off the edge

for fucks sake

Like every other teenager on this planet, I hate school. I hate it probably more than the average person. It is a complete waste of my very valuable time.

I thought my parent free household would finally grant me some relief from my educational prison, but I could never be that lucky.

My parents are apart of a large group of medical scientists who travel to underprivileged countries and study how doctors save lives with less resources. They then take these findings and implement them into trauma surgery and military medicine.

They got the gig when I was 8. My grandma looked after my older brother Theo and I for a while. But my parents work became more and more demanding, and Grandma got older and older. Theo had to take on the role when I was 13. 

I feel guilty that I hate my parent's passion, that they had aspirations that save so many lives. It's not fair for me to hold a grudge against them for missing my childhood. My mother said to me once, "Your father and I would have never had kids if we knew this opportunity would arise. Trust me."

I still think it's bullshit.

Unfortunately, Theo was a stickler. Grandma would check in a couple times a week, but other than that it was all him.

It gave him a complex. And an extremely annoying one.

I thought turning off his alarm for the first day of school was full proof. The incessant banging on my door proves me wrong.

"Iris, get up! We are going to be late!" Theo yelled. The doorknob rattled every once in a while, like he expects it to open on his 10th try. I could pretend not to hear him, but knowing Theo he would rather break down the door then let me miss a day of school, let alone my first day of Junior year.

"Can we just skip first period?" I groan.

"Not if you want a ride to school!" He yells back.

"Sounds fine to me, I'll stay here." I smile. I turnover and put a pillow over my ear. Finally some quiet.

"Hi."

I jump, hitting myself in the head as a result. "Jesus you need to stop doing that," grit my teeth, "How did you even get in here?"

"Bobby pin." He grinned matter-of-factly. He tore the covers off of my now freezing body and took them downstairs, no hope of retrieving them and going back to sleep. "10 minutes!" He yells from the main floor.

Why does this happen to me?

I get out of bed and peel my pajamas off my body.  I scan the floor looking for something wearable, ultimately deciding on my dad's sweatpants and sweatshirt. I braid my hair down my back, ending right below ribs. I scan the room for my glasses, which were also on the floor.

Note to self: clean room

I slip on my uggs and sulk toward the stairs, taking each step slowly. Once I finally hit the hardwood, Theo practically rips the keys off the wall and ushers me out the door toward the car.

"If we hurry, we'll make it before 1st is over." He grumbled, turning the key in the ignition.

"Joy to the world, Theo has come, let earth receive its bitch." I sing, reclining my chair all the way back and ignoring his remarks.

I blinked and we were in the parking lot.

I feel the grumble in my stomach, the ultimate high that no drug could induce: the feeling of starving.

I ride that feeling all the way into the main office doors, where they bitch at me for being late on the first day. I yank that tardy slip out of one of the secretary's hands and slowly stride toward my 1st period.

AP US History should be a crime at eight am.

Once I finally get to the classroom door, I see the balding man outlining the syllabus through the small window. I could turn around now, go hide in the bathroom until school was over. Just as I was about to put my plan into action, the teacher catches my eye and strides towards the door.

"You're late." He says sternly, looking at the tardy slip them back at me.

Obviously, I say to myself. I hand him my slip and make my way to the back of the classroom when a pair of green eyes meet mine.

Smiling like a cheshire cat, Alexander Mason is sitting right next to the only open seat.

"For fucks sake." I mutter, slinging my backpack off my shoulder.

"Is there something you would like to share with the class Ms. Blackburn?" The teacher, Mr. Berry as I take notice to his written name on the bored, says with a tired expression.

"Not really." I mumble. Mr. Berry doesn't look impressed though, as his eyes stay on me.

"Sorry Mr. Berry. Iris was just telling me how lovely it is seeing me. I told her to be quiet, but she just kept going on and on about how admirable I am." Alex chimes in.

Mr. Berry clears his throat, "Well Ms. Blackburn, you can save your admirations for after class. Take your seat."

I look back at Alex with murderous eyes, to which he responds with a wink. I slump into my seat try my best to disassociate.

__________________________________

When the bell finally rings, I grab my stuff as quickly as possible and bolt out the door. I head to my locker, as it is against school policy to carry around a back pack. As I turn the combination, I feel familiar eyes on me.

"Go away." I spat, not even looking up from my hands spinning the numbers.

"Not everything is about you, Iris. My locker is right next to yours. So move." He demanded.

I looked over at him, "How is that possible? That's not even alphabetical order?" I say.

I look at him suspiciously before he rolls his eyes, "Yes, I am choosing to have a locker next to you. Because my biggest dream is to listen to you bitch and moan all day." He begins putting in his combination, while I grin at his words.

He had a point, complaining was one of my biggest hobbies.

"At least I don't smell like a Dior sauvage explosion. Seriously will you lay off it? It's going to burn off my eyelashes." I retort. My eyes flutter from him to my books, but all he does is grin.

"Iris that is so sweet, you researched my cologne!"

"I know what a liar smells like."

He laughed. "The only men coming into your household are your brother's very uninterested friends."

"At least he has friends." I fake pout.

"More than you." He scoffs.

"Then why are you talking to me? You seem to always be around, lurking to find at which time you could aggravate me the most." I grit my teeth. I slam my locker door shut and turn to face his stupid shit eating grin.

"So thankful you take notice. It takes hard work tracking you down with that truancy record of yours." He winks.

"Trying to get away from you, obviously. Too bad that cop didn't believe me on those harassment claims. Don't worry, this year I'm gathering evidence. So when they deliver me that sweet court date, I'll be prepared." I say with a sweet smile. I turn away from him, mentally preparing for my next 45 minutes of torture.