Joy

Part 1

Joyce's P.O.V.

Joyce: And why do I have to go to detention!?
"Since you're so smart, you should know."
Joyce: It's not my fault cause some of us are...
"Do you wanna go tomorrow too?"
Joyce: No...

He's so stupid. I hate him so much. The English professor continued teaching as if nothing happened. He hates me and he doesn't cover it. Whenever I miss something- he grabs the opportunity and I'm in detention. This is the first time- but still. I was never making any mistakes or troubles.


Martha: What was that...
Joyce: You know Mister Reagan. He hates me. 
Martha: I know... But detention?
Joyce: And it's not like I did something wrong...
Martha: Well, you said Sandrine she's stupid in front of a whole class. 
Joyce: Oh, like we didn't know that. She doesn't make difference between a book and a magazine. 
Martha: I know... but still.
Joyce: I said the truth. 

Martha: That painful truth. 
Joyce: Doesn't seem painful for her- she has a good time around guys...
Martha: Joyce.
Joyce: What? You know I'm right. 
Martha: Yeah, but you can't tell her that.
Joyce: Why not? 

Martha was silent. I hate when she's trying to be on their side. 

Joyce: Why do you want them to accept you so much? They are nobody. 
Martha: I'm not trying to be accepted...
Joyce: Lie to someone else. I know you too well. 
Martha: But don't you wanna...
Joyce: Go to parties? Get attention from guys? Drink and smoke? No. 
Martha: But... 
Joyce: And even if I would want, which I'm not saying I do, I wouldn't go so low to spend time with Sandrine and her company. 
Martha: Maybe you're right. 
Joyce: Of course I am. 

The two of us sit down with food on our trays. 

Joyce: Besides, if you want to go out, go. Who can stop you?
Martha: I'm not going alone, like some kind of a loser. 
Joyce: Maybe they'll like you and... 
Martha: And maybe if you...
Joyce: No. Don't even ask, cause I'm not going anywhere. 
Martha: Common!
Joyce: Not a chance. 
Martha: Joyce... 
Joyce: Nothing "Joyce" I'm not going anywhere. 

Martha rolled her eyes. It's killing me when she wants to go out and be popular and everything. I hate that. Why can't she take a book and enjoy her life- like me. 



Dyan's P.O.V.

Detention again. What a stupid punishment- like I'm not gonna skip classes ever again. Besides, it's so stupid to just sit there. And not do anything. I'm standing in the hallway, leaning on the wall. The last smoke before I push that cigarette under the cabinets. 

With a corner of my eye, I see someone coming down the hallway. I immediately put the cigarette under the cabinets- thinking it's the teacher. Then I see it's just some girl. She's short, with long blond hair and glasses- wearing jeans and a hoodie. Not the type I usually see around here. She looks so lost.

Dylan: First time in detention?
"Yeah..."
Dylan: You can't miss it. Straight to that doors of doom. 

She smiles. 

"Thanks." 



Joyce P.O.V.

I'm just walking around. God knows where do I have to be. Then I see someone leaned on the wall- looks like someone who could be in detention. Tall, dark hair, tattoo on his neck and arm. Great. I can't wait to be in the same room with him...

Dylan: First time in detention?
"Yeah..."
Dylan: You can't miss it. Straight to that doors of doom. 
Joyce: Thanks. 

Doors of doom, really? I hope he was exaggerating. The second I enter the room, I can feel the strong smell of cigarettes. What the hell did I get myself into. There are just 6 of us in the room. Me, a girl with tattoos on her neck, probably going all the way to her face, a guy with piercings on his eyebrow, two girls in the corner- still smoking, and another guy in the corner. I couldn't see him well. Plus, that guy from the hallway. This is so great... 

"Fuck. I thought you're the teacher," said one of the girls from the corner- lightening her cigarette again. 

"Sorry," I whisper- more for myself than her. 

The guy from the hallway enters. He and that guy with piercings start talking. I sit down and just look around. The room is pretty big. Right away, I can see a few bottles of God knows what under the shelf with books. Suddenly, the girl with tattoos on her neck turns toward me.

"Haven't seen you in here yet," she said. 
 Joyce: Haven't seen you at all. 
"I like you. Theresa."

We shake hands, "Joyce." I'm looking at her tattoo- it's a snake with a head on her face- running all from the right side of her neck across her face, ending on the left side of her lips. 

Theresa: Why are you here, Joyce?
Joyce: The professor hates me. 
Theresa: Me too, girl. Me too. But for real. 
Joyce: I told a girl she's stupid. You?
Theresa: We all skipped the last few hours yesterday. 
Joyce: Why?

She smiles. 

Theresa: What do you mean? Why would anyone like to be in school?

Sometimes I forget I'm in a building full of dumbasses who don't understand the concept of learning. 

Joyce: Right. 

The English teacher enters the room and Theresa turns. The two girls from the corner seat at the table. To my surprise, everyone was still talking. Mister Reagan hits the table and everyone is silent. The girls from the corner even sit down properly. Only the look of this teacher is enough for me to start shaking. He gives us papers and sits down. 

I look around- silence. Wow, maybe this won't be so terrible. I start working through the paper. This is so easy and I'm done for a few minutes. Theresa turns. 

Theresa: Do you know what the hell is this?
Joyce: Yeah, I'm done. 
Theresa: What? Give me that. 

She takes my paper and copies everything from it. 

Theresa: Thanks. 

After five minutes of silence, everyone starts talking again. Mister Reagan is silently reading something on his phone. Why am I even here... 

Finally, the two worst hours ever are done. I'm rushing through the hallways- the sooner I'm home, the better.