Cuckoo (Sequel to Outlaws Of Love)

Five

*Tommy's POV*

I really, REALLY do not want to do this I thought to myself, biting my lip as I stared out the car door to the prision they call a high school. My heart was already beating faster even just looking at it. I had no idea what people would think, what they would do, or what I would think or do. My mind was still a jumbled mess of thoughts and memories, and I wasn't sure how I would act coming back here.

I would've asked Allyson or Rose to take me, but I knew they had to go in early, and there wasn't a chance that I would ever have the motivation to wake up until I had to. You could probably tell how late I got up, judging the lack of makeup and the fact that I forgot to wear anything under my—well, Adam's—sweatshirt.

Although, if you could just see my hair, you'd think that I woke up two hours early just to do it. To put it simply, it was perfect. The shorter side had grown a length to about two inches, and it was neatly combed down. The fringe had been folder over smoothly and held its volume, barely hanging over my right eye so that I could still see. The dyed part had blended in so nicely, giving me the wanted splash of Adam that I'd hoped. I wanted to style it as precise as possible—because I know Adam would like it—which is why I spent all of my time on it. That still didn't mean I wanted to show it off, however.

Leila stopped off to the side of the building and halted, sighing and turning towards me. I was staring at my curtain of new black hair, remembering what it had looked and felt like when I was playing with Adam's.

"Tommy?" Leila asked gently. I glanced over to her to show her I was listeing. "You're going to be okay, alright? Don't worry; everything's going to be fine."

I nodded weakly and tried to believe her. "Thanks for the ride," I mumbled, letting out a slow breath and smiling some as I got out of the car.

As soon as the door shut behind me, I wanted to go back in. I had a half mind to just open it up and fling myself into the seat and tell her to drive, but as I was about to turn around I heard her drive away. I bit my lip, scanning over the few people who were lagging behind, considering the bell had already rang.

I forced myself to walk towards the doors. I pushed them open, jumping back as some people pushed past me to run off to class to not be late. I ignored them, dragging myself upstairs where Adam and I had shared his locker. Technically I have two lockers now, being that I had my stuff split between mine and his, and Adam had to take all of his stuff with him to that...that place that took him away from me.

When I finally reached first period, the class had already started ten minutes in, and my teacher was not happy.

"Mr. Ratliff," he began sourly, tapping his hand on the back of the other, "would you care to explain why you're late?" I felt like rolling my eyes at the typical high-school-teacher-question, but honestly I was just too tired.

I shook my head. "No."

He raised his eyebrows. I started to feel everyone's eyes on me and I hated the feeling.

I brought my books and notebook closer to myself, hugging them to my chest. "You haven't been here in quite some time,  Ratliff," he pointed out, sounding falsely amused. "But that doesn't mean that you can just 'forget' the rules."

His tone was getting more stern, but my caring was just getting lower. "Detention, tomorrow. See me after class."

I sighed and nodded once, knowing that was exactly what I had coming to me. People stared at me as I made my way to the back of the room where a lonely empty chair sat at an abandoned table. I guess when I was gone we'd switched seats and this was my new spot. Oh well. Actually it wasn't half bad. I was not by anyone I didn't like, and I could just basically slack off. Well, "dream off" as I would really be doing.