How Jesse Got His Karma

thirty-four

Two days later

I walked into class a little bit late as my mom got me back to school after I went to my doctor's for a physical check-up.

I really don't see why I couldn't have skipped school for just one day though...

Walking with my backpack in hand I was on my way to calculus, I quickly reached inside the back pocket of my jeans getting out my yellow late-slip pass. Mr.Maddow is pretty cool but I don't really know where his policy stands on being late.

When I get to class, I'm faced with the same dark brown door. Twisting the knob, opening the door wide and I am shocked to see that people aren't even sitting down. The class is lined up on all four sides of the classroom and I'm confused until I see Paola curling her fingers telling me to, 'come here' quickly as she's stood at the back of the classroom.

As I'm walking, I notice Mr.Maddow as he stands at the front of the room near his desk and he's quick to greet me, "Ah! Another one trickles in. Nice of you to join us, Karma." he gives me his signature smile as I turn to walk towards him and hand him my pass.

"I'm sorry, I'm late Mr.Maddow." I say giving him the pass trying not to melt at the fact that he's making direct eye contact with me as he takes the pass slowly nodding his head, "I had a doctor's appointment."

"Well certainly your health will always come first, no need to apologize, Karma." he sets the pass down on the desk behind him, "I was waiting for another student to come in after you, I wasn't sure if you'd show up but since you're here I can tell the class what we're doing today." I nod and walk back towards Paola as she locks her arm with mine as I stand next to her

I turn to see Mr.Maddow staring at our arms interlocked with each other with his head tilted a bit to the side before he clears his throat and looks away.

Mr.Maddow walks towards the class and says, "Alright guys, As a way to make it easier for myself, I've decided that I'm going to make a seating chart for all of my classes. This way it'll be easier for me to learn your names throughout my time with you this year."

Some people groan including myself and Paola as we realize that it's most likely going to be alphabetical or something meaning we won't sit together.

"Ok." he claps his hands running one of them through his long brown hair again and I sigh inaudibly to myself as he does so because he just looks so good without needing to put much effort and I could watch him do that over and over again for hours. "I'm going to point to a desk starting from the back end of the room and whoever's name I call, that's your new seat."

He goes down the list when I realize that he's indeed doing it in alphabetical order as I hear Paola groan in annoyance when people begin to fill up the seats.

This goes on for a few seconds before I hear him get to Jesse's name and scan the room with a mild scowl on his face as he looks around for Jesse repeating his name and says, "Did anyone see him in the hallways?" the class is silent as none of us have seen him today and he nods his head and continues down the list placing everyone with last names A-L in the back and M-Z in the front.

When's he's done filling up the whole back rows he walks towards the front of the room sitting on top of his own desk, continuing to point at desks as he calls out the names.

When he gets to my name, I'm quick to sit down as I'm tired of standing and I'm surprised to hear Paola's name is called after mine.

Paola quickly sprints to the seat and sits down trying to act calm as she slides her bag in the space between her desk and mine, leaning over to my ear and whispering, "I think Maddow might have forgotten his ABCs." and clapping her hands quickly in excitement.

I think so too since there are at least five more people who are supposed to be in between us since all the chairs are in a row of 7 and there were two back rows behind us.

When he's done calling the roll and filling up chairs, I look up to realize that my seat is in front.

I typically sit in the second row closest to the front. You know, not too close but not too far to see everything clearly.

And yeah I knew I'd have a seat up here but as he's sitting on top of his desk I realize that my own desk is directly across from him as Paola sits to my right.

"So ladies and gents, these are your assigned seats for the rest of the year, and uh, I'm aware some of you might be more disappointed than others but bear with me as I try to learn all of you and who knows, The seats could go back to being unassigned." he pauses what he was going to say next at the sound of the door opening and Jesse walking in wearing a plain white t-shirt and dark blue jeans as he walks into class almost an hour late coming from only God knows where.

He walks towards his seat, well old seat, as Mr.Maddow just watches him in silence staring at him with amusement written all over his face as he leans back onto the desk.

Jesse taps at the boy who's currently occupying his seat and says, "Get up." harshly as the boy who just so happens to be the same one he's threatened countless times looks up at him in fear

Mr.Maddow feels as though he's done watching when he says, "Hello, Jesse. Good Morning to you too."

"Yeah. Morning. Now get out of my seat, why did I have to tell you twice?" He barks at the boy without even looking at Mr.Maddow as he continues to stare the boy, Caleb, down.

Justice for Caleb. No one gets it from Jesse harder than him.

Caleb pushes his glasses further up his nose as he looks over Jesse's shoulder at Mr.Maddow to help but Maddow is already one step ahead.

"Duran, you don't walk into my class like that, late might I add, and harass a student in front of me without so much of an explanation."

"I'll give you an explanation when I find out why this prick isn't listening to me when I tell him to get out my seat." says back harshly still with his back turned

"Probably because it's no longer your seat anymore, Jesse. The seats are assigned. Hey, why don't you try looking for yours? It's the only one without an ass in it. Can't miss it." Mr.Maddow says back to him as his annoyance begins to shine through, as he places his hand on his thigh looking at Jesse expectantly when he turns around to finally make eye contact with Mr.Maddow. While some people in the class giggle immaturely that he said the word, 'ass' in a classroom setting.

Jesse eyes Mr.Maddow dangerously most likely irritated that Maddow embarrassed him in front of the whole class but he only stares back in annoyance. He shifts his eyes across the room when he locates his seat that is 2 rows behind me towards the left side of the room.

In no time, after dragging his feet, Jesse drops into it in anger looking up at Mr.Maddow in irritation once more as he leans back into his new seat shielding the left side of his face since he's so close to the window and his seat, unluckily is the one with the sun currently shining on it strong enough to practically blind him in one eye.

"And until you can give me a good enough reason as to why you're late, you have detention after school. I don't tolerate latecomers under any circumstances especially after an hour." Mr.Maddow says and I can't help but stifle a laugh as well as the rest of the class as Jesse rolls his eyes.

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Uh OH. We already have some tension stirring up and it's only Mr.Maddows third day on the job.

:(