Chapter Six – Friday
Detention for three weeks straight.
Pros: Liliath decided to kindly join me
Cons: Not hanging with the boys – and no not One Direction – Patrick, Pete, Andy and Joe.
I’m sorry but Mr Finley kind of sucked as a principal.
After Finley took great care in organising our detentions he generously gave us long and informative half-hour rant about how – and I quote – “canoodling” is not acceptable in the hallways. This was news to me since all Patrick did was touch my cheek. And so we were banned from ever being in the same detention room together to prevent such a thing from happening ever again - cue rolling eyes. He really had our best interests at heart.
I had precalc last period and my mind was having an existential crisis. I could feel sweat building up around my temple due to the fact that my brain was melting at that very moment. I spent a quarter of an hour wondering how math will change my life and how my future job as a (insert job here) may as well depend on this hour and a half long class.
It wasn’t that I was actually bad at maths. Once I got the hang of it the theorems and solutions to problems would refuse to leave my brain. But that was once I got the hang of it. It takes me quite a while to get the hang of it.
When the bell rang I grabbed at my chance at escaping the humid air and dashed out of my seat. Most students had extra-curricular activities after school – mine was detention.
I slumped against the rock hard chair and sighed waiting for Liliath to enter detention. Today it was packed – not a very nice way to spend a Friday evening I admit, but I guess it’s better than getting high and having a pounding headache the next day…only now I’m not so sure.
The scene was so loud I needed earplugs; I don’t know how teachers can survive the noise during mandatory school hours let alone outside of school. A small, short and plump teacher sat on a high stool at the front of the classroom, her over-sized glasses occupying more than half of her face. I tried very hard to sink into the wall behind me while surveying the class. Lots of gum chewing, yelling, stuff being thrown everywhere and a good amount of make-out sessions that if not stopped would lead to something horrendously icky.
Liliath slipped in late but was unnoticed by the teacher. She sat on the table next to me and I sunk lower in my seat – a spit wad narrowly missing my head. “I know four year olds more behaved like this” I said – well shouted to her as I shook my head disbelieving.
“I know – I thought we left all this shit in middle school.” Today, Li wore yellow shorts, an extremely t-shirt and a baggy, large opened blue shirt that hung to her knees. Her plat formed boots allowed her to look down on me – something I’ve been trying to avoid for many years. And I don’t mean height wise.
When I was twelve I never said no to anyone – it was … somewhat of a phobia. I hated the disappointment that filled people’s faces when I couldn’t help, that piercing gaze of sorrow and desperation - so I did all that I could in my power to provide some sort of service needed, but it was never enough. I was never enough.
