In A New Life [Lams]

Chapter 4: "Dance With Me?"

*from now on, when I use French, it will most likely be complex sentences so if you wait until the end, there will be translations so you don't have to do it yourselves*

"After you add the sulfur, just stir until I come by your desk to check your experiment," Ms. Manning instructed.

As soon as she started walking around the room, I felt a sharp jab in my rib cage.  I shot a glare at Lafayette, who was trying to innocently act as if he didn't impale my ribs with his sharp elbow.  "So. . ." he drawled, twirling his finger around the stirring stick to mix in the ingredients.  "You're going to Hercules' party, right, mon ami?"

"Yes, I am.  If I can make it through the rest of the day without getting in major trouble or getting detention.  That's my deal with Mr. Washington."

Laf pat me on the shoulder and I looked at him in confusion.  "Jeez, what's with the French try to become more into the American culture, it's always a questions.  Why, mon ami?  Can't I just attempt American customs with my American friend, or is that forbidden?  Anyway, I'm sure you'll make it."

"It's just that you've never done that before is all.  So I'm assuming you're going?"

Laf was about to respond when Ms. Manning came up behind us.  "Something you boys can share with me in detention?"

"Oh, fuck.  George is going to kill me!" I exclaimed, and fairly loudly, might I add, catching the attention of the entire class.

"Dèsolè, mon ami."

"Now a definite detention, Mr. Hamilton.  To think -- I was going to let you off with a warning," Ms. Manning 'tsk'ed and proceeded to check our experiment.  We failed.

"Please can the detention be at lunch?"

"Actually, that's a good idea.  One of you after school and one during lunch so that way the two of you can't speak to each other.  Mr. Hamilton, you will be with me for lunch detention.  Mr. Lafayette, you will be with me after school.  I will the both of you later."   She smiled, satisfied with herself, and walked off.

*

I shifted uncomfortably in the hard maroon chair under Mr. Washington's harsh stare, Lafayette with me, picking at the loose threads he saw in the hems of his jeans.  When Mr. Washington was pissed, the room seemed to shrink significantly; like there was no place to run, no way to escape the inevitable environment. 

"Alexander, you just finished a week long detention and week long grounding.  I had one rule for you to not get detention for you to be able to go to this party tonight, and what do you do?  Get detention! You're now bringing Gilbert down with you!  I'm very disappointed in you.  You know that?"  Mr. Washington scolded.

"Mr. Lafayette, you are free to go.  Please don't skip detention to go to this party so I don't have to send a call home, because don't you dare test me, I will do it.  As for you,  Alexander,  sit tight.  We have some stuff to discuss."  Mr. Washington waited patiently until Laf left, the door was shut, and he knew no one was going to overhear, although I don't know why he waited for the last one.

"Son--"

"Don't call me son," I snapped, suddenly getting defensive.

"I know you probably don't mean to do it, but how do you constantly get detention?  It's not going to look good on your college applications."

"The fight, that one I deserved.  I forgot that school has different rules than public pizza places and arcades that ban you for the day and if you change your look, they forget you were banned.  Distractions and sass in Mr. Seabury's class?  Also deserved that one.  This one, I did not deserve as much.  Laf and I were technically following all of the instructions.  We were doing our work and whispering.  Not being disrespectful, not not doing our work.  However, when I forgot a filter and screamed 'fuck--'"