Blood in the Water

Chapter Two

Wednesday was a day determined to make Eddward snap, he discovered. It was a compilation of annoyances that stacked up to dance upon his nerves and his irritation was felt by all.

Clouds had rolled in the night before and what was supposed to be a light rain turned into a downpour that showered on and off the next day. Swim practice was canceled, as were many other sports, which accounted for the first aggravation of the day. While Edd loved the water he loathed the rain, it was simply depressing.

There had been a rolling blackout the night before as well, resetting his alarm clock and assuring that he awoke late and affording him no time for his favorite meal of the day. Compounding upon this, his garage door jammed and after five minutes of fiddling he knew he had no other option but to walk to school that day.

He could not find his umbrella.

By the time the rain-sodden teen stepped up to the schoolhouse everyone could tell that this particular Wednesday would be considerably worse than most. He shoved his bag into his locker and as he turned around to make his way towards his first class a smaller figure attached herself to his arm at his elbow.

"Oh shit you're wet!" Marie jumped back and shook off her arms with a wince.

Edd snorted, "What an astute observation. Perhaps next you will inform me that we are mammals."

She waved her hand, "Hey, don't get bitchy with me Mister!" Marie Kanker was the one and only person in Edd's world who could speak to him so freely, and despite his raising levels of aggravation, her smile was enough to lighten his mood. "Pizza after school? You look like you could use a break."

They started walking, Edd shoved his hands into his pockets after pushing down the hood of his jacket, "As pleasant as the offer does indeed sound, I have a previous engagement that is not of my own will."

"Detention again?"

"For fighting, yes."

"Kevin?"

"Admittedly I started it."

She sighed and chuckled at the same time, "You two, I swear. Well, I'll pick you up a few slices and a salad and meet you when you get out, how does that sound?"

The left side of Edd's lips twitched up in his trademark smirk, "That sounds remarkable Marie."

The bell sang through the halls and the students, preprogrammed with their destinations, began to shuffle off to their classes. "See ya Edd!" Marie chimed before she broke off and dashed down a hallway.

Edd sighed to himself before making his way to his first class. Of course all of his classes were Advanced Placement, yet still with the supposed increase of cerebral difficulty the young man never found himself challenged. The only class he enjoyed was Physics, and while the general content was only mildly vexing, Mr. Locke was a college Professor for Quantum Physics on the side and allowed Edd to learn and utilize the same content as his college students.

This particular Wednesday was fully intent to get on his final nerve.

After the third period bell rang and he entered his favorite class prepared to actually learn something he was only mildly surprised to see another man sitting in his favorite teacher's spot. This was a squat man who had hair that appeared to be taken from an old broom, including the sharp little mustache that seemed almost fake.

He growled to himself and took his seat.

It seemed that having a substitute was not enough punishment for that hour. As the man stood to take roll he paused when he reached Eddward, "Excuse me young man, please remove your hat."