Lost Game Notes (Novel)

Chapter 15: Detention

Just as Alex had predicted, Mrs. Blyton went into a hissy fit when he slunk into the classroom.

"Where have you been, Alexander? You're—ho-ho, an hour and thirty minutes late!" Mrs. Blyton bellowed. She didn't wait for him to spout an excuse. "You know how I feel about late comers."

She tapped her ruler against the side of her glasses, ruby red lips screwed into a scowl. "Stay in during lunch to do what you've missed, and after school, of course. We'll discuss your actual punishment then."

Alex hadn't been expecting better, but he felt his heart sink a little. He wasn't deliberately trying to be a bad student. It just happened.

Some sympathetic groans went around, a well-meaning smile from a large-eyed girl named Erin, and a bout of deep laughter. Alex knew exactly where to track the voice to. His eyes locked on Jude's slouched figure at the back of the classrooms the Cheshire Cat grin on his face.

The sudden surge of anger towards that one, despicable human being was enough to fuel a dozen or so good punches, but Alex held back.

Later, he promised himself. Later I'll get you good. I'll make you pay.

When he couldn't glare at the smug face any more, he turned and focused on jabbing holes into his exercise book. It brought about a sense of déjà vu. He had been in a predicament like this before, wasn't it?

Right. Jude had spotted him in Cosmos, but didn't tell the whole class. He had hunted Alex down after school and made him keep that bag of meth. Only a few days later, Alex had failed to deliver the drugs and Jude had spouted those lies to Lawrence... And here Alex was again, hating Jude more than ever. The only difference was that he'd get revenge this time.

Alex caught himself dozing several times as the class wore on, but it was better than tormenting himself with his thoughts.

It was about halfway to lunch break when the door flew open, startling Alex out of a semi-doze, and a stout, fat man with a generous helping of reddish-brown fuzz on his head waddled through. It was Mr. Escher, the teacher for the class above. He was the sort of teacher you wouldn't forget, and for all the wrong reasons on his part. His pasty cheeks tinged pink as he addressed Mrs. Blyton in his strong Texan accent, thin brows jumping as he spoke.

"Now, Mrs. Blyton, not to bother ya, but I got quite the fidgety one in my class. He keeps worming about and about and distracting the other students so bad we haven't gotten anything done up till now. Told him if he continued on like that, well, I'd have to bring him to your class." Mr. Escher paused, tenting his stubby fingers. "I s'pose you wouldn't mind having another student in your class, ma'am? I'm sure he would fit right in."

Mrs. Blyton looked a little flustered, and adjusted her the stiff ruffle of her collar. "Well, o-of course."

Mr. Escher turned to the door and bellowed, "Where are ya, Anton? Step right in."

Alex straightened up and stared at Sky inch into the class, his gaze downcast, long white hair making somewhat of a curtain around his face. Trembling hands were clutched in front of him.

Mr. Escher patted Sky's shoulder none too sympathetically, and sauntered out of the door, hiking his marvelous-sized khakis upward. He popped his head back around the door and stuck a thumb up, grinning at the boy one seat away from Alex. Elmo mirrored the gesture, and Alex saw the similarity. He had always thought Elmo and Mr. Escher looked the same—red hair, pink cheeks, fat—it just hasn't clicked then.

"My my," Mrs. Blyton drawled, red lips twitching in a smirk. "Nice to have you in my class again, Skyler. If you'll take a seat. We have a couple more minutes before the bell rings."

It was no secret that Mrs. Blyton aimed to have the biggest class in Juniper High. She seemed to think a bigger class equalled the best teacher, and equalled a bigger salary. Obviously her theories were twisted, but who cared? She had been upset when she learned of Sky's plans to work hard and join Mr. Escher's class, but Sky was determined and made it happened.

A few other students looked just as stunned as Alex, whispering as Sky slunk by. Alex tried to catch his eye, but Sky kept his gaze solely on the ground. He slid into the last available seat, which was the one beside Elmo and away from Alex.

The class commenced as though nothing had happened, but Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Sky wasn't one to take schooling lightly, and would certainly not fool around during class.

And then it hit Alex. Sky's glasses—they were still gone. Of course he would be fidgeting if he couldn't see the board. At least Alex knew the absence of Sky's glasses wasn't his wish—nothing stood in his way of getting good grades.

Unless something did, and Alex had a pretty good idea what.


*****


True to Mrs. Blyton's words, Alex did have to stay in class during lunch. He was brought a tray, though not by Sky like he had hoped. It was Erica, and she wanted to talk.

Alex effectively scared her away by blasting an Eminem song on his phone. He did have to turn it lower when Mrs. Blyton came back in from grabbing a coffee and nearly had a heart attack—or so she claimed. At least he could eat in peace, not counting the thoughts pestering his mind.

The next class passed and Alex didn't have a chance to talk to Sky, and he found himself sitting in an empty classroom after hours, watching Mrs. Blyton tidy her neat desk.

The door swinging open was a loud sound in the empty classroom, and Alex's pulse hitched when he saw who was standing there.

"Connell," Mrs. Blyton spoke, studying Jude over her cat-eye glasses. "You need something?"

Jude strode into the classroom, gaze fixed on Alex. "Just to talk to my dear friend."

Mrs. Blyton didn't seem to mind and went on with her business. Jude stopped in front of Alex's desk, and Alex had to force himself to look up, his grip tightening around the pen he held.

"Have you arrived for your appointment with the Grim Reaper?" Alex growled in a low voice.

A smirk played on Jude's lips. He slid his hands farther down either side of the desk, leveling his face with Alex's. "Your report card isn't looking pretty, Alex. Doubt you'd want to make it worse."

"Maybe I would," Alex fumed, struggling to keep himself in check.

Jude dropped his voice. "Before you get yourself in trouble, I have an offer I know you won't pass up."

Alex scoffed. "Yeah, right. That would be the day."

Jude straightened a little, a frown crossing his face. "It's true. How does is sound to become a member of the Shadow Haunters?"

"The what?" Alex demanded.

Jude's eyes flashed. "The Shadow Haunters. My gang."

Jude was asking him to be a part of that gang. The nerve. Hadn't Dawn mentioned them in her letter? He was pretty sure she hadn't spoke kindly of them. Jude—even. Dawn had never liked him, but in a respectful way. The sort of respect that kept her out of trouble, the sort Alex couldn't muster.

"Why would I want to be a part of some phony-baloney gang? Do I get money or something?" Alex didn't have to choose his words. He already knew he wouldn't want to join a gang of any sorts, even if there was money involved, especially now he basically had eight thousand dollars.

"Don't dare insult my creation," Jude hissed. "And don't you forget I'm the mayors son. I could get you into a heck-load of trouble if I wanted to."

Alex's eyes reflected the pain from yesterday. "You can forget about me joining your voodoo group."

"I'm supposing last night didn't go down well?" Jude sneered.

Alex truly would have disabled Jude that day, done something that brought him pleasure for one moment, and regret for forever. But then the door opened and Alex looked past Jude's figure, to see...

What on earth was Lawrence doing here? When was the last time he had even set foot into Juniper High? Maybe something was wrong

A thousand other, mostly sour thoughts ran through Alex's mind as he stared at the man in a suit, russet hair slicked back, set expression, a pair of keys dangling from a finger. Lawrence's eyes found Alex, and he smiled that deceptively charming smile.

"Ah, there you are, Alexander. I was coming home from work and thought I'd pick you up."

Alex didn't fall for his lying tongue, Mrs. Blyton did.

"Mr. Brooke. Lovely to have you here, although Alex is in fact in detention, as you may—"

"Never mind," Lawrence interjected, flashing her a warm but irritated smile. "I am here now."

Mrs. Blyton cleared her throat and patted down her hair. Lawrence motioned for Alex to come forward, and for once Alex didn't hesitate to oblige. He grabbed his books and bag, leaving a speechless Jude and a flustered Mrs. Blyton behind.