Out of Breath

Chapter 17

After lunch, I stop at my locker and open it. I had noticed Clairlion lingering at the end of the hall. That should have been a warning something was up. Her people don't hang in this hall. But, I had tried to ignore them, thus, not thinking about why they were here.

As I open my locker, all the garbage from the cafeteria pours out onto my head, my body, my everything. Raw, sticky filth covers me. It smells horrible. Our main entrée was spaghetti, and the red sauce douses everything. I hear an explosion of laughter as I look down the hall. Clairlion's group is getting a huge kick out of their handy work. Rage fills me as they walk my way. I want to slug every one of them, but then I have a better idea. They are still a good ways away.

I stop time. I will not give them pleasure from their deviance deed. With time still stopped, I make my way to the office. I have to catch my breath several times. The group had seen me disappear, but oh well, they have already decided I am a man of magic.

With time stopped, I go inside the nurse's office and close the door. All alone, I restart time and wash my hair in the sink. I remember the horrible day I spent here sicker than a dog. Finally, I am as clean as I am going to get. I go to the bin of emergency clothes and pick out a pair of pants and a shirt that are decent looking. I don't mind used clothes. The office keeps these clothes here for emergencies, and this is an emergency. Usually, anything used is better than what I have. After I change into the clothes, I hold my breath and return to my locker. By this point, the pose of friends has left, except Jake. He is talking to some girl next to my locker. I would have liked them all to see me, but at least Jake is here. He will tell the others.

My revenge is to look clean. Thus, I'll show them they can't get to me, that I am better than their best-laid plan. Jake's mouths gapes open. I don't know if he is amazed that I materialized, or that I am clean.

He steps into me, grabs my new green shirt, and slams me against the lockers. "How did you do that?" he demands.

"Jake, put that kid down now, and come with me," I hear Mrs. Dunn say just as she emerges from the classroom next to my locker. She looks at the food mess everywhere. Jake's friend runs the other direction. So much for looking out for each other. She abandoned Jake as if he had the plague.

"Girl, are you responsible for this mess?" The art teacher calls after the girl, but she doesn't turn around.

"Well, Jake, it looks like your friend left you to take all the blame."

Jake sets me down.

"Tesla and I are friends. We are just messing around. I wouldn't hurt him, and besides, this mess has nothing to do with me."

Jake wraps his arm around my shoulder. I push it off. "We were just messing, tell her Tesla."

Does this crap-head really think I will stick up for him? Before I can say anything, Mrs. Dunn replies, "Jake, you don't associate positively with the swamp kids. I know better than this. Off to the office with you." Did she really just call me the derogatory name of swamp kid? She turns to me. "Are you hurt in any way?"

Should I pretend to be hurt? Would it get Jake in more trouble? She doesn't even wait for my response. "I will send Jake and the janitor over later to clean this mess. Why don't you get to class?" She says just before the bell rings.

Jake pushes his shoulder into mine as he walks away.

"JAKE!" Mrs. Dunn warns.

The cafeteria garbage ruined everything in my locker. Thankfully, I had already done my English presentation. It would have been horrible if they had done this earlier and ruined my poster and essay. I leave my locker open, hoping the janitor will clean it. No one will steal anything, because who would want anything covered in garbage, and besides, there is nothing worth taking.