Surfing Midland (Complete/ First draught).

Chapter 15

By Monday I still hadn't spoken to or even looked at Declan, when it came time to go down to school it turned out he was driving. Instead of sitting in the front seat like I typically did I climbed into the back, my phone had been given to Trisha as she had demanded, so I only had the iPod that I'd kept well hidden left.

Declan opened his mouth and said something, but my music was so loud I could only observe what was going on. The annoyed look Declan shot me told me my plan was working, it was immature but it was still working and he stopped trying to communicate with me. When Valerie finally began walking towards the truck, she automatically went to the back, but I locked the door quickly and glared at her. There was no way I was sitting in the front today, but the glare she gave in return, she didn't want to either.

Today my outfit was a lot more toned down than those I'd worn in the first week of school, I was now in school and just wanted it to be finished. This was by far the longest I had ever gone to school in a row. Usually, I skipped a day or two before going back to school. But with Declan dropping us off and picking us up there was no real room to skip classes, I really couldn't wait to get my own car.

As soon as the truck came to a stop outside of the main building I was up and out of the truck without so much as a goodbye, today was going to suck, but at least I wasn't around Declan.

When I arrived in homeroom I was one of the last few to arrive, my teacher gave me an odd look but didn't say anything as I went and sat in my usual seat. I waited for Devyn to come but when the bell rang he still wasn't there. It was odd, I'd seen him earlier that morning out on the ranch, and he had looked as if he were readying himself for school...I wondered briefly if he were skipping and made a note to bug him about it later.

After homeroom, I was approached by my teacher, who again wore that displeased look that she often did. "Leah, I'm afraid I'm going to have to send you to the principal's office." I felt my mouth drop to the floor, I hadn't done anything wrong here, and yet I was being sent off? At least the teacher had the sense to wait until the room was empty to approach me, I would be more inclined to act out if we were in a full class.

"Why? I haven't done anything wrong; I haven't even been late to class once!" I defended. Mrs Templeton held a hand up and shook her head slightly, "it's not about your attendance, we have a dress code here at Butte Central, and it states that students will be dressed appropriately."

Mrs Templeton pointedly looked at my stomach, which was currently exposed. Pulling the cardigan around myself I could only offer a glare in response, was she a prude? Or jealous? Stupid teachers, I hadn't seen a dress code of any sort and was sure I'd seen skirts shorter than my top.

Instead of arguing I gathered my things and went to the principal's office with the slip that was handed to me. Once I was seated inside the principal's office I began feeling uncomfortable; I wasn't sure what it was exactly that had the feeling rising. But I started squirming, back in California I had never squirmed! It was ridiculous, but I said nothing as I sat waiting for the stern looking man before me to say something.

"I'm not sure if you know where you are Miss Munroe, but California it is not. We do not encourage students to dress like streetwalkers because your father's ranch is some distance out of town I can't expect you to return home and change your clothing. But consider this a warning, if you continue to dress similarly to escorts, then I will have to stand you down. Do I make myself clear?" I nodded, not meeting Mr Principal's eye as I tried to hold back the mortification and tears, stupid small town people with their small mindedness.

"Right then, off you go." I picked my bag up off the floor and walked out of the principal's office, more than likely it was expected that I go back to class but instead I walked straight out the front doors of the school. There was no way I would stick around for the rest of the day and be viewed as a slut because of the way I dressed, it was true..people in Butte were backwards.

Unsure of where I was headed I walked towards what I assumed was the town centre, despite first impressions Butte was a little bigger than I first thought. The walk down to the main set of stores was a good ten minutes, in the hot summer sun if felt a lot longer than that.

My first stop was ice cream, unhealthy to be sure but I was hot and in need of some comfort food. I ordered a large ice cream Sunday and chocolate milkshake before taking a seat out the front of the store underneath a large umbrella. Traffic was infrequent on the main street of Butte; there was the occasional beat up pickup and car but not a whole lot else.

"Leah?" I groaned when I heard the familiar voice coming up behind me, I swear to god I couldn't get a few minutes to myself.

Growling in frustration I turned to glare at Declan as he came to a stop not too far from my chair, he was apparently surprised by my reaction. "What?" I barked, coughing a little as I realised how angry that had sounded.

"Why aren't you in school?" Rolling my eyes, I turned back to my table; I didn't want to do this now. It was apparently asking too much to have just a few moments alone before hunting down Declan and explaining what had happened at school and in the principal's office.

"The principal more or less said I was dressed like a hooker and made me feel like shit, so I walked out." I was hoping the tone I used communicated clearly that I didn't want to go back to school, even if Declan dragged me back kicking and screaming there was absolutely no way I would sit there. Especially not today.

"Well..." As soon as Declan started that sentence I turned around quickly to glare at him again, I still hadn't forgiven him for the other day and whatever he said now would either extend my dislike or dissolve it.

"You can always come and hang out at work with me today?" The idea wasn't as appealing as going home, but it was better than going back to school, so instead, I nodded just as my ice cream and milkshake were brought out. Declan sat down opposite me and ordered another spoon; he offered a large smile when I glared at him. But feeling a lot better than ten minutes ago I found myself smiling in response and then began laughing.

"Come on then; let's get going," Declan said as soon as the last scoop of ice cream was gone. I hadn't realised how big the order was and was glad that he had decided to sit and eat ice cream with me, the milkshake was great too, but now I was a little chilled and needed the toilet more than anything else.