Finding a New Earth

Chapter 2: Smiling Cold Eyes

Detention. Detention?

"Why I didn't do anything wrong?" I whined once the burning in my eyes subdued. The whole class was still staring at me and I looked down in embarrassment.
"Hush I don't want to hear it. Now sit down and behave, what are you all five year olds? We have only been here for ten minutes and there's already trouble!" Sandy shook his head in dissapointment and I felt ashamed of myself. Clearly the feeling wasn't mutual with Alpha as he glared. At anything. The desk, Sandy, and now myself.

Why would he catch it like that any way? I huffed to myself and crossed my arms. Although a small part of me felt bad for him, looking at his hand. The glimmering flesh was bright red as the skin tore away from it. It looked painful. I eyed the mysterious plant with moving tendrils and shivered -never wanting to go near it again.

We took our seats again and I made sure to move my chair as far away as possible. Practically falling off the desk I angrily began working on the sheets. My hand was burning by the time I was finished and another was placed beside me. Alpha raised his eyebrows, daring me to not do his work. I didn't know I could hate a guy so quickly. But it was true I HATED Alpha. Everything about him: from his angry attitude to his unfair God like looks. Why was this guy ever blessed with such a beautiful face?
I snatched the paper and began working...

Luckily PSHE was the only lesson I had with him. Unfortunately that meant I would see him at least once every day. Which was far too much for anyone to deal with. Raven approached me at break with her eyes deeply set and an apologetic smile dimming her face. It reminded me of when my grandma died and she talked to me about it. She new, as well as the rest of the class, my life would be hell from now on.

****

The detention room was just like any other. A basic set of tables and chairs all faced the front where an old man sat. His glasses falling off the end of his noes much like the scowl on his face showed his character. Not bothered and grumpy. Ten minutes later and Alpha still hadn't arrived, to my relief. However my luck didn't last long when the door finally slammed open sending my heart running. I didn't look up but could hear his footsteps approaching my desk. He took the seat beside me. No. No. No. There were another thirty or so chairs he could choose that weren't right next to me. I bit my lip thinking over what torture he would make me endure the next hour. My chair squeaked across the floor as I shuffled closer to the window, I flinched at the noise and began busying myself with work.

We were only half an hour through and I had already completed all my preps. Trying to ignore the intense stare that was coming from my side. His manly smell began messing with my brain so I placed my hair over my shoulder curtaining us apart. Mindlessly I doodled over my planner adding swirls and flowers. Getting bored of that I began drawing the teacher his eyes down and many chin game going strong. The characture I quickly made emphasised his large neck and small nose with big wide rimmed glasses. I had to stifle a laugh at the picture as I looked down at it. The silence in the room was suddenly shattered by the sound of his cane smacking my desk. I jumped up and met the old mans fuming gaze - I wouldn't be surprised if stream started coming out his ears.
"Who. Is. That?" He said each word slowly making his chins jiggle slightly.
"It's... Uh..." I tried thinking of something that wasn't him trying to avoid trouble. My eyes scanned the room for answers I saw Alpha, he mouthed me a word and I said it aloud: "Mr potato." I squeaked to Alphas amusement as I felt his silent laughter shaking the desk. I don't know why in my desperate situation I choose to trust the person I hated most, but clearly it was a bad move. The teacher screamed his face flushing red. "It's Mr Poto not POTATO!"

Oh.... So that was close to his name I glared at Alpha but couldn't help the faint flicker of amusement that lit up my eyes. Looking again at Mr Poto I was shocked at how much he resembled a potato with his round pudgy face. Clearly the insult hit home as I watched dumbfounded as he spun and quickly shuffled out of the room. Alphas laughter radiated through the class a small chuckle escaping from my own lips. He shook his head and blew out a long breath before exiting as well: his lips pulled up in to a dazzling smile but his cold eyes telling a different story.

My apartment I shared with my Mum and Dad was on deck twenty out of a hundred decks. Although no one has ever been right to the top you need a special key in the lift to get there. I punched in my number and the lift drifted upwards rattling now and then. The light from each floor flashed through the windows as it passed. I clutched on to the box containing the evil plant I decided to name Nemo (for its anemone like looks and the word meaning 'loner' in Latin.) Even on earth I had a problem with lifts and that hasn't changed. I flinched as the doors squeaked open and quickly jumped out.

My door was 20164 finding the number I pressed my finger on the key panel and it slid open.
"Mum... Dad?" I yelled in to the apartment. When entering the kitchen I saw them both staring out the small window, we had the luxury of owning. Only the upperclass were allowed the privilege which was approximately 30cm by 30cm.
"Come here darling quick!" I placed my bag and Nemo on the table and ran to the window. The normal black spacescape was now burning bright with a dying planet.
"What is it?" I gawked at the sight, squinting slightly at how bright it is.
"It's Pluto." My Dad replied in a morbid tone. The death of another planet would mean the chances of finding a new earth would decrease. I nodded and hugged both my Mum and Dad, a deep worry settling in the pit of my stomach. Sometimes on the ship it's easy to forget all the problems and the fact this life is a lie- futile. Because we can't survive here forever and it really is a race against the time. I was thinking this when a piercing shriek of alarm bells filled the ship.