Drifting Blind

Shermer High School

Chapter 1:

~

"Hey, maybe it'll make you feel better if I told you I've got a surprise for you after detention?"

"Nothing will make me feel better, Ruth,"

Ruth winced, "Come on, I'm not even mad,"

"I don't care. I am. I'm mad at myself, I should be sleeping right now."

"Well, Maryanne, try and cheer up, think about that surprise I have for you after school, okay?"

Maryanne huffed, "It won't help," she unbuckled her seatbelt and quickly got out of the car. She slammed the door, and lightly waved at the smiling woman inside. Then, she was gone.

Maryanne was about ten minutes early to 7 a.m. detention at Shermer High School. She took a seat on the steps and opened up a book to read. Her gold blonde hair was pulled back in a headband, her light blue, faintly sparkled, v-neck shirt hung nicely off her shoulders. Pulling her jacket tighter, she shivered against the morning breeze, she had put on a pair of high waisted jean shorts, ready for it to be much warmer when she got out of hell today. At least her feet were warm, with a pair of high-top black converse and matching striped socks that came up to about mid-calf on her legs. Her style was simple but cute, she didn't like drawing attention to herself.

She had pretty green eyes that were always alert and moving, accentuated with light brown eyeliner, rosy eyeshadows, and dark mascara that gave her eyes a sharp look to them. Her hair was either down, or in a french braid.

Maryanne was new to Shermer High School this year. But this wasn't the first time she was the new kid, it had been her sixth school since she began switching schools so much in seventh grade. Maybe she would actually get to stay here this time, she only had two more years of school, and she didn't want to be facing her last year of school once again, alone with no friends. Maybe if she actually got to stay and meet new friends, she'd be happier and enjoy school.

Maryanne had no clue where she fit in at school, she barely had any time to find out where she would fit because by the time she did she was moving on to the next city over.

Just then as she finished her chapter, a nice, silver, BMW car pulled up. Then another maroon colored car, then a pickup truck. Shutting her book, she stuffed it in her bag just as a girl emerged from the silver car. She had short, red hair that came to just under her jawline. She knew her name, Claire, probably the most popular girl in school, one of them at least. Walking up to the steps, she lightly smiled at Maryanne and continued up the steps slowly.

After another minute, a tall, lanky, blonde haired boy came out of the maroon colored car. When he looked at Maryanne he sort of shivered and looked back down, walking past her. Maryanne sighed and stood, unzipping her jacket and picking up her bag. A well built, soft-faced boy walked past her then. He turned and gave her a sideways glance, then smiled at her. Maryanne blushed and began to walk up the steps behind him slowly.

"Here you go," he held the door open for her with a sideways grin.

"Thanks," she responded. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad. She saw he was a varsity letterman, a jock. His footsteps were right behind her and she turned into the library. Claire had taken up the furthest left side seat on the first table on the left, the lanky boy behind her on the opposite side. Maryanne made for the middle seat on the first table to her right. The jock took a seat on the table with Claire. Once again, he quickly glanced at her and looked away with a smile.

Thank god for this beautiful boy today.

Just then, a tall boy walked in with sunglasses and his head held high, long brown hair, and some clothes that could use some cleaning up. Maryanne crossed her legs and turned when she heard someone take a seat behind her. Hoping to dear god it wasn't the tall, dark-haired boy, she was relieved to see it was the lanky, blonde boy. He nodded his head at her and she turned back around, deciding to pull out her book again. A few minutes later, a girl in all black walked in with her head down and her hair covering her face. Briskly, she walked to the back of the room without looking up, taking up the last seat on the last table, in the last row on the right.

Everyone seemed to notice when she came in, giving odd stares as she passed. Maryanne sighed and shut her book as she saw the principal walk into the library.

Mr. Vernon was an arrogant, strict, hot-headed man. He didn't like kids, so furthermore he didn't like his job as the principal. Ratting out kids and humiliating them was what most of the kids said he loved the most about his job.

It sure as hell seemed like it.

Everyone avoided his stare as he came to a stop in front of them. He smirked and shook his head, "Well, well, here we are. I want to congratulate you for being on time." His sarcasm dripped off every word he said, the kids rolled their eyes.

"Excuse me," a voice timidly said. Maryanne slowly peered over from her book as Claire rose her hand, "I know this is detention, but I don't think I should be here. That is, I don't think I belong here,"

Vernon ignored her and glanced at his watch, "It is now 7:06, you now have eight hours and fifty-four minutes to think about why you're here, ponder the error of your ways."

The dark-haired boy made a noise, Maryanne didn't much care to look because whatever he was doing sounded disgusting.

"You may not talk," Vernon said as he glared at Claire, "You will not move from these seats."

The boy behind her had apparently been doing just that because Vernon wearily eyed him, she heard him switch back seats.

"And you will not sleep." He said as he walked to the dark-haired boy, abruptly pulling the chair from under his propped up feet. The boy glared at him and leaned against the desk, giving him a challenging stare. Maryanne went back to reading, after about ten seconds she felt a presence behind her. Looking up slowly, she saw Vernon standing right over her shoulder.

"You are to do nothing," he growled, motioning for the book. Maryanne looked back and forth between the book and Vernon, pulling away slightly. He suddenly snatched the book away, the papers crinkling under his tight hold. Maryanne gasped, but shut her mouth as he glared back at her. He shut the book and stuffed it into his jacket.

"Alright people, we're going to try something a little bit different today," he began to pass out papers, "We are going to write an essay, no less than a thousand words, describing to me who you think you are."

"This a test?" The dark-haired boy asked. Maryanne sighed as she picked up a pencil and wrote down her name.

"And when I say essay, I mean essay. Not one word repeated a thousand times," Vernon stared back at the dark-haired boy, "Am I clear, mister Bender?"

Bender, so that's his name?

The boy paid no attention to him as he messed with his shoe, "Crystal!"

Vernon nodded, "Good. Maybe you'll learn something about yourself, maybe you'll learn whether you care to return or not."

Suddenly, the blonde boy behind Maryanne raised his hand, "Yeah, I can answer that now, sir," he stood up, "And that'd be a no, no for me 'cause-"

"Sit down, Johnson!" Vernon interrupted him with an annoyed look.

The boy, 'Johnson', looked a little embarrassed and put down, "Thank you, sir," he responded and slowly sat back down. Maryanne stared at him a little with an amused look, and he bit his lip as he looked away.

"My office is right across that hall. Any monkey business is ill-advised. Any questions?" Vernon asked as he shifted his weight onto one leg.

"Yeah," Bender shouted, "I got a question. Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?"

"I'll give you the answer to that question next Saturday." Vernon spat at him, Maryanne looked wide-eyed at her principal and Bender, "Don't mess with the bull, young man, you'll get the horns." He pointed at Bender, who merely stared back with no emotion whatsoever. Vernon slowly backed out and left the room. The door was left wide open, leading out to the hallway, perfect for Vernon to hear them.

If he would even pay attention, or gave a shit.