Living

Chapter 2: School

"David, I don't want to go", Les whined as he was being pushed out of the door. "School is stupid anyway."

Davey sighed. He placed a hand on Les' shoulder. "I know. But I'm legally required to make you go to school."

"That's why my generation's going to take over the school system", Les muttered, pushing his brother and running off. "Old man!"

He heard his older brother groan. "I'm only five years older than you!"

Les chuckled as he walked down the sidewalk, on his way to school—the one place he dreaded more than Hell.

Les used to love school. He was never really good at it, but that didn't stop it from being the third best point in the year (after his birthday and summer vacation). But after The Incident, school became a headache wrapped with ten pounds of depression. So, he took a break.

Now, he's going back to Hell wrapped in Purgatory.

Les walked to school, awaiting the horrible hall filled with loud eighth graders. He prepared himself to be surrounded by drama and affairs, hoping that he would only hear about them.

He walked to the office, seeing a clearly underworked woman at the desk. "Um, hi?"

"What can I do for you, sweetie?" She planted a fake smile on her face, leaving Les' stomach to churn uncomfortably.

"I was wondering if I could get my schedule?" Les placed his fingers in the belt loops on his old jeans. "I'm new."

"Obviously", the lady muttered under breath, just low enough for Les to barely hear her. "What's your name?"

"Les- uh, Lesley Jacobs", he says, pushing down the urge to tap his fingers against his leg.

He looked around the office, waiting for the lady to find his schedule. He didn't like the way it looked. The walls were a light tan color and adorned with the schools colors, leaving a boring yet colorful room. It was exhausting to look at.

"Alright, here", she says, handing him a piece of paper. "The numbers are on the doors. Eighth grade hall is to your right, past the library."

Les nods and mumbles a "thanks", walking out of the office and staring at the blue sheet of paper. Room 106.

He turned the corner on his left, walking through the double doors leading to the hallway. There were doors that adorned the walls, all of them closed and probably unwelcome to visitors.

Les glanced at every door and their numbers. 103, 104, 105....

106. Les looked up to find a science lab. Great.

He could hear a very loud voice through the walls and the door. In some ways, it comforted him.

The voice got closer to the door until was opened. Les was met with a bright smile surrounded by facial hair.

"Good morning", the man says, the lines around his eyes creasing. "What do you need?"

"Um", Les starts, looking at the paper in his hands. "Are you Mr. Prieto?"

"Yes, I am", Mr. Prieto responds, his accent peeking through. "Are you in my class?"

"Yeah. I'm new."

"Oh, okay", the teacher says, moving away from the door and walking to the front of the room. He points at a table near his desk. "You can take those papers right there.

"Class, we have a new student today", Mr. Prieto announces. "This is-"

"Les", he finishes, looking at all the faces. "Jacobs."