Beneath the clear blue sky

Beneath the clear blue sky chapter 9

CHAPTER IX

DETENTION WITH THE TROUBLEMAKER

                The school bell just rang.It only mean that the first period of english is gone.How I wish it was dismissal time.I was sketching on my notebook,a cartoon character.His name is Lian,he is all alone on a blank page.Nowhere to go,nowhere to hide like an abandoned ship in the middle of the Pacific ocean.A student from the back threw a huge paper ball to Liza mckenzy,who was having her period at that moment.When it hit her face,she did not budge.Probably she was used to it.Infact she smiled which exposed her undesirable braces and brushed her black hair with her fingers.She acted like a lady which was new.Liza mckenzy thinks that all the boys in the classroom excluding me are interested in her.I have seen her flickered her long eyelashes many times when Josh walked pass her in the hallway.She once told me that Josh actually told her that she's cute over the phone.I did not believe her.She also told me that she had given him bath soaps and boxes of chocolate numerous times.Liza mckenzy is so full of herself.

                      The student who threw the paper ball received the attention he wanted from the teacher.'Mr. Davis! didn't I told you to sit right next to Lian?' she scowled at Josh.'I like it here,its cooler' Josh replied flashing his white teeth.'I have enough of your nonsense Josh! sit right next to Lian now!' Ms Din shouted.'Teacher!,may I go to the toilet..' Liza interrupted.'Oh what now Liza?!' replied Ms Din.'Uhmm its urgent and important' said Liza looking a bit scared.'You can't answer your calls,not in my class Ms. Mckenzy' said Ms. Din with a calm voice.'Im having my period god damn it!' shouted Liza.Everybody was in shocked including Ms. Din.Liza stood up and walk towards the door and shut it behind her,leaving blood stain on her seat.Josh finally came in front to seat with me.

                         'How are you pretty boy..' Josh said with a sarcastic tone.I did not reply him because I thought it was stupid to reply a stupid comment from a rowdy youth.Suddenly,Ms. Din slammed her ruler on our table and said 'Lian you will be in detention with Josh for not giving me your homework yesterday..'.I was in deep horror,not because I will be in detention for the first time but because I will be with Josh for long hours,enclosed in a room.I put my palms on my face and close my eyes and imagined the bad things that could happen to me with Josh Davis.'So I guess its just you and me..' Josh said and pressed the tip of my nose.

                       The bell rang again,this time it was recess.I was happy that for a few minutes I could get away from Josh and get some fresh air.All he ever did was talk about his unruly life and how he always got into trouble like breaking into Mrs. Dubose's property and squashing some of her sunflowers.I guess Josh's life goal is to ruin everybody's life.I walked down the hallway and saw Hana running towards the girl's toilet,she looked tired and unhappy.I wonder what happened to her?.I finally reached the entrance and sat at the flights of stairs.I looked up to admire the sky,it was dark and eerie.It was like an oil painting on a canvas,perfect and alluring.It looked like it was about to rain.I opened the book I brought with me,leafed through the pages to find the last chapter.Then I saw her,I saw Lana between the pages.My heart sank and my sadness set in.I promised myself that I will never cry again and I will be strong,I guess I broke that promise.Promises are meant to be broken.Looking up in the sky reminds me of Lana and that night of woe.I should have stood up for her,she's my stone and I am her stone.I enclosed my ears with my hands and cried.Sandy sat right next beside me and hugged me.'Lian you're never alone,I am always here with you..' Sandy said and tightened her arms around me.It was then the rain started to pour.

                       Hana felt comfortable staying in the toilet than inside the classroom.She looked at herself in the mirror,she looked distraught and weary.Hana lit a cigarette and smoked,she doesn't care about the law of the school,she always does things that either abide by the rules of the school or the law of the nation.She wiped her smudge eyeliner with her finger tips and started to sob.The smoke filled the toilet.Then Vina entered.They both stared at each other,like they never seen each other.Vina walked towards Hana and took the cigarette and threw it in the bin.'What the hell is your problem?' Hana scowled at Vina.She lit another.Vina sighed and took the stick out of her mouth and dropped it on the tiled floor and stepped on it.Hana williams had enough and went inside one of the cubicle and closed the door behind her and said 'leave me alone'.'Rough day?' asked Vina.'Get out..' replied Hana sobbing behind the closed door.Vina looked at herself in the mirror and said 'you  think you have the biggest problem,but you're wrong,I have the biggest.'.There was no reply.Vina handed her some tissues under the walls of the cubicle.Hana took it without saying anything.As Vina exits the toilet,she said 'Im Vina by the way,and I think we'll be good friends like you and my cousin used to be'.Then Hana started to weep heavily like the downpour outside.

                          I entered the empty detention room.I was not surprised Josh was not around.I sat in front and started to continue my unfinished essay.Ms. Din was probably disappointed with me as I have never failed to do all the homework she have given me.Maybe I could walk pass her house later and help her with her gardening.Problem is,Ms. Din doesn't do her gardening at night.I couldn't concentrate on my essay.My mind is filled with questions again.I have to clear all of it or I will be sleeping in school tonight.I looked outside the window.I felt like I'm a prisoner,a prisoner of reality.So confined I could barely breathe.I wanted to get out,but I have to face my punishment.I closed my eyes and tried to picture myself in the sky.Floating above the green.Wandering in a place where nothing seemed to whither.I opened my eyes and I saw Josh.

                          'Why are you doing your homework?' asked Josh.I did not reply as I wanted to stay focused and finish it.'Look if you're not gonna talk,I will rot here you know..' Josh said looking up the ceiling.'There's nothing to talk about..' I turned my eyes on him and back to my essay.'Josh started whistling.I frowned at him.I felt powerless as I couldn't make him stop.It was frustrating being stuck with him in a big room.I threw my pen at him and I started to cry.Josh knew he had gone too far.He kept still and looked down.'Why are you all doing this to me?' I said breaking the silence.'You all think you know me,but you all don't know me at all..' I continued trying to hide my trembling hands.'I know what you all want to hear from me,that I lost my mom when I was a kid,that my sister ran away from home,that I have an unstable father,that I don't have a social life I'm pathetic and weak I'm invisible to everyone..' I took a deep breath to calm myself.Josh look like a still water.'The stones you people have thrown at me does hurt,I just want you to know..' I stood up and left the detention room.

                              I took the long bus ride home,because I don't want to go home just yet.I wanted to roam around Southport to clear things off my chest.Seeing things through the bus window just makes me feel at ease.The evergreen leaves created a captivating silhouette against the sky.The sea gulls flapped their wings and fly over the shimmering bay.The sun was about to set.The sky was orange and its turning into purple and then dark blue to pitch black.I got down the bus stop and walked home.I opened the front door and I was surprised that dad was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.'How's school today?' asked dad with a smile on his face.'Everything's fine..I had detention..' I replied.'Well? you'll never fully experience high school if you have never had a detention..' said dad giggling.Dad and I had dinner at the red rooster.'I will be working here on Sunday onwards' I confessed.'That's great..atleast you will get a taste of the working world' replied dad.'Lian,my son,I know I have been a burden to you and Lana..' dad continued as I ate.I wanted him to know that this day might be the worst day ever but tonight just changed everything.I felt happy that for once I didn't felt fear or worry but great joy.Then it all sink down the drain.'My job required me to work in New York and I will be flying tomorrow.He took a deep breath.'I wanted you to know that I am doing this for us and that I will always love you,I will be back as soon as I can.'I was in deep thought during the ride back home.I felt sick.I don't know when will I ever be happy again.