him again about his manners later.
"Well, I'm sure I don't know what your talking about," the janitor smiled at him politely. "Who is it we're speaking of?"
"You know perfectly well who we're 'speaking of'. Jason Carmichael? Where is he!" he yelled, his face becoming even redder than before. I could feel the girl's mouth twist into a smile behind my palm.
"Well, I'm sure I don't know. Hasn't he gone home like the other children?" the man gave a genuinely confused look. I was immediately reminded of the reason I decided to befriend him my second day of school.
"I'm going to find that little delinquent," the VP muttered as he gave a quick look behind Carl into the room, which so dimly lit he really shouldn't have even bothered, before he stalked off.
Carl shut the door and took a seat back at the table, again without looking in our direction. He picked up the paper for the second time and said, "Now why would you bring someone else into your mischievous ways, Mr. Carmichael?" He scanned the black and white sections of the paper.
I smirked as I took my hand off the girls mouth and we climbed out of the space. "He's right. It was wrong of me to drag you around," I apologized as I stood up, dusting myself off. "I'm sure your sparkling reputation doesn't need any smudges on my account."
"No. Thanks for that. It really made my day," she laughed as she picked her bag up off the floor. "I think my sparkling reputation needs a few homey touches anyway," she wiped her hands on the front of her dark green hoodie. I looked up and realized she was even more attractive than I initially realized. She was pretty short, thin, but not too thin, and small, straight teeth were flashing behind her pink lips as she smiled to me and Carl.
"Thank you, Mr. Jackson," she laughed to Carl as she walked up and gave him a friendly hug, which he gladly returned.
Was I shocked she knew Carl? Yes. Yes I was. It must have been apparent on my face too because he gave a big laugh, "No problem, Alexandra. I'm sorry you had to deal with such immaturity on Jason's part."
A sweet laugh passed her light pink lips, "Actually I'm kind of hoping we can do it again sometime," She joked, looking to me and shaking her head fondly. "It had that cool, running from the law vibe about it. Very punk rock," I think I was getting addicted to her laugh.
I'm thinking a summer wedding, what say you?
"Well, I better be going. Thanks for the pick-up, Carmichael," she gave me a small wave and a wink as she opened the thick door and walked out. "Bye, Carl," she called behind her.
Carl shook his head as he folded his paper on the table. "What do you think you're doin' bringin' innocent by-standards into your reckless escapades?" he laughed at me, his white teeth shining, wrinkles giving him a grand-fatherly glow.
"She was witness, Carl, I couldn't just leave her! I mean, all I did was accidentally misplace Mrs. Foreman's French V disks, momentarily. That's it! And Mr. Osborne has to go pointing fingers!" I defended myself. Okay, so I actually hid her disks on top of the vending machine in the boy's locker room until our mid-terms were over. But it's not like he could prove I did it. He had absolutely nothing but his hatred for me to back him up.
"Then why did you run again?" He pointed out, removing his specticles.
Clever son of a-, "Well, you see, the way I picture it is like this: I'm gonna get in trouble anyway. Whether he can, or cannot prove it was me. If I run from Osborne now, then I can get called to Mr. Shipman tomorrow, who will probably give me three to four days detention for 'resisting authority'," I used air quotes to emphasize. "And anyway, I haven't seen your radiant face in awhile," I started, leaning back in my chair opposite his, placing my hands behind my head and kicking up my feet. "Did ya miss me?"
He shook his head disappointedly, "More than I should have."
A/N: Well, hello there.
I hope you had as much fun reading this first installment as much as i enjoyed writing it. You see, this kind of popped into my head awhile back and I've finally decided to start it. Now, I haven't much done of it, and I usually like to be a little ahead, so the next chapter might not be out for a bit. Truthfully, this chapter/description may change by the time I get the next one out. Plus, I'm more than one-hundred and twelve percent sure there are mistakes in there somewhere that I've unfortunately overlooked... but hopefully not too terribly many.
Motivation is always key though. So get to motivatin', and review.
I'll love you like Pita,
Nonsensically.