Book of One Shots

The Color Black (DEH)

Connor hated high school with a passion that shouldn't have been imaginable for someone who rarely showed up. In fact, the only reason he currently sat in his first period English class at the moment was the looming threat of being grounded for an entire month, meaning that he'd lose all phone and laptop privileges. Hating everything was fine so long as he had Netflix and YouTube to cope with afterward.

While Mrs. Light kept running her mouth off about the upcoming poetry unit, making obnoxious hand motions as she told the class about iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme and a whole lot of other stuff that Connor could honestly care less about.

Seeing that he sat towards the back of the class, Connor debated putting his head down and simply sleeping until the bell signaling the end of first period rang, but just as he'd gotten somewhat comfortable, he heard the all too familiar sound of an administrator's key being shoved into the door's lock, and he sat straight up, pencil in hand, staring attentively at the board.

If Connor hated everyone in this God-forsaken place, then Mr. Reynolds most definitely hated him, the two of them having spent countless hours together in a cramped office while Connor got even worse lectures from the dean of students than Larry, and that said something.

Anyways, Connor really wasn't in the mood to pick a fight with Mr. Reynolds oversleeping in class, so he faked it, deciding that he'd get the last twenty or so minutes of class as a naptime once the dean had left for good.

"Good morning, Mr. Reynolds," Mrs. Light said with a tight-lipped smile, hating any and all forms of interruptions, even if it came from her superiors. One time, she'd made a kid pee in the trashcan instead of letting them go to the bathroom so that they wouldn't miss any information. How she hadn't gotten sued for everything she was worth was beyond Connor, yet she was still here, nagging students about stressed and unstressed syllables. Joy.

"Good morning, Mrs. Light," Mr. Reynolds replied, not acknowledging the irritation burning in the English teacher's piercing gray eyes. "I dropped by to inform you and the rest of your class that you have a new student. He has recently moved to the area and will finish out the school year with us."

"But, it's December!" Mrs. Light shrieked. "I won't have time to teach him everything he needs to know in time for midterms!"

The word "midterm" was almost enough to make Connor physically ill, detesting testing with every fiber of his being, especially considering the fact that he'd have to suffer through a ninety-minute anatomy exam with Jared Kleinman, who'd laugh whenever he'd see the words "mammary" or "thelio".  

"Well, I'm sure his previous knowledge will be sufficient to keep him on track. If not, perhaps pair him up with your highest achieving student."

"I can answer for myself," the new boy said, finally stepping out from behind Mr. Reynolds, practically curling in on himself as he wrapped his arms around his chest. "I'm a good student, Mrs. Light, and I'm sure I can catch up in time."

Mrs. Light made a little disgruntled noise in the back of her throat, like an angry chihuahua waiting to attack, but instead, she pinched the bridge of her nose and pointed towards the back of the classroom. "If I'm not mistaken, there is an open seat next to Mr. Murphy. You can sit there."

"Uh, who's Mr. Murphy?"

Connor cringed at hearing the formality at which his new classmate addressed him with. Mr. Murphy was his father, Larry, not him. Still, deciding that it wasn't worth pissing off Mrs. Light any more than necessary, he raised his hand, waiting for the newcomer to head towards the back.

The strangest thing happened, though.

Mr. Reynolds placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and the other hand on his arm, guiding him to the back of the classroom, eventually assuring him that they'd reached his assigned desk. "Jared should be here afterward to help you to second period. Have a good day." Mr. Reynolds told the boy, patting him twice on the back before finally leaving the classroom, allowing Connor to slouch back in his seat again.