Thirteen Summers

thirty-eight

At first, Josie was getting along with her work in class fairly well.

She concentrated on the teacher's words, what they were learning and she was taking notes at every opportunity.

Her handwriting quickly became sloppy as she jotted everything down, trying to keep up with everything being thrown at her.

She wasn't falling behind with today's content like she usually did, she was determined not to.

It was even more of a rarity since this was one of the classes that she shared with both Caleb & Reece and they'd constantly talk over the teacher, however, today Reece wasn't in.

Caleb, himself wasn't a huge chatterbox but his best friend, Reece, usually brought that side out of him.

So it was quiet between Caleb and Josie for the most part, mainly because Caleb was dozing off in the seat besides her.

"Caleb." Their teacher called the boy's name in his usual monotone voice, a dull look on his face.

Mr. Robinson was one of those teachers who clearly had no desire to be a teacher.

It was as though he purposely made sure to make every lesson plan the most agonisingly boring lesson there ever was, and it only seemed to get worse with each class.

It didn't help that he spoke in the slowest, monotone voice and always looked at students as though they should question their own existence.

Who could blame Caleb for not paying attention?

Josie's eyes snapped to her twin, only now noticing he was sleeping peacefully, his head leaning to the right as his chin rested on his palm.

He was asleep.

In the middle of class.

Josie's eyes widened and she quickly nudged him with her elbow but his eyes didn't even flutter.

"Sorry." Josie whispered regretfully to the teacher before turning back to her brother, shaking his shoulder until he woke up.

Caleb's eyes blinked open, he looked at Josie and then around the class, smacking his lips.

Finally his eyes landed on the teacher but in his tired state, all he mumbled was, "Um, what?"

Their classmates didn't bother to hide their amusement, giggles filling the room.

"Caleb St. Claire." Mr. Robinson repeated his name, slowly. "If you cannot do the simple human task, that is staying awake and engaged during a very important class, which is mine, then I sure hope that you can work on it."

"In detention, after school, with me."

"What the..." Caleb huffed, throwing his head back.

"What? What was that, young man?" Mr. Robinson sarcastically asked him, putting his own hand behind his ear.

Caleb's arms were now crossed as he glared down at the table.

"Nothing." He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Very well, I hope you've bought some afternoon snacks because I won't be sharing mine." Mr. Robinson told him, before resuming the class.

"Vas te faire foutre. Go fuck yourself." Caleb mumbled in response, that going unheard by the teacher but not his sister, who was appalled.

"Caleb?" She was shocked by his vulgarity, he'd been hanging around Kai too much. "You know French isn't some secret, dead language, right? What if he heard you?"