Love is such a Tired Clichè

Chapter 3: Excuses, Excuses

"Wait up!" I yell to Aryn and Rosa, my other best friend, walking quickly past Mrs. Grewal to catch up to them.

She gazes at me weirdly as I rush past, and I make eye contact for a moment. I again raise an eyebrow but by that point I am already past her and to Aryn and Rosa.

"What's up with your face?" Aryn says with a concerned expression. "You good, man?"

"Oh don't worry, this is her normal face," Rosa breaks in.

"Have you looked in a mirror recently? Oh, I forgot, it broke last time you tried," I smirk halfheartedly. "But yeah, I'm fine."

But that, in point of fact, is not true. My fingers are breaking from the weight of my binder, then one gives way (A/N*** Her fingers didn't actually break, by the way.). My binder tumbles to the floor and I find myself thankful that it is one of those Case-It binders that zip up. So my crap doesn't fly everywhere. Rosa sneers (nice friend, huh?) and I end up laughing at myself.

"I really need to clean this out, don't I? It ways 30 pounds, I swear. I'm so done right now," I sigh in annoyance.

Meanwhile, I still haven't picked up my binder. My hand reaches out to pick it up, but a foot comes out of nowhere and kicks it away from me. Out of instinct I instead make my hand a fist and direct it into their kneecap.

"What the heck?" I shout, looking up into the person's face.

Even though it was contorted in pain I recognized it as belonging to Fredericka, the most annoying and stupid person on Earth. Okay, not quite, but she did think Asia was a state in the US for God's sake. Thinking of this as I do it, my fist shoots toward her nose. But it never reaches it.

"Yo, man, you can stop that now," comes a familiar voice with a side of hand. That hand curls around my wrist with surprising strength while the attached body shoves Fredericka to the side.

I glance at Fredericka's savior and realize that it is Grewal. Shit, I'm screwed.

"Hi," I say meekly, cringing.

"Room 12," she hisses, but a glimmer in her eyes tells me she remembers our earlier conversation. "Now."

I turn to see Rosa suppressing laughter at my predicament and Aryn, faithful Aryn holding out my binder helpfully. On my way past he mouths, "Good luck."

I whisper back, "I won't need it. But thanks."

 As I step into the classroom, I hear Grewal talking to Fredericka in raised tones. Seconds that feel like decades pass until she enters the room, trailed by my two best friends.

"Here's a pass, you two," she says, handing them said pass. "You. You shouldn't have done that."

I gulp as she continues.

"However: I saw what she did to you and I understand that you have, umm, important papers in your binder. Still, just be wary of your actions," Mrs. Grewal cautions rather awkwardly. Her eyes are still directly fixed on mine, and I'm still feeling nervous even as she signs a pass. "I've given you two passes today alone. Don't make it a third time," she announces. The words she speaks are serious, but the corner of her lips twitch slightly. "Now get out."

I sprint through the hallway and up the stairs to get to la clase de español. I grin at Aryn and step over Terrence's outstretched foot on my way to Ms. Spatula's desk. Okay, that isn't her real name, but that's how it's pronounced and how most people spell it. It is actually Ms. Spetzula or something.

"Hmm, late again, I see," she murmurs rather creepily. "Second time in a week."

"Umm, that first time I had a doctor's appointment," I grumble, struggling to keep my temper in check. I've already been told off once today for that, I don't particularly feel like receiving another lecture.

"What might be your excuse this time?" Spetzula asks, peering at me over her cup of coffee.

"I... I was talking to G-Mrs. Grewal," I mutter under my breath.

"Mmhmm."

"I did!" I protest in annoyance. "You can ask her for proof if you so wish."

"I will," she hisses.

But I know she won't. She never keeps her promises. We supposedly have at least seven detentions with her (that haven't been scheduled) and due dates are rarely finalized until literally the last minute. It's both gratifying and annoying.

I got to sit down, my seat right behind Terrence, as Ms. Spetzula begins the lessong. Something about the verb "bailar," which means "to dance."  

* * *

Riing!!! Goes the bell. The entire class jumps up, including me, but Spetzula holds up a hand.

"Wait. The teacher dismisses, not the bell."

Well, this is new. She used to just say something like, "See ya" and turn back to her computer. But this? We sit back down in shock and dismay.

"You may go. ¡Hasta mañana!"

Finally! We stream through the doorway, down the hall, and down the stairs.

"When did that start?" I ask Toby, whose locker is adjacent to mine.

"When did what start?" Oh, right. Forgot that he didn't know what I was thinking about.

"Spetzula getting all grumpy about dismissal."

"Oh, that," he says with a sigh. "I heard that her friend was in the Orlando shootings."

"I heard that, too. But why would that...?" I ask, my voice trailing away.

Toby shrugs and slams his locker shut. I mimic him, except I use my foot instead of my hand. Aryn catched up to me as Toby and I part ways. The moment I notice Fredericka I pop my hip a bit, sending Aryn into her.

"What the hell, mate?" Aryn grumbles, after muttering a quick apology to the annoyed figure he made contact with.

I, of course, smirk at him. "It's nice to know you have such nice friends, huh?" I tease.

"Yup," he deadpans, playing along. "You reassured me greatly."

"The second a massive dragon invades the school, I'll save you."

"More like shove me into its flame breath," he snorts.

"What are friends for?"

We laugh as I pull open the door to the music hallway. Both of us have band next, then lunch.

"Ready for the torture normal people call band?" Aryn asks, extending his hand.

"I'm not sure if I'll survive, but let's do this!" I grab his hand, laughing.

"Ever the optimist," he announced before opening the door to the band room and pulling me inside.