The New Life

Chapter Four

"Do I have to go to this new school? I've been there five whole days and I've made no friends."

"Well, Jackson and Kali are you friends, aren't you?" Suggests my mom.

"Eh." Jackson and I reply in sync.

"Are you ready for science class' presentation?" I asked him as we walked away.

"Yeah, and it better be worth it, I worked really hard on this."

"Same here."

"Hey Ramona."

I was currently leaned against the locker next to Jackson's while we chatted and as he put his books up.

"What's up?" I ask.

"I'm fake texting so I don't look like a loser."

Jackson closed his locker.

He sprinted to Ramona's side.

"Here comes this girl I kinda like. You should say hi to her."

"Hey."

"Hey."

"You know, I thought that went really well."

I grabbed Jackson's elbow and pulled him back.

"What exactly were you planning by doing that?"

He shrugged.

I frowned.

'An excuse to bring up Lola...' I thought.

I didn't have time to question it further until Ramona talked again.

"I gotta get out of here."

"I can make that happen. I'll bust you right out of here."

"Really? That'd be awesome. But his place is like Alcatraz. How are you gonna get me out of here?"

"Hey, don't let this pretty face fool you."

I chuckled.

"I'm bad to the bone."

He elbowed a locker close.

"Ow!" He winced.

"You're not even bad to the funny bone."

His cheeks flushed and I laughed at him.

"What Jackson was trying to say is, we can help you."

She smiled. "Well, thanks." I nodded and we walked to class awkwardly.

                                   ~

       "So, am I going through the air ducts? Am I tunneling out? What's the plan?"

Jackson and I shared a look of disbelief.

"Listen to me very carefully," He started. "When I say, 'Go', you climb out the window."

"That's it?" She said lamely.

"The blinds are pre-raised, the windows are pre-opened. When I execute my diversion, it's GO time."

She gives us a look. "But basically I'm just climbing out the window?" He thinks for a moment. "Uh yeah." I look at her. "But, " I add. "We could get in huge trouble by doing this. So be grateful."

As the science teacher came in and Lola started to present her project, Jackson and I worked on what we had memorized earlier. "Mix that," I muttered to Jackson, and then pointed to another liquid. "Then just add six drops of that.." It barely took a second to work, and the whole class was gasping in shock as smoke arose from the container we were pouring liquids in and soon, the smoke detector went off, leaving us dripping wet as we motioned for her to execute her part of the plan. She nodded and ran to the window, as Jackson and I high fived.

"Please remain calm!" Said the teacher. "But as you're running for your lives, take note of how your projects are reacting to H20!"

I rolled my eyes as Jackson and I tried to escape, but ran into our very boring science teacher.

He turned around and looked at us, pointing his finger.

"You are in big trouble Mr Fuller and Miss Summers! I saw you two set off the smoke alarm on purpose!"

"Purposely?! Why'd we want to do that!" I cried, acting as if we were innocent.

"Yeah, it was an accident! We were just practicing chemical reactions, like you taught us!"

But his gaze was now fixed on something behind us, and we turned around.

"Woah, look who just got busted! The new kid!"

She looked at us. "Great escape plan Kalina and Jackson. Except you forgot where everyone lines up during a fire drill." They shared a moment of recognition and I mentally face palmed. "Right outside this window."

"Um I'm sorry, do I know you?" He asked, playing dumb.

I glared at him, apologizing to Ramona and we were escorted to the principle.

                                ~

I sat next to Jackson on the couch, my head leaning on his shoulder as I watched him play his game.

"We're so dead when our parents come home."

He nodded.