Burning Water

Chapter 1

"If one person is worth a million people than what are those million other people worth?" Julia asked her clearly confused teacher.

"That's a good point Julia but..."

"But what? Are you going to tell me I'm not right because technically I am." She sighed. Why anyone used those tedious sayings eluded her.

"Miss Julia Palestien that is your second strike. One more and you're going to the office." The class snickered. FINALLY the school know-it-all was going to get in trouble it was only looked forward upon by almost everyone at R.J Rosse.

"I'm just pointing out a clear flaw in your work Mrs. Ritchet," she said smugly "a little too clear don't you think? You are an English teacher are you?" The snickering stopped. She had finally gone to far. Mrs. Ritchet's face paled making her freckles seem more prominent on her face than before. She extended a single finger at Julia and said hoarsley,

"Get out of my class Julia right now and don't come back until you've talked to the principal!" Julia was shocked that SHE of all people was being sent to the principal's office. She hadn't done anything wrong! She was quite sure the principal would see it her way and fire the stupid arrogant English teacher or just make her apoligize to her. Just the image of Mrs. Ritchet begging on her knees for forgiveness not unlike a dog, brought a smile to her face. She stood up proudly and bent over to retrieve her books (there was no need leaving them here when she had a class next) and marched out the door.

The hallways weren't very quiet because some people were on their lunch. It didn't make the descent to the principal's office very dramatic but Julia could deal with it. She was cool like that.

The walls in the office were a light tone of beige making the atmosphere seem very calming. That was if you found a chubby red faced fourty year old man having a break down relaxing.

"JULIA! J.F Rogs is all about respect and so far you haven't show any over the last month you've been here!"

"It's R.J Rosse Mr. Burnes." Julia said barely holding back a chuckle.

His face became an odd colour of purple. He had only started a month ago at this school and he had hoped for an easy semester but so far it was extremly stressful. His divorce was being settled and his kids weren't going to be allowed to see him except for on special occasions if his ex-wife won. The school was even doing bad on provincial test's! Now he had to deal with this business with Julia. He sighed. " We had overlooked the previous schools you were expelled from because your father assured us that you were going to be on better behaviour, but this latest incident is too much with all you have done over the past month."

Julia wasn't regretful for what she had done today but the other incidents she was regretful for, even if she was too stubborn to admit it. She shifted in her seat hoping it wasn't leading to the inevitable. Her Father and her Mother were away on a "work" vacation and she really didn't want them to be called. It wasn't all for selfish reasons she assured herself. She wanted them to have a romantic break from her. "I'm sorry but we can't afford to have you at this school anymore you can finish the rest of the week but after that-"

"WHAT THE HELL! I was just stating my opinon that is not illegal as far as I know! Mrs. Ritchet is just a total Idget! Why you listened to her side of the story instead of mine baffle's me!" Julia shouted over top of him.

"She has never vandalized school lockers, and beat up the quater back has she? Who do you think I'm going to believe?!" Thinking about it made her wince. What was wrong with her? Why did she have to be so impulsive and tempermental? Why couldn't she just stop being so messed up?!