Fighting Chance

Off on the wrong... slap?

It is time. Monday has arrived all too soon and with it comes the fiery hellscape of every teenager's life. School. I had already arrived but didn't have it in me to go in yet. Excited seventh graders rushed up the stairs, fucked up eshay ninth graders huddle suspiciously, stressed out year elevens contemplated existence and then there was my crew; the dead inside year twelves.

The first bell was about 5 minutes away, but I had yet to see my friends arrive. They had suggested skipping first day but I'm gonna be furious if they actually did.

"Finnyyy!" I turned around to be met with Charlie's bright green eyes filled with excitement. Despite her bad acne, she still managed to be one of the hottest girls in school.

"Hey Charlie, how's my favourite Watson?"

"Ouch Finley, I'm very hurt." Walker, Charlie's older brother came up to me and slung his arm across my shoulders, holding his hand over heart as if I'd shot him.

"Well maybe if you used deodorant every once in a while you'd be my favourite." I replied with a playful glare.

"You wound me." He gave his dirty black mullet a shake and sniffed his under arms. "I'm the epitome of human hygiene."

Walker was a year older than the entire year level, he got kept down back in primary school for being a dumbass. Luckily the two siblings get along so well that they hang out everyday. I envy that sometimes.

"Have you got your schedule yet?" Charlie turned to address me.

"Nope, I've been waiting outside for you two slackers." We started walking towards the main office to get the aforementioned timetables.

"It's not my fault we're late. Ask Charlie what happened." Walker directed a smirk at Charlie who's face became instantly flustered.

"Shut up Walker. Just shut up. I'm going to get my schedule." She stomped ahead of us grumbling to herself.

I trailed behind with Walker, who leaned over to me and whispered,

"I hit a butterfly with the car and she cried because it's wings were stuck in it's guts on the windshield. I had to pull over and get it off so she'd settle down."

I burst out laughing, doubling over in hysterics. I knew everyone would be looking at us weirdly but it was just too funny. Fast footsteps approached and I looked up to see Charlie running right at me.

"You asshole! Don't laugh at me!" Charlie lunged at me and slammed me to the floor. She cursed repeatedly as I continued laughing.

"But- you- it was a fucking-" I was cut off with a wheeze as she pressed on my ribcage, "a fucking butterfly!" My laughter resumed even louder as she started hitting my face with my own hand.

"Will." Slap. "You." Slap. "Please." Slap. "Shut the fuck up!"

I cringed in anticipation of another slap that never came. I opened my eyes enough to see her hand stopped mid-air, a hand with nails painted red was closed around her wrist.

My face fell once I saw who it belonged to. You guessed it, the flat tire lady.

"Would you two care to explain what this is before I give you detention or after?"

Charlie scrambled to her feet, yanking me up with her. I could feel my face redden as I tried to think of an answer. If I tried to talk out loud, I think I would start laughing again.

"Well? I'm waiting." The woman's expected gaze drifted to Charlie and I took the chance to take her in. Her dark hair was tied back into a graceful bun. Her eyes were almost grey in colour when this close. They flickered over to mine, forcing me to look away.

"You." I gulped knowing she was still looking at me. "Tell me what's going on here."

"Well you see Miss- Ma'am," I took a deep breath ready to explain in one go, "I was laughing because she cried because her brother hit a butterfly while they were driving I think. Yeah they were driving you see and I guess they must've been going pretty past and when you go fast its hard to brake well you know? And they say never swerve for animals only brake. So they hit this poor butterfly pretty fast and-"

"Okay okay, that's enough." She cut off my rambling and I silently thanked her. "I don't want to hear anything out of you two again, okay? See you both in detention this afternoon."

"Yes Miss." Charlie and I nodded our heads in sync and sulked away from the scary lady. A crowd had formed around us, year twelves being chewed out first day must be great entertainment.

As we rounded the corner we saw Walker losing his shit.

"You guys should've seen your faces!" I kicked his shin as I reached him. Before I could yell at him though, the bell rang.

"Shit we don't have our schedules yet." All three of us sprinted, every man for themselves. Once we got our schedules we rushed off before we could compare classes. There is no room for friendship when getting a tardy detention is on the line.

My home room was in SB5, but the teacher's name was unfamiliar to me. Miss Locke. She must be new here. I burst through the door quite dramatically, thankfully beating the tardy bell that rang while I caught my breath.

"Look everyone like faggy is here." I looked up to see the biggest fucking bitch in the school. Sophie fucking Lamont.

"At least I don't-" Before I could roast the fuck out of her someone interrupted.

"Settle down girls. This is school not the streets." You've got to be kidding me. My homeroom teacher is the fucking tire lady?! "Now you, you've caused enough trouble this morning so sit down and for god's sake be quiet."

I walked silently to the back of the room, sitting as instructed. On the board behind her were the words 'Miss Locke' in marker. It really is her. How am I supposed to avoid her if I see her each morning? I hope I don't have any actual classes with her. Also when is it appropriate to ask for my shoe back?