The English Paper (Scomiche Fanfiction)

Chapter 1: Mr. Tankem

Mitch's POV

It was September 1, the first day of school. I woke up at 7 that morning, ensuring that I'd make it to school by 8:30. Looking in the mirror I realized my hair was a complete mess- the dark brown bangs usually laying on my forehead were interrupted by several callacs, and the long strands were sticking up in every which-way.

"Dear God," I gave myself a disgusted look through the mirror's glass. It was 7:10 already and I didn't have time to straighten it.

To compensate, I covered my messy, unfixable locks with a gray Neff beanie. I put on dark-washed skinny jeans and a plain white t-shirt. After wasting another 5 minutes trying to find a matching pair of socks, I slipped them on under my red high-top Converse.

7:20.

Crap.

I didn't have enough time to put my contacts in, so I put my glasses on. They were thick rimmed and a chocolately-brown color (like my hair). I'd already put my new pencils and notebooks in my backpack, so I swung it onto my shoulders from the desk chair it was sitting on.

I tripped over my feet as I sped downstairs, hoping to get breakfast before I left.

"Sweetie!" my mom squealed. "You look cute as a button!"

"Thanks, Mom," I smiled, cringing inwardly. I loved her, but calling me 'cute as a button' on my first day of Junior year wasn't helping my already flipped over stomach.

A banana was all I managed to cram in my mouth that morning. I gulped it down with half a glass of orange juice and hugged my mom on my way out the door.

"First day of school picture?" she called from the front porch, dawning pleading eyes.

"I'm gonna be late..." I started, but couldn't bring myself to finish. She'd be totally crushed.

So, after a few snapshots with her, I ran out the door at 7:50.

*******

I got to school at 8:10, which was perfect. That gave me 20 minutes to greet all my new teachers and prepare for the start of a new year- my year.

On my way to my new Geometry classroom, I ran into Kirstie.

Kirstie was my best friend- my only friend, actually. Don't get the wrong idea, I wasn't a complete loner, but most people were only nice to me because they thought I'd do their homework for them. Anyways, Kirstie was the only person who liked me for  me, not just my brain. She was almost five inches under my 5 foot 10 inch stance. She'd just recently died her hair a vibrant shade of red to start the new year, and it was pulled into a high bun for today.

"Mitch!" she smiled, pulling me into a hug. "Making the rounds, I assume. I already greeted everyone... word to the wise- Mr. Tankem was the roughest."

"He's the English teacher, right?" I asked.

"Yup, and a bit of a Scrooge, too," she adjusted her bag on her shoulder.

We said we'd meet up at lunch and I went on to see my teachers for the year. Kirstie and I were the only people who actually did that, and whoever came in first always mentioned the other.

"Mrs.White?" I said, walking into Room 203, where I'd have Geometry.

"Mitch Grassi? Kirsten Maldonado told me about you," she gave me a small, tight smile across her old face.

We said hello and I told her how excited I was for Geometry. I loved math, the only subject I loved more was English.

After introducing myself to my Political Science, History, Musical Theory, and Choir teachers, the only class I had left was English. The teacher was Mr. Tankem, and this was his first year here. Kirstie said he was a stick in the mud, but I still didn't know what to expect.

I walked into Classroom 249. There were several windows, but almost all of them had their blinds down and completely shut. About 12 tables were set up in the room- 4 rows of three, with 2 seats at each one. I wondered who I'd sit with all year as I walked up to the spindly desk in the front of the room. The back of a head greeted me, covered in a wisp of white (and balding) hair.

I cleared my throat. "Mr. Tankem?"

No response.

"Mr.Tankem?" I asked again.

"What?" A harsh, raspy voice spat at me.

"I-um-I'm Mitch Grassi. One of your Engli-"

"Why would I care?" he interrupted, looking at me with what could only be described as pure disgust.

"I just wanted to say-"

"I don't give a flying donkey what you wanted to say!" He cried, the white hair lifting off his scalp momentarily. "Get out, fool! And tell that troll-haired Kirstie to stay out, too!"

I was stunned. New teachers always loved me- always. This one hated me instantly, and it felt weird; almost like a jab to the heart. Teachers filled the void of the friends I didn't have, and they'd always liked me. Why did Mr. Tankem despise me so much? And so fast, too?

"O-okay sir," I stuttered, walking towards the door. I was almost out of the lion's den when I heard him.

"Mr. Grassi?" he intoned.

I turned in the doorway to face him. Having second thoughts about being evil now, huh? Ha! "Yes, Mr. Tankem?"

"Those against God are against me. Keep the homo out of my class."

My heart sank.

That was where all the initial hate was coming from.

That's why he was being such a scrooge to me.

He was homophobic.

And the saddest part was, I didn't even have to point it out. My high pitched voice and affinity for form-fitting jeans must've been the telling point- I was gay as could be, and incapable of hiding it for 5 minutes, apparently.

I looked at the clock- 8:28.

Double crap.

My first class, English, started in 2 minutes.

With Mr. Tankem.

Stick-in-the-Mud Mr. Tankem.

Homophobic Mr. Tankem.