The T.R.A.K.Z

Chapter 2: In Trouble

   Another day, the same routine to follow...

   Morning classes are finished, which means it's now time for lunch.

   I was making my way to the cafeteria and, as usual, trying to avoid bumping into people. Once I entered the cafeteria, the same scene is shown; people chatting, some throwing food at each other, some laughing and other random things but there is one thing that will never change: cliques.

   There are the Popular Ones, the Geeks, the Goths, the Weirdoes, and others but the clique that I'm in is the Loner. Well, it's not really a clique since it's a group of people and I'm alone so...

   After grabbing my lunch from the mean lunch lady-- my drink almost spilled when she gave it to me-- I went to my table that was at the corner of the cafeteria. For some reason, no one sits on that table--except me. I think it's because there's a lose screw-- no one ever bothers to fix it-- so they might think that it will break while they're eating but it hasn't when I started eating here since the 7th Grade.

   While I was eating my lunch, a stress ball bounced and landed on my table, surprising me.

   "Oops! Sorry about that," I looked up from my food to see a girl approach me. She has long black hair with purple streaks and she's wearing purple contact lenses. I was starting to panic because I didn't know what to say or do.

   "Can I have that stress ball?" She asked slowly as if I was going to run away which is exactly what I'm thinking on doing but decided against it.

   I need to stop being so shy and make friends for once, I thought as I looked at the stress ball to the girl in front of me and back to the stress ball again, Oh man! I must look like a deer in the headlights... Get a grip, Alex!

   "U-uh... S-sure," I stammered, grabbing the stress ball from the middle of the table and handing it to the girl.

   "Thanks!" The purple-streaked girl said cheerfully, "Zoom always has butter fingers, which is not expected for a prankster. Anyway, my name is Thalia, what's yours?"

   Wow, I thought, She really speaks her mind and she's friendly.

   "M-my name is Alex," I said, smiling shyly. I was starting to be more comfortable with talking to Thalia. She seems to have this aura that makes me want to talk to her without running away or maybe it's the fact that she's the only student that bothered to talk to me but either way, at least I'm starting to make friends-- even though Thalia introduced herself first.

   "Well, Alex, I got to go back to my table so see you whenever!" Thalia left with the stress ball in her hand.

   After lunch time, I went to my locker to get my books for the first class in the afternoon: Math-- with the most hated teacher in the school, Mr. Munson.

   He is a very unhappy old man who hates kids, teenagers, and his wife but enjoys torturing us by giving a lot of assignments.

   I entered the classroom, and as quiet as possible, went to my seat. There is another thing that Mr. Munson hates: Noise. If he hears a sneeze or a cough while he's discussing, he will kick you out-- literally.

   I took my seat at the back of the classroom while my other classmates silently went to our seats. Did I mention that Mr. Munson is sitting behind his desk, watching the students enter like a hawk? Well, now you know.

   Once everyone is seated, Mr. Munson stood up with a disgusted look on his vulture-like face. He has a long, crooked nose, beady eyes, and he's bald-- just like a vulture.

   "Okay, you worthless brats," he said grumpily, "I could be at home and ignore my wife all day but instead, I am here as a teacher because I have no choice."

   After an hour of silently listening to the discussion, it was the end of the class and we quietly went out of the classroom.

   After a few more classes, it was already dismissal time and I was returning my books back to my locker. When I was walking to the school doors to leave, I heard Mr. Reed call me.

   "Y-yes, M-Mr. Reed?" I asked. I need to stop stammering!

   "I need you to lock the laboratory room because," he looked toward the boxes in his arms and I noticed the keys between his fingers, "my hands are full."

   "O-okay," I took the keys and Mr. Reed smiled, "Thanks! You can return the keys to me tomorrow, okay? Bye!"

   Wait, I'll keep the lab keys 'till tomorrow? I can't do that! I thought, panicking. Before I could say anything, Mr. Reed already left.

   That was fast, I thought, I didn't even hear the school doors open.

   I was heading to the lab when I heard voices and croaking in the lab.

   "Come on, guys," A nervous voice said, "Let's just go!"

   "No way," Another voice said, laughing, "I won't let a perfect prank opportunity like this pass!"

   "And it would be hilarious to see the seventh graders' faces when they see frogs in their desks," A female voice said. That voice sound familiar, I thought.

   "We'll be in big trouble if somebody finds us in here," Another said with a deeper voice. That voice also sounds familiar, I thought as I looked in the lab.

   My suspicions were correct when I saw Thalia and Roy in front of a desk with a box of I think are frogs by the sound of croaking coming from there. Behind the desk was a teen who is an inch shorter than Roy, has messy  dirty-blond hair with blue eyes.

   The blue-eyed teen was about to reach in the box but was interrupted by another person in the room. "Don't touch the frogs with your bare hands! Don't you know where those frogs come from?" Said a nervous-looking teen who is standing a few feet away from the box of frogs. He has dark brown hair with hazel eyes, wears glasses and is the same height as the blue-eyed teen.

   "Don't worry, Ken," The blue-eyed teen lifted a pair of gloves, "I got gloves."

   Wow, I thought, I can't believe they haven't noticed me yet.

   Before he put on the gloves, someone spoke behind me.

   "And what are you five doing here?" A grumpy voice spoke behind me. Great, I thought, it's Mr. Munson.

   Thalia spoke, " We were just--"

   "Detention for all five of you for a week!" Mr. Munson announced then left.

   Detention. I have detention.

   This was the only thought I had while all of us left the school after locking the laboratory door using Mr. Reed's keys.

   I remembered the horoscope that my mom told me and based on what happened today; breaking routine did not change things for the better.