Airball

Chapter 21 - Time In Detention

January 16, 2020.

I whistled softly to myself as I paced the halls slowly. As I passed by classes that were in session I leaned in and tried to make out what subject it was. I had made out that one of the classrooms was an English class when I overheard them talking about poetry. Another was a science class, but I couldn't tell if it was environmental or earth science. And one of them was my art class, which I was currently skipping as I waited for someone in particular to arrive.

It had been a day and a half since my suspension and I had missed the game yesterday, which was against Southridge. I didn't play or attend the game, since my dad required me to come straight come. I was almost glad about this, though, because my old friend and teammate Luke was on the Southridge team and I didn't think I was ready to revisit that situation yet.

I had gone straight home at four o'clock yesterday, and my dad seemed pretty satisfied that I wasn't on the team since he'd seen that we were scheduled to be having a game then. I doubted that he'd come home early like he'd done yesterday today, which meant I had a free afternoon that I didn't want to spend at home. I had considered just going to the game as a spectator, but then I'd thought of something better to do with my time.

"Oh come on, Blake!"

I turned and smiled as Milton came toward me. Milton was a big guy even though he was the same age as me and he was the hall monitor at our school.

"Sup Milt?" I said to him as he approached.

"Look Blake, I like you man, but seriously?" Milton complained. "That's the third time today, and if I don't punish you I'm going to lose my position as hall monitor."

"Hmm," I furrowed my brows and acted like I was considering what he said. "You're absolutely right."

"Okay I'm sorry man but you can't be late for three classes in the same day," Milton explained, writing something down on his clipboard. "I'm going to have to give you after-school detention today and take you back to your class."

"Sounds good," I said, patting Milton on the back and walking with him toward the art room. "Thanks Milt, I appreciate it."

"Thanks?" Milton asked, confused. "But I just gave you det—"

"See you around," I said to him cheerily as I stepped into the art room and promptly closed the door.

I turned into the classroom and saw that everyone was staring at me. "Hi!" I greeted, feeling strangely giddy for some reason.

"Nice of you to finally join us, Blake," said Mrs. Parks. "May I ask where you've been?"

"You may," I allowed.

"Where have you been?"

"I was just over in the halls receiving detention from my friend Milton."

Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, but I caught Harper's eye and she smiled knowingly.

"Well you can take your seat now," Mrs. Parks said.

I took my seat beside Harper, who continued to smile at me while Mrs. Parks finished talking.

"You didn't have to do that for me," she said to me.

I shrugged. "It's the least I can do to pay you back for sticking up for me. You didn't have to do that for me, but you did. Besides, what else am I gonna do this afternoon?"

I got up to retrieve my art supplies to work on my project. I was still in the process of making the project basketball themed, but I was feeling unenthusiastic about it. Was basketball really all that I was? Surely there was something more important to me.