Unfinished Infinities

The Beachball

Well, obviously Theo had been right, because the next day, guess who was 'invited' over the intercom for a nice friendly chat in the Beachball's office?

"Theo Calle, and Will Miles, please proceed to the principal's office now. Thank you."

It happened during a history class, when Mr Britt was droning on and on about some war. No one was actually listening. The crackling of the intercom shook everyone from their daze. When the announcement had been made, everyone laughed, rather meanly I thought, and some of them did Rue's mockingjay call. Mr Britt ushered us out of his class, vaguely disgruntled, and then continued with his shitty lesson that no one was actually paying attention to.

Theo and I walked down the corridor towards the principal's office.

Awkward silence.

"Ah, well, I've gotten in trouble loads of times already. Nothing much to worry about." said Theo, at an attempt to break the tension.

"Do they...Do they call your parents?"

"Nah...Beachball's always threatening to do that but he never actually does. Bad name for the school, see." Theo chuckled dryly.

We walked on in silence, the sound of chatter and laughter from the classrooms echoing through the hall.

Theo did not knock. Pushing the door to the Beachball's office open, she announced loudly,"We're here. Is anything the matter?"

I felt sick, as I watched the Beachball raise a bushy eyebrow. He looked down at a file on his desk and flipped through the pages slowly. I felt my insides screaming for him to deal the death blow quick. "Will...Miles, is it?" the Beachball said, looking me dead in the eye. "Yeah," I said, avoiding his stare. The Beachball didn't so much as nod. He turned to Theo. "Theo Calle, well we meet again, young lady." Theo blinked once and smirked. "Well, I guess...Mister Principal." I bit my lip anxiously. I hope Theo doesn't make it worse, I thought desperately. "Such insolence, Miss Calle." The Beachball muttered. I could hear the tapping of his shoe under the desk. I tried to focus on the ticking of the clock to distract myself from my impending death.

"Well, children-" began the Beachball.

"We're not children. We're seventeen." Theo sucked her cheeks in and glared at him.

The Beachball stared at her for a moment, and then - "Seventeen is not an age to be smoking on campus!" he thundered, his pudgy face turning crimson.

Theo rolled her eyes. "Got any proof, Mister?"

The Beachball's face turned an ugly shade of tomato. "How dare you show this disrespect! I saw you two and another boy smoking near the lake! How dare you tell lies!"

My heart pounded against my chest. It's going to explode, I thought.

But Theo seemed to be deeply unperturbed.

Picking at her nail beds, she laughed and said nonchalantly,"Lies, Mister Principal? Or just your crooked judgement? You're welcome to search our rooms. If you can't find anything in them, then I suppose it's old age kicking in, eh?"

Her words dulled the panic inside me a little, and I held back a chuckle. But at the same time, a thought struck me. Shit, when he finds the cigarettes in Theo's room then he'll have concrete proof and I will freaking die!!!!

The Beachball looked furious. "I will search your rooms, Calle and Miles. And rest assured, whatever I find will get you expelled by the end of the week!"

Theo gave him a cheerful smile. "If you even find anything, Mister."

"You both are not allowed back into your rooms until the search is over. Am I clear?"

"Clearer than your eyesight." Theo smirked again.

That seemed to be the last straw for The Beachball. "OUT! OUT OF MY OFFICE NOW!" he shouted, infuriated. Theo gave a girlish giggle, then took me by the hand and walked slowly out of the office.

"Fucker." Theo said.