Purple Sharpie

Twenty-nine: Brennan

Sitting in that chair with my hand in Ree's, I revisited my entire career at this High School. First day- Late. Late. Late. About a week in, the boys' bathroom flooded. Totally not my fault. But if that was what I was in for, why was Ree here? It had to be something else. I glanced at Reemee and our eyes met. Our silent conversation went something like this:

Reemee: What the heck is going on?

Me: No idea, What have you done to deserve this?

Reemee: Never mind about me, it's obviously your fault.

I found myself rolling my eyes before I realized that the principal had come in, knocking in the tin nameplate with 'Mr. Gorchoff' engraved into it. What a name. I thought as he caught it with one of his badly pleated pant legs and leaned down to grasp in one paw, his corduroy buttons straining. I wonder if it's Europeon.

"Ms. Morgan. Mr-" He looked at a paper clutched in one sweaty palm. "Warner ." I nodded. His tan face leaned towards us, his mouth opening as if he was going to say something, but then his blue eyes flicked towards Ree and our intwined hands.

I tightened my fingers defiently. The lined face that might have been handsome once flushed in a sort of frustrated peach. The eyes that sat folded in the flesh bore into my own, trying to force me into letting go. I though about it- but then I didn't.

Mr. Gorchoff tried again, staring me down. I just pursed my lips, raising my eyebrow in a very attractive sass face, if I do say so.

"Mr. Gorchoff." Reemee spoke up. The blue eyes flashed to the pretty face, and the perfect mouth opened to finish the sentence. "What are we here for?"

His face lit up and he looked at the papers in his hand again. "I need your help."

Whoa Whoa whao. Whoa. Spit take please.  His help.

"With what?' My voice cracked like I was twelve years old and I heard Reemee snort, but Mr. Gorchoff went on like he hadn't heard it. "There's a new boy at this school- and since you two are our second to newest after he enrolled, I figured that you would give him a better idea of what it's like to be here."

I looked at Ree. Ree looked at me. And we laughed. "Okay- we'll do it." she said when the giggles died.

Mr. Goschoff looked at us with something that I couldn't quite understand in his eyes.

"You can't know how thankful I am," he said shaking my hand forcefully. I think I have a pretty good idea, I thought, the pain in my hand throbbing to the beat of my heart as my mind wandered to first period.

This was going to be a piece of cake.