Pannel & Hook

Chapter 9: Ugliest

         The next morning, Nate had Kimi rebandage my arm and then dropped me at school, all without looking me in the eyes once.

         It wasn't until lunch that it fully registered in my head that I had gotten dumped and my partner of literal years wasn't sitting with me anymore, neither was my brother and on top of that even though I still never started anything- I inadvertently gave these sheep more reason to be afraid of me to the point where I had the entire table to myself.

I was bumping old-school R&B music in my earbuds and reading The Jungle Book until this fuck-shit happened.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked over to see it was one of the assistant principals, Mr. Stone, and the Deputy, the AP motioned to take my buds out.

        "Mr. Pannel, I'm gonna need you to come with us, bring your things". I put my buds back in and went with them with the Deputy's hand around my arm like I had any reason to actually run even though I'd definitely outrun this Santa Claus looking...anyways.

We left the lunchroom and got in a golf cart with me in the back, heading to the main office, and when we got to his office, Dep searched my bag and then me before I was 'allowed' to sit.

       "Sooooo, anyone gonna explain why I'm here". The two of them acted as if I was about to hear a secret and closed the door before Mr.Stone began his nonsense.

       "We had reason to believe you may have had some type of drugs on you and with that bein said, you're supposed to be in ISS right now".

        Mr. Stone was a 5'8 black man with a dome that shined like freshly waxed floors, always wore suit-like attire, and was very nice to everyone but had a habit of exaggerating dress code and beating around the bush.

       "Why would I bring drugs to school? I don't even take headache meds and Deps have dogs here, so even if I were to, I'm not stupid and also, ISS for what?"

        "Getting into an altercation with another student yesterday near the bus ramp". I completely forgot that happened but at least I won.

       "Oh, so you do know what I'm talking about?". This sass wasn't needed bowling ball head. "The only reason you were Identified was that some students showed administration the video of the events given that it was the end of the school day and you were gone before any adult got there."

       "This maayyy be true, may not be but why did y'all wait until fourth-period lunch to tell me this like I coulda been pulled first period and been there?" Mr. Stone leaned forward, making the shine even more apparent, and interlocked his fingers.

        "Given that you didn't start the fight, you're getting three days while the other student will get a week when they come to school".

       Now I'd be wrong if I were to pull out a cloth and spit-shined this dome making the whole room glow.

"Mr. Pannel". He slightly raised his voice. "Hmm?"

"I know you're a smart student and could possibly be a Valedictorian if you tried but this will go on your record, you know that?"

"Oh, that's fine, soooo, are we done here?"

"Yes, Mr. Pannel, we're finished and Dep will walk you to the ISS building and I'll get your work for today, thank you for cooperating".

"I didn't have a choice Mr. Bones". I said as I got up.

"It's 'Stone' Peter"

"I know, just thought maybe if you changed that name of yours, it'd distract a lil from that NOGGIN".

"Boy, get out of my office before I give you a week too".

"You love me too much dome piece!"

"OUT!!!!"