A Lesson In Discipline

The First Day Back

It was the first day back at Ryder's High. Early in the morning, kids started pouring into the school to start their days back. New freshman walked through the doors unsure of where to go so they collected into a corner with the rest of their classmates while sophomores, juniors, and seniors crowded into their own respective corners ready to get through the day. All around you could still see sleepy faces, kids rubbed their eyes still trying to wake up while yawning to collect oxygen to their brains. You could hear laughter and loud talking erupting all around. It seemed as if everything was normal, until a girl came waltzing in through the front doors almost taking out kids and the whole door from slamming it open so hard. 

"Welcome back to Hell ladies and gentleman!"

Eyes wandered over to see what the commotion was, the lobby grew almost silent. The girl wasn't very tall, maybe 5"3. She was draped in almost all black, black Supra's, matching black skinny jeans from PacSun, and a Sleeping with Sirens shirt underneath her jean jacket. The girl almost looked goth, but she was clearly going for a more punk rock aesthetic. Her eyes pierced bright green, on the left side of her face you could see her purple nose ring shining from the lights over head. A matching eyebrow ring sported her right eyebrow barely visible with her dark brown hair draping in her face. You didn't need to know her to know that she was clearly trouble and her repsheet could support your opinion. 

"Nice to see you back Ms. Hamlin"   

The principal, Mr. Ferrington, greeted her even though everyone knew he wasn't exactly Andrea's favorite person and vise versa.

"I'm hoping this year can be smoother than the last three years, yeah? I don't want to have to see you repeat your senior year over again so please promise me you'll at least try to behave for once?"

His demeanor changed. Ferrington usually stood straight up with his arms relaxed at his sides, he seemed more causal this time. He had his hands in his pockets with an eyebrow raised in disapproval. 

"Trust me Mr. Ferrington, it'll almost feel like I'm not here."  

Andrea mocked his demeanor as a smirk crawled across her face. Before he had any time to make a comeback, the first bell rang notifying kids that school was about to start. They had a couple of minutes to gather notebooks and get to class before the second bell rang notifying them that class was about to begin. 

"Better start heading to your locker, don't be tardy to your first class Ms. Hamlin. I'm hoping we won't be seeing each other soon unless its for something important."

He looked her up and down disapprovingly while kids started shuffling to their lockers around them. 

"Yes sir, Mr. Ferrington. Like I said before, it'll almost feel like I'm not here."

"Get to class Hamlin. Don't try any funny business, the staff knows about your trickery so if you're thinking about slipping out during third period again they'll know."

He slipped off back to the main office leaving Andrea standing there annoyed.

What a dick. I hope he knows I'm going to make him crazy this year. Maybe I'll finally get him to quit... 

She plotted ideas as she walked to her locker. That's when a familiar voice rang out from behind her.

"ANDREA. GIRL, WHERE YOU BEEN?!?"

Heavy and fast footsteps followed behind her. She already knew who it was, her long time best friend was almost running to catch up with her in the hall. Andrea whipped around with her arms stretched out for a hug already ready for the intense embrace, she knew if she didn't brace herself she was going to hit the floor from her best friend pouncing like a cat. 

"Hey baby g! I've missed you girl, I didn't go nowhere" 

Just as she assumed, her best friend pounced on her locking her arms around Andrea's neck and wrapped her legs around her waist. Andrea gripped her in a tight embrace as she turned around and started advancing down the hallway as she still held onto her tightly making sure not to drop her. Her best friend, Claire, was a beautiful girl. She rocked washed up blue jeans and a cute matching white top. Her long golden brown hair that was tied into a ponytail still whipped into Andrea's face as she carried her down the hallway while kids glanced as they walked by. Everyone knew how close Andrea and Claire were, they were always attached at the hip going and doing whatever the other one was up to. It was an understatement to call them best friends, they were practically sisters with the same last name and all. The only thing that stood in the way was the fact they had different families for obvious reasons.

"So how was your summer babe? I feel like I didn't get to see you at all."

Claire slid off of Andrea and walked beside her in the hall. It had become more crowded as students shuffled around trying to gather their belongings. Some students huddled near other lockers joining their peers and others stood in the middle of the hall or off to the side trying to decipher their schedules looking in a daze.  

"Oh you know, just the same old. I had that one job I quit in August." 

Andrea chuckled at the thought of her old job. It wasn't exactly the best job she had, but she enjoyed doing it so it made it worthwhile. She worked on an organic farm planting and harvesting all kinds of produce. That summer had been one of the hottest summers in a long time so the sun rained down upon her skin, giving Andrea a shimmering glow of tan skin. 

"I think you did tell me that at one point, but I wasn't really sure. You're looking good! Did you get darker? Well, clearly it shows. You're tan as fuck love." 

Claire and Andrea always went back and forth giving each other compliments when they weren't busy picking on each other or making snarky comments. 

"Duh, look at this beautiful ass skin of mine. I'm fucking gorgeous!"

She laughed at her own remark as they walked to their lockers. Having the same last name had its advantages, like how both of their lockers just so happened to be located right next to one another so it wasn't ever hard to find the other one. Andrea whipped her schedule out from her jean pockets and analyzed it. 

"What's your first period?" 

She was hoping to have at least a couple of classes with Claire this year, last year they had only two classes together which consisted of Integrated Algebra and English. Two classes in which neither of them could talk. It was a bust, but they both found time to walk each other to class even though they hung out regularly after school together. 

"I have English with...."

Claire paused while reading over her schedule.

"That's weird. It's some new teacher? Her name's Ms. Kaplan. I thought Mr. Young was still teaching?"

She looked at Andrea confused.

"Yeah, I thought he was around still too, but I guess not 'cause I have first period with her too. Maybe this year is a lucky one for me, hopefully she's hot."

Andrea nudged Claire's arm as they gathered their notebooks. She stuffed her notebooks in her backpack, there wasn't a place that she went that her backpack didn't. Andrea basically lived out of her backpack. Claire gave a small eye roll at Andrea practically already fantasizing over the new teacher she hadn't even met yet, but that was Andrea for you.

"We should get to class before we're late on the first day. You can dream about the new teacher after you see her. Maybe she'll be an old hag, you never know, but that'd serve you right you dog." 

They both shared a laugh as they strolled down the hall arm in arm.