We're Getting There

Chapter 2

For the second time that day, Liam walked into class late. On any other day walking into his first-period lesson late would've been fine, but on that particular day, it seemed like the world was out to get him.

When Liam rushed into his first English lesson of the year, after quickly retrieving his school bag from his form room, he immediately found himself in trouble.

"Mr Liam Parker, I presume?" the teacher said. "Not a good way to the begin the year." She looked over her glasses at him as if he was a speck of dirt that wouldn't go away.

"Are you going to sit down or are you waiting there for a ticket to detention?" she asked, distastefully.

Liam quickly came to his senses. "Sorry..." he trailed off, unsure of what to call her. He glanced around the classroom and made unexpected eye contact with Jaxon. "Uh..."

"Sit down!" the teacher asserted.

Even as he made his way to the empty seat, which Sammy had saved for him, he could feel the class' eyes on him, every single one of them holding back their laughter. A light blush dusted his cheeks as he sat down before grumpily whispering to Sammy, "Whatever happened to sweet old Mr Malone? I don't even know her name."

Sammy chuckled. "It's your fault you were late." he pointed out. "And her name is Miss Bates."

"That's your first warning, Mr Alvarez. And your second, Mr Parker. I am trying to teach a lesson!" Miss Bates threatened.

Sammy, who didn't like to be in trouble, shut up immediately after that and concentrated on the work they'd been set, much to Liam's dismay. Without Sammy as a distraction, his eyes kept wandering to the ginger boy across the room. Even when they were supposed to be having a group discussion, he was staring intently at Jaxon, watching his every move. Until he was looking straight at Miss Bates stomach. Liam slowly lifted his head until he had a perfect view of her hairy nostrils.

"I have had quite enough of you fooling around in my lesson, Mr Parker," she began. "And if two warnings aren't enough to teach you, then I suppose I'll have no choice but to give you a detention."

Liam's eyes widened in alarm. "No! Miss, please, you can't do that! I promise I'll concentrate. I'll never be late again." he begged. Sammy looked over worriedly.

"Mr Parker, you must face the consequences of your actions," she said coolly. "I'll see you when lunch starts. On the dot." She turned and continued patrolling the classroom.

Liam breathed a sigh of relief. "Lunch. That's fine. I'm still free after school." He immediately got his head down and did his work because he simply could not afford to get into any more trouble.

***

At the end of a very long, tense day, Sammy and Liam met at the school gates.

"Ready to go?" Sammy asked.

Liam nodded eagerly. "Yes! Before another teacher tries to stick me in detention." He paused and smiled cheekily at Sammy. "Race you to the bus stop!" he said as he took off.

"Hey! That's not fair." Sammy shouted after him.

They soon arrived at the bus stop, completely out of breath. Only a few moments later, the bus pulled up. Sammy and Liam boarded, almost falling over as the bus lurched forward.

"Just ten stops," Liam said, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Sammy nodded. "Yep."

Twenty minutes later, they were still on the bus.

"Three more stops," Liam told Sammy, nervously.

"Look, I know you're excited but you don't have to say it at every stop, Liam," Sammy complained, rolling his eyes.