The Emo School (A Fanfic)

Chapter 12

Gerard

100%, 100%, 99%, my computer reads. I scroll down my list looking at the near perfect to immaculate grades. Might as well check up on everyone's progress while I have a free period. I notice an 83% amongst the scores and check the name. Alex. I make a note to pay extra attention to him in class and keep scrolling. I notice one student with no score next to her name - Cassie. I don't recognize the name. Must be new. Mikey mentioned we had a new student earlier...it must be them. I click Cassie's name and wait for her profile to load. We have to read up on all new students and their interests so we can have even better conversations with them. Instead of accidentally boring them, we can chat about the things they like, leaving them feeling happier and more understood.
Her profile appears on the screen. Just as I start reading, I hear a knock on the door. "Come in!" I call, turning my computer off. Can't let the students see confidential information. Mikey enters, shutting the door carefully behind him.
"Hey, Gee." he greets me. "We've got a new student joining us, so I thought I'd better brief you."
"Let me guess, Cassie?" I ask, smiling.
"Oh, you already saw?" He asks.
"Yeah, I was just reading Cassie's profile." I respond. "It says she had quite a hard time at her school?" I ask him.
"Yeah, bullied a lot. Beaten too. And nobody was doing anything about it!"he tells me. Mikey sighs and sits down. "It's just a shame. Kids being treated like that. Poor kid didn't deserve any of it." Mikey says.
"Still, she's with us now." I reassure him. That's why he's the counsellor, I guess. He really does care about each and every student.
"What about Max? I don't really know much about her, even though she's been here a couple of weeks."
"I don't know much about her, actually. Andy picked her up, not me," Mikey says, sitting down on a table. "I know she had a really bad time at her old school. I think she's quite intelligent, but I don't know if she's any good at art," he continues.
"I'll keep her in the middle set for now." I reply. "I'm really excited to have these kids joining us."
"Me too!" says Mikey. " I want to show them life's not all bad."
"That's why I feel so lucky to have this job. We're changing lives, Mikey." I answer.
"Exactly." He replies. "Anyway, I've got some work to do, so I'm gonna go do that."
"Yeah, I gotta prepare for the next lesson." I say. "Alright, see ya." I say.
"Yeah, see ya," he says.
He gets up off the table and exits. I check my watch. Forty minutes left of my free period. I decide to leave ten minutes to prepare for my lesson. But what can I do for thirty minutes? I could chat with someone...who else has a free this period? I'll check the schedule. I log onto my computer and the schedule is just loading when my phone pings. There's a message from Frank.
'Hey, wanna hang out? I have a free :D' it reads. I smile. It's nice to know someone cares. 'Sure, whereabouts?' I reply. 'Meet me in my classroom?' Frank replies.
'Ya, be up in a few.' I text back. I get up and start walking upstairs to the science labs. I'm actually kind of excited. Besides my conversations with Mikey, I haven't really talked to anyone in a while. It gets a little lonely when you live on your own. Mikey keeps trying to set me up with his friends. I find it sweet, but I'm not ready for a relationship right now.
I reach the science labs and check the time. I have plently of time. Still, I increase my pace, eager to see my friend.
I arrive at Frank's classroom. The door is open. He is sat on a table at the back of the room, watching the big screen at the front. I look to see what he is watching. It's a livestream of his nine dogs, who are playing in the living room. I decide to watch him for a while, then sneak up on him. There's a door at the back of his room that connects to the classroom next to his. Luckily, it's empty so I can surprise him. I silently walk to the adjacent room and enter. I walk up to the door connecting the rooms and watch through the window.
He gets up suddenly. I hide behind the door. "Peppers!" He calls. Uhhhh...what? Peppers? A small, white Chihuahua looks up and woofs. I realize they can hear him. Oh my god...He has a nannycam - for his dogs! I chuckle quietly, making sure he doesn't hear me. He sits back down and relaxes. I slowly open the door, careful not to make any noise. Thank god these doors are silent! Frank watches on, oblivious. Now I've got the door fully open. I tiptoe forward, absolutely silent. I hold my breath, just in case he hears me breathing. Now I'm directly behind him. I can barely hold in my laughter. Oh my god, this is going to be hilarious! I wait till he is completely relaxed, then tap his shoulder. He screams and looks behind him, his face full of pure terror. I give in to the urge and start laughing hysterically. He sees me and instantly relaxes, panting. He lies down across two tables, laughing. "Oh my god, your face!" I say, still laughing. "I'll...get you...for...that!" Frank wheezes.
I realize the dogs have been pretty silent. We both turn to look at the screen to see the dogs anxiously staring at the webcam, one of them pawing the screen with concern.
"It's ok, guys." Frank says, still laughing. The dogs instantly go back to playfully wrestling each other. Frank sits up and looks at me. We both start laughing again.
Frank goes silent and I realize he's laughing so hard no sound is coming out, he's just vibrating intensely. Frank takes deep breaths and is finally able to compose himself.
I look at him and grin.
"We gotta tell Mikey about this," I say.
"So uh, how've you been?" He laughs. "Pretty good, actually. You?" I reply.
"Alright, thanks." He responds. "Dogs are pretty happy!" He says, looking at the screen.
I watch them running around, play growling and laugh. He really does care about his dogs. We talk for a while till it's time for me to go. "Alright, well, I must be off," I say. "Yeah, I gotta set up too," Frank replies.
"We should do this again sometime, it was fun," I say.
He nods. "We could grab a drink after work?" He suggests.
We sort out the details then I depart. Walking down the stairs, I feel refreshed. It's nice to feel understood. I start setting for my next lesson. They're going to be painting still life so I get out all the painting things. Each table gets a two palettes, two water pots, some paint and two random objects. I pick up some objects from around the room and put them on the desks. The stapler, a flowerpot, and a can of diet coke are some of the things I pick up. Once it's done I sit back in my chair, sighing. I'm looking forward to that drink.