the scientist // billy hargrove

T w o

Jade smacked her pen against her notebook for the thousandth time as she stared at the clock. School had started two hours ago but it felt like an eternity. She hated how every class would consist of "what did you do this summer?" She tapped her pen harder against her notebook as another high schooler went over their summer.

"Ms. Henderson, because you seem so eager to leave, what did you do this summer?" Jade rolled her eyes and stood from her seat, folding her arms below her chest.

"The usual, Mr. Rossir. I sacrificed kittens and puppies to Satan and murdered children for a snack. I guess you could say I summoned zombies as well," her eyes got big and she waved her fingers as the girls in class gasped. "You're all pathetic. Who gives a shit? This is just a debate on who had the best summer or who had the biggest keg party or had the most sex-"

"Obviously it wasn't her." Jade turned around to face Gretta laughing. She put her hands on the desk and leaned down to her face, close enough to feel her breathing and she grabbed her chin.

"Obviously it wasn't you because you're nothing but a prude trying to look cool for Harrington over there." She nodded her head towards the teen on the other side of the room.

"At least my only friends aren't the ones my little brother hangs out with and I don't perform witchery to get a guy to like me." Jade licked her lips and the whole class oooed. She leaned in closer to the girls face.

"You shouldn't have said that, you little bitch." Jade stepped back and punched the girl onto the ground then straddled her and punched some more. She watched her rings connect with Gretta's face and blood ooze from the cuts left behind. Gretta punched her in the mouth and Jade felt the blood on her lip. Gretta took the moment to flip Jade and get a few good punches to her cheek and jaw. Jade connected her knee with her stomach and stood. She grabbed the broom by the bristles and prepared to swing when Alex grabbed her hand. Jade looked into his eyes with a scowl. Beverly put her hand on Jade's shoulder.

"First day fights, babe, not murders." Alex and Bev were her childhood best friends. Alex lived a block away and he showed her how to swim at the pool when she was six and taught her how to drive when she was thirteen. Bev was her neighbor so they'd known each other since they were babies. Jade let go of the broom and squatted down to Gretta, grabbing her pack of cigarettes and her lighter to light it.

"We thank you for the blood and cancer donation to Henderson enterprises. Come again soon." She blew the smoke into Gretta's face and stood up, grabbing her bag.

"If you walk out of this classroom, Ms. Henderson, it is to go to the vice principal." Jade turned with a hand on the door.

"Maybe I can tell him about how I creamed the principal's daughter or," Jade gasped and flashed a smile, "I could ask him how his balding is going." The class burst out with laughter and she slammed the door shut. "Bye, Mr. Rossir, we expect you in hell!" Jade yelled and started her walk to the principal's office.

Jade laid on the floor of the office and put her feet on the chair. The seats were like bricks. She read her book and heard someone flick their lighter on and off. She slowly lowered her book and saw the guy with the mullet look at the lighter intently. She looked back to her book.

"That's sad how you smoke and can't even keep a flame up from a lighter."

"Yeah, well, I prefer matches and I know how to keep the flame up."

"All you do is flick it and do you have to do it right now?" She heard the guy move around in his seat.

"Nice cheek and lip. What'd you do?" She closed her book knowing she wouldn't be able to read. The teen smiled down at her and moved around in his seat again.

"The seats suck ass. Why else do you think I'm on the floor?"

"I thought you wanted to give me a preview of your show," he grinned.

"I'm wearing pants, dumbass."

"It's a joke, dumbass," he laughed and she pulled out another cigarette for the teen and pulled out the lighter. She demonstrated and lit another cigarette for herself. "So who gave you the bloody knuckles, cheek, and lip?"

"The principal's daughter. What a bitch. She thinks she can do whatever she wants because her mother runs the place. I put her in her place and, boy, do I love first day fights. What about your eye?" She pointed to the small cut under his eye.

"Not from here."

"Then why are you even here? I know it wasn't for smoking in class," Jade laughed.

"First day fights, like you said."

"The only reason Gretta was dumb enough to hit me back was because mommy's principal. You must be good with fighting."

"So you started it, huh? Not surprised."

"There's a lot of things you'd find surprising about me, Mr. makes mullets look good and can't light a lighter."

"I have no doubt about that, Jade, and I can light a lighter." He grinned down at her, puffing out more smoke.

"How'd you know my name?"

"Oh, come on, I was curious about someone who actually had a decent car here. So you eat kids and pets?" He laughed.

"Ah, so you've heard what pe-"

"Never said I believe them."

"Then what do you believe?"

"Ms. Henderson, the principal is ready to see you now."

"Assuming he still can," Jade scoffed.

"See you around, murderer."

"Can't say the same for you considering all the girls want to tap that ass and f-"

"Language, Ms. Henderson." She rolled her eyes making the teenager laugh. He grabbed her hand and kissed it, all while looking into her eyes.

"I'm Billy. Billy Hargrove. I will see you around, murderer."