Mirror Images

Chapter 2

Mr. Baxley is drawling on and on about racism and sexism and all the other -isms that you could ever think of. I tap my fingers against my thigh and stare at the clock. I was counting the ticking with every tap. 20... 21...

Tap.

I jolt and look around, trying to find where the tap had come from. There was nothing. None of the kids are looking my way. As I'm looking around, Mr. Baxley comes into view.

"Miss. Brownstone," his low voice hisses. I clench my fist and look up. His face is inches from my own.

"Yes, sir?" Dogs can smell fear, I remind myself. Mr. Baxley leans in closer. I can smell his rancid, old breath.

"How many times have I told you to pay attention?"

I swallow, remembering every single one. "10, sir. But, I have told you I have ADHD, I feel that should give me a bit of leeway–" He cuts me off with a large swipe of his hand, finger pointing towards the door.

"Principal. Now, Brownstone." I try my hardest not to glare at him. His mug leaves my field of vision as he walks back to his desk to write me a pass. I gather my things, also trying not to shove everything into my backpack or throw something. Everyone in the class is looking at me. I feel ashamed; naked, exposed.

With everything in order, I walk to Mr. Baxley's desk. He hands me the pass and I leave the classroom, resisting the urge to slam the door like a pissy toddler.

The principal's office is decorated as if someone lied to the principal about what Feng Shui is. The room is clustered and none of the colors match. Just looking at the carpet makes me violently upset as I make my way to his desk. He's not paying any attention even though I'd watched his secretary tell him I was there before I was even allowed to walk in.

The principal is picking his nose while looking at something on his computer (of which I can only assume is porn). I cringe, but sit down in the little seat. After I'm seated, I hear the door click open behind me. I ignore it, watching the principal. He looks up, never once looking at me, and greets the person who'd just walked in.

I seethe, gripping the edge of the chair. I'm trying to keep my cool, but as I hear the principal greet the person, I break. I stand up and turn around. Before I knew what was happening, I was face-to-face with the guy from earlier. He meets my eyes and smiles. I smile back, already forgetting what I'd stood up for. The principal glares at me, and tells the guy to sit down beside me.

As the principal pulls something up on his computer with his booger ridden hands, I whisper to the guy, "what're you in for?"

He leans toward me, "Mr. Devi is my uncle. He wanted to see me for something. Why are you here?"

"I wasn't paying attention to my teacher's lecture. Or, at least, not enough attention for him."

He laughs a little. The principal clears his throat and we both turn to him.

"Enough chit chat. Miss. Brownstone, I hear you're here because you disobeyed what Mr. Baxley told you to do. Evan, you're here because of personal matters." He glares again. "Now, if I'd known someone else would join me, I wouldn't have had you meet me at this time."

I look over at Evan. He's smiling, but it feels like there's something more behind it. I watch as he stretches his fingers on the armrests. He notices me watching, but doesn't do anything.

"Now, Miss. Brownstone, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

I know he wants me to go out quietly. To say that Mr. Baxley was completely right in sending me here, but I don't want to do that. I want to speak my mind, to tell him Mr. Baxley is a misogynistic piece of shit. But I can't. I can't get suspended. I can't do that to my mom.