Seeing Isn't Believing

Evan POV

The clang of the lockers had become so familiar to me, this being my fourth year of high school it was almost a comforting sound. Almost. Fiddling in my pocket I wrap my hand around my cellphone and press the up button, causing the music to drown out the sound of chaos. 

Adjusting my backpack, I prop it up against the locker nearest mine and begin to put away the books I had brought home last night. A yawn suddenly surfaces, reminding me that I probably shouldn't have stayed up till 2 am studying. Midterms were this week, and while I had good grades I can't fail these or I'll be left behind while all my friends start their college lives. Placing the last book in my locker, I knock it shut with my hand and make my way to first period math. Humming softly, I enter the classroom and feel a hand rest on my shoulder. Without even turning around, I already know who it is.

"Good morning Joel." I say as I continue to make my way to my desk.

"Hey man, you look like shit. Up late?" Joel is my best friend, but he was never the best at putting things lightly.

"Yeah, studying. I lost track of time I guess." I drop my bag on the back of my chair, and slump in. My blonde wavy hair falling to the side of my face, I run my hand up and through it.

"What a nerrrd" he sing-songs as he makes himself fit into the chair beside me. Joel and I are the same age, but Joel was always double my size, he stands at a hefty 6'1 and muscles for days, and I average at about 5'6 and little to no muscle. 

Joel and I had met back in 4th grade, he had thrown a foot ball into my lunch and made some joke about pigskin complimenting the mayo from my sandwich; since then we have been best friends. People never understood our friendship, we were pretty much opposites. Only similarity is we hang out in the same social group since we joined high school, which doesn't say much since we're all pretty average. Joel leans over, opening his mouth like he is about to say something but is cut off by the bell. 

"Okay class, pull out your packets I had requested you finish by today. Pass them forward and then pull out your text books, we finish out the lesson today." Groans made their way through the class room as we all realize this just means more study material for the midterms. I turn around and grab my blue folder and math text book and place them on my desk, but upon opening my folder I am greeted with a non finished packet. 

"Shit..." Was all I could mutter as I had realized I studied but hadn't finished my homework for this class. Joel perked up, hearing my cuss and covered his mouth to hide his fit of giggles. 

"Dude, Ms. Tem is going to keep your ass after school, you realize this right?" I can't help but shoot him the coldest of looks I can muster up.

"Yeah I am well aware, this isn't good man. I hate detention with Ms. Tem" Her detentions were known state-wide as some of the most boring ones out there. Not to mention, she is known for being one of the more strict teachers here at Rosewater High, which seals my after-school fate.

"Maybe she won't notice, just hand up the rest of them and hope for the best?" Joel does his best to be sympathetic, something that I really admire in him.

"Maybe, hey, stay back even if I get detention? So we can still walk home together." Joel and I happen to live right next door to each other, which really helped with the whole being best friends situation.

"You got it man!" Joel shoots his thumbs up and proceeded to hand his packet forward. Ms. Tem made her way to my row, and checked the packets.

"Mr. Jamston, I see your packet is missing. Did you forget to hand it forward?" I feel my cheeks burn bright red as eyes all turn and fall on me.

"U-um.. I seem to have forgotten to do it last night while studying for another class." I fumble over my words, my eyes locked on anything except hers.

"That's a shame, looks like you will be occupying one of the desks after school in the detention room. See me after class for your blue slip." Blue slips were what kids were given for detention, they were basically a 'hey man you fucked up' card.

"Y-yes ma'am." I hardly whisper as I pull the black hood up over my hair, silently wishing I could just melt into the floorboards and escape all the soft chuckles that were being made around me.
After class had finished, I grabbed my book bag and slide my math book into it. I sling it over my shoulder and make my way to the front of the room towards Ms. Tem's desk.

"Ah, Mr. Jamston, here is your slip. I will see you here 5 minutes past final bell, any later and your detention will extend into tomorrow." She spoke without even looking up, her elbow resting on the desk as she extended the slip in my direction.

"Yes ma'am I won't be late." I grab the slip and put it in my pocket, making my way out of the classroom and down to my locker. Joel is leaning up against it, his phone in hand and thumbs sliding over the keys quickly. He lifts his head for a moment to acknowledge me and returned to his phone.

"She give it to you hard?" He asked, not missing a beat on his keyboard.

"Nope, just handed me the slip. Man I can't believe I didn't do my homework." I sigh heavily. I'm already over this day.

As the day slips on, the classes fly by. Each one giving us pretty much free period as midterms begin tomorrow. Finally the lunch bell rings signifying half the day was already over, and another half was gonna come and go just as fast. I head out to my locker, noticing both Joel and Ryan, a red head, almost too tall, friend of ours we've known since 7th grade, was waiting on me. Ryan was the first to notice I was approaching.

"Yo, heard you got detention. That sucks." I roll my eyes and open my locker, dropping my bag inside and picking up my bagged lunch.

"It's whatever, only half a year left and we get to leave." I say, as I begin to walk away from them in the direction of the cafeteria.

"Yeah, then we get to hop right back into it, but with more alcohol and babes." Ryan cheered. He was the bigger partier of us three, but not the biggest one of the whole group that's for sure. I don't drink much, but I do enjoy the house parties we attend because it's the time I get to hang out with friends. Isn't that what high school is all about?

"Yeah, Ryan, because you need a new place for all the women to reject you more." Joel spoke as he placed his phone back in his pocket.

We finally arrived at the cafeteria and made our way back to our table, and by our table I mean the table our 'social group' has claimed, just like in every other high school. I sit down, both the guys sitting on either side of me as I pull my food out. We all ate as everyone joked around, talked about mid-terms and weekend plans. It was Wednesday, which meant this weekend was going to be one hell of a party.

The rest of the day went by in a blur, more packets, more prep and more free periods. As the final bell rang, I quickly grabbed all my books and shoved them into my bag. I stepped into the hallway and made a mad dash to the detention hall, being sure to arrive on time with slip in hand. As I walk up to the door, I hand over the slip to the detention room leader and make my way to the back of the room and sit promptly.

"You have 30 minutes of silence, you may work on homework, read or whatever school work that can be done. You are not to sleep, listen to music, be on phones or disrupt the silence under any circumstance. Your time begins now." The gray haired man shuts the door and makes his way over to a desk to the far right of the room. I decide to work on some packets for studying, focusing on a problem just as the door swings open. All students turn their heads at the new noise, just as another student walks in.

"H-Hi, I'm sorry I'm late, I was held up by my last class. Here's my slip." The girl made her way to the desk, her cheeks burning red as she must have noticed all the students eyes on her. The teacher just gave her a dirty look and motioned to the desks.

"Sit where ever is an open seat, Ms. Journey. And please, do not disrupt the silence again." He returned to what looked like a home remodeling magazine and the girl made her way to the closest empty desk. I stared at her, as I faintly remember seeing her sitting at our lunch table, and I believe at parties before. I don't remember her first name, but I know she is apart of our group. I brush it off as nothing, and return to my packet, working the rest of the detention away.

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