Dylan

I'm a Genius

I feel bad for Butler Chris--ahem, I mean Principal Malone. I really do. He looks at me warily and motions for all of us to sit. I used to be a hell of a rascal as a kid, and I guess he's feeling nostalgic since I haven't done any growing whatsoever. 

"Merissa," my name is a loaded sigh. He taps his table. "Already? It's the eighth time this week. And what's this I hear about you skipping school yesterday?"

I feel the heat of embarrassment on my cheeks as I cast the other two a glance. Link looks like he's about to fall asleep again and Biker Dude looks completely amused. 

"I didn't skip," I huff, then when he raises his eyebrows, I clarify: "Not on purpose."

Principal Malone gestures for me to continue. He knows there's always more to the story with me. 

"I took the bus because I don't want to follow Dylan to school and then I got lost so I was bus hopping, trying to get back but by the time I reached, classes were over for hours so I just went back." I give him the full summary. 

He nods, accepting that. He knows misadventures are my strong suit while lying is my absolute lousiest. "Okay. You're still marked as absent. Now why don't you want Mr Brooke to give you a ride to school?"

I scowl. "I don't need that bastard."

Biker Dude chokes out a laugh and Principal Malone winces. "Language, Merissa."

"Dumbass?" I try.

"Try again."

"Asshat?"

"Keep going."

"Loser? Idiot?"

Principal Malone sighs. "Merissa, please."

"Nitwit," I say. "That should be okay, right? Or simpleton."

"Perhaps we should just refrain from calling someone bad names, yes?" Principal Malone says dryly, while Link's head nods off and Biker Dude is pressing his lips together tightly, trying not to laugh. "I've overlooked too much for you this week, Merissa. I have to give you the tardy slip. There will be forty-five minutes of detention for all your...incidents. And please speak to Mr Brooke."

I scowl. "I'll do all of that except talk to that douche. He's weird in school."

Principal Malone just smiles and shakes his head. "Now, what's this about the lab exploding?"

And we pretty much spend the next period in the office. 

"Because you tampered with it!" Link defends himself. 

"I lessened the solute!" I shoot back. "That's the only reason the reaction was so mild! If I'd followed the book the whole class will be in the hospital right now!"

"If you didn't tamper with it I wouldn't have touched it!" Link snarls back and I grin. Gotcha. 

"You mean you were going to let me do OUR experiment by myself like before?"

Link grinds his teeth but he has nothing to say. 

Principal Malone is pressing his temple with his fingers. "I think I get it. But why do you feel the need to tamper the experiment, Merissa?"

I pout. "Because. It's boring. I already know what's going to happen. If I mix in x amount of y and z chemical it becomes k solute, and adding in potassium in a CONTROLLED AMOUNT would result in the metal and solute reacting to produce a by-product. My calculations are perfect. But then this dumbass here--sorry, nitwit--adds in three times the amount of potassium! That's more than what the book says! It's po-freaking-tassium!"